Canterbury have used a much-needed win to blast the criticism and innuendo that has surrounded the future of five-eighth Matt Burton.
Coach Cameron Ciraldo, whose side snapped a five-game losing run with a 30-20 win over Melbourne, attacked the club's critics after Burton delivered one of his best performances of the season in Friday's victory.
Ciraldo described some of the speculation around Burton's future as "bullshit".
Burton - off contract at the end of next season - has been heavily touted as a target for the Perth Bears, who enter the NRL in 2027.
There have also been whispers Parramatta could make a play for Burton if the Dogs star, one of the top earners at Belmore, can't strike a new deal with Canterbury.
"Burton's one that gets tossed up a lot, doesn't he?" Ciraldo said.
"It's really disappointing when you're going through a losing streak and people decide to make up rumours about your players.
"It's hard for us to defend them and then some people are copping a lot of unfair criticism as well.
"I'm really proud of our coaching staff in how connected they've stayed together and how much they've trusted in what we're doing and how hard they've been working."
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Burton has played as No.6 for Canterbury this season but that appears to be a position better suited for 20-year-old playmaker Lachlan Galvin.
Bulldogs football boss Phil Gould conceded this week he didn't see Galvin, who has worn the No.7 jersey, as a long-term halfback.
The 26-year-old Burton has come in for heavy criticism during the Bulldogs' struggling season, while several other teammates have been inundated with social media abuse.
"That's probably the hardest thing around this club is when we do lose a game there's a lot of outside noise," Ciraldo said.
"So for us to manage that we try and keep the boys off their phones and off TV.
"Our wins are extreme, our wins are awesome, we get so much energy out of them but our losses are even more extreme.
"Even when we perform well and lose, the outside noise becomes quite debilitating for young guys.
"What we've done really well I think is try and focus on the opinions that matter within our four walls."
Canterbury (4-7) face Wests Tigers next week and are expected to name Jacob Kiraz at fullback again.
Conor Tracey was a late scratching from Friday's game with a hamstring injury, while edge forward Jacob Preston picked up a broken arm.
"Jacob did a great job, that's a credit to Jacob and our rehab team in how fit he came back from a knee injury," Ciraldo said.
"Fullback fitness is different, and he came back looking incredibly fit and was one of our best players."
