The Bulldogs became just the second team in NRL history to lose three straight games without scoring a point, while the 16 points they have managed from the first four games of the season is the worst since Glebe in 1928.

The former Manly coach was brought to the Bulldogs after spending last year with Penrith fine-tuning their electric attack.

However, progress has not been as immediate at the Bulldogs and Barrett defended new halfback Kyle Flanagan from taking the blame after losing five-eighth Lachlan Lewis to a concussion early into Friday's game.

"One hundred per cent it is (unfair to blame Flanagan)," Barrett said.

"He's got poor old young Jackson Topine, who's a utility playing at hooker, he's got a hooker playing at five-eighth ... it's not all on Kyle.

"It's not as easy as just saying 'go and change your style or do something different'.

"If it was that easy, everyone would be an NRL coach and you'd fix it, but it's not.

"But this isn't the forum where I want to discuss it.

"I'll sort that out with my team and we'll sort that out moving forward with what we do and who we recruit and the type of style that we want to play."

To make matters worse the Bulldogs look set to lose fullback Nick Meaney to broken ribs after he was crunched in a tackle by Latrell Mitchell late in the match, leaving the field soon after.

Prop Jack Hetherington is also in danger of missing game time after he was pinged for a crusher tackle on Cameron Murray late in the first half on Friday.

Dallin Watene-Zelezniak is set to return from suspension next week as well as Josh Jackson and Luke Thompson to face Melbourne.

"In terms of trying hard and sticking together I can't fault them," Barrett said.

"They turn up every week and they'll turn up on Monday and go through the same thing and we've just got to keep working hard."

Australian Associated Press