'Put the shovel down': Dogs plot route out of NRL hole

Ciraldo, whose side have just one win in their last six games, conceded he could consider changes after a 28-12 defeat increased the scrutiny on the Bulldogs' spine.

This time last year the Bulldogs were top of the ladder but look way off the pace after another night of attacking impotence. 

Aside from bottom-placed St George Illawarra, the Dogs have the worst attack in the NRL and their struggles were highlighted by the fact their only two tries came off a kick and a solo run from Lachlan Galvin.

The chemistry between halfback Galvin and Matt Burton is failing to yield results and in the 22 games since his mid-season switch from the Wests Tigers, the Dogs have a 40 per cent win rate.

"We're a bit down on confidence with our attack at the moment and that happens at different times," Ciraldo said. 

"There's a lot of commentary about that so we need to make sure we're listening to the voices within our four walls, and not anyone else."

The Dogs were camped on the Cowboys' line for big periods of possession but struggled to come up with answers despite having 43 play-the-balls in North Queensland's 20m zone. 

For 60 minutes the Bulldogs were within one score of the Cowboys but didn't have an extra gear to go to when the game reached its dying stages.

The Cowboys piled on 16 points in the final 20 minutes as they notched up a sixth win from their last seven and exposed some defensive frailties that left Ciraldo fuming. 

"Changes might help and we'll definitely look at that, but it's not going to be the solution," he said.

"We need to get everyone playing closer to their potential individually and that will help us as a team. 

"But we've also got to stop having those moments in the last 20 minutes where we don't stay present and we stop competing.

"... if we put the shovel down ourselves, that might help."

Ciraldo's side will be without Kurt Mann (concussion) and Jake Turpin (biceps) for next Thursday's trip to Brisbane to face the Dolphins.