The Canterbury Bulldogs are one of the most inconsistent teams in the competition – one week they’re capable of beating anybody, the next week they lose to a team four positions lower than them.
They play games in quarters. The first 20 minutes will be brilliant, the second 20 will be average, the third 20 will be horrible, and the fourth 20 a lucky dip of either brilliant, average or horrible.
Trent Hodkinson, Frank Pritchard, Damien Cook and Tim Lafai have all packed their bags and left Belmore, with the Berries making way for raw, young talent coming through. Shaun Lane, David Klemmer, Josh Jackson and Moses Mbye are improving and fast becoming some of the best players in their respective positions.
Coach Des Hasler has a team bursting at the seams with talent, and he must convert that into a premiership, like he did at Manly in 2008 and 2011 and came close to doing again at the Bulldogs in 2012 and 2014.
A premiership force in waiting, 2016 is the year Canterbury must step up and show what they are capable of by claiming their first premiership since 2004.
Rookie watch
Highly rated NYC fullback Bradley Abbey has joined the club from the Warriors.
With 53 Holden Cup games under his belt and 24 tries, Abbey is the answer to the fullback troubles that have plagued Canterbury since Luke Patten’s departure at the end of 2010 – bar a whimsical display in 2012 courtesy of Ben Barba.
Touted as a future Kiwis representative, if Abbey impresses Hasler in front of his home crowd at the NRL Auckland Nines, he will be next in line once a position in either the backline or halves becomes vacant.
Under pressure
With so many talented players off contract at the end of 2016, someone needs to leave the Dogs, and Tony Williams will be hoping that isn’t him.
T-Rex missed the majority of 2015 due to injury, and during his absence several players made a name for themselves, so if there was ever a time for the former Blues and Kangaroos representative to stand up, it’s now.
The absence of Pritchard means Williams will shoulder more of the Bulldogs’ weight, and the reduction of interchange to eight should benefit him.
Will the Bulldogs forwards benefit from the interchange reduction?
Canterbury have one of the biggest forward rotations in the NRL, including a massive 464-kilogram bench, featuring two players over 120 kilograms.
With players such as James Graham, Aiden Tolman, Shaun Lane and Josh Jackson all capable of playing over 60 minutes a game, the Berries are in a better position than expected, and with all of their remaining forwards except for Sam Kasiano able to play over 40 minutes, Hasler should handle the new interchange rules with ease.
Is Moses Mbye the right man to lead the Bulldogs?
Hasler has placed his faith in Moses Mbye to lead the Bulldogs into the future, with the young half recently putting pen to paper on a four-year deal worth a reported $2.5 million.
Mbye is one of the best young prospects in his position, however Hasler’s decision to turf Hodkinson in favour of the Noosa junior has been met with plenty of criticism.
Moses isn’t as creative as Hodkinson, he has a poor kicking game, and with Josh Reynolds by his side he lacks direction. However he is great in defensive play and in creating plays.
For now, it appears Mbye won’t be able to support the weight of a whole club on his shoulders, but in a few years, after he has gained more experience, he could be a contender to replace his hero and former Bulldog Johnathan Thurston in the Maroons and Kangaroos jersey.
It may not be this year, but the decision to keep the young Queenslander over Hodkinson will pay off.
Can Des get the best out of Will Hopoate?
The signing of Will Hopoate has divided fans. Some believe the State of Origin centre will return to his best form under Hasler, while others say he is overpaid and past it.
Hopoate struggled at the Parramatta Eels after returning from his two-year Mormon mission, but Hasler clearly sees potential in the 23-year-old, having been the coach at Manly for the then-teenager’s brilliant 2011.
The young centre’s 2016 could go one of two ways: either he will fulfil his potential and become a superstar, or hide his talent and take the money. Under Brad Arthur at the Eels he appeared to do the latter, expect things to change at the Bulldogs.
Must watch
Round 4 versus Rabbitohs
Friday, March 25, 4pm at ANZ Stadium
James Graham will go head-to-cheekbone with Sam Burgess for the first time since the 2014 NRL grand final, with a guarantee of fireworks between the two English imports.
The traditional Good Friday match-up will be even more tense in 2016, after last year’s infamous match. Tensions flared in the final minutes, after Graham made contact with Rabbitohs halfback Adam Reynolds following a field goal attempt. Graham and Michael Lichaa were placed on report, while David Klemmer was sin binned.
Souths were awarded a penalty goal in front of the posts, leading to them winning the game, and the crowd reacted violently.
This season, the Bulldogs and Rabbitohs are certain to put on another show, continuing the bitter feud between Sydney’s two best-supported clubs.
Round 25 versus Cowboys
August 25-29 at Belmore Sports Ground
Johnathan Thurston returns to Belmore for the first time since leaving the Bulldogs after winning a premiership in 2004.
The Bulldogs meet Thurston’s Cowboys at the perfect time, in what shapes as one of their most important fixtures of 2016, with both teams likely to be hanging on the edge of the top eight, battling to secure a spot in the finals.
Predicted best XVII
1. Brett Morris, 2. Curtis Rona, 3. Josh Morris, 4. Will Hopoate, 5. Sam Perrett, 6. Josh Reynolds, 7. Moses Mbye, 8. Aiden Tolman, 9. Michael Lichaa, 10. James Graham, 11. Shaun Lane, 12. Josh Jackson, 13. Greg Eastwood
Interchange: 14. Sam Kasiano, 15. David Klemmer, 16. Tony Williams, 17. Tim Browne
2016 signings
Bradley Abbey (New Zealand Warriors), Graham Clark (Northern Pride), Craig Garvey (St George Illawarra Dragons), Kerrod Holland (Newcastle Knights), Will Hopoate (Parramatta Eels)
2016 draw (AEST)
Round 1: Sea Eagles versus Bulldogs (Friday, March 4, 8:05pm at Brookvale Oval)
Round 2: Panthers versus Bulldogs (Thursday, March 10, 8:05pm at Pepper Stadium)
Round 3: Bulldogs versus Eels (Friday, March 18, 8:05pm at ANZ Stadium)
Round 4: Rabbitohs versus Bulldogs (Friday, March 25, 4pm at ANZ Stadium)
Round 5: Bulldogs versus Raiders (Monday, April 4, 7pm at Belmore Sports Ground)
Round 6: Storm versus Bulldogs (Monday, April 11, 7pm at AAMI Park)
Round 7: Bulldogs versus Warriors (Saturday, April 16, 5:30pm at Westpac Stadium)
Round 8: Bulldogs versus Titans (Saturday, April 23, 3pm at ANZ Stadium)
Round 9: Eels versus Bulldogs (Friday, April 29, 7:50pm at ANZ Stadium)
Round 10: Wests Tigers versus Bulldogs (Sunday, May 15, 4pm at ANZ Stadium)
Round 11: Bulldogs versus Roosters (Sunday, May 22, 4pm at ANZ Stadium)
Round 12: Raiders versus Bulldogs (Sunday, May 29, 4pm at GIO Stadium)
Round 13: Bulldogs versus Sharks (Monday, June 6, 7pm at ANZ Stadium)
Round 14: Dragons versus Bulldogs (Monday, June 13, 4pm at ANZ Stadium)
Round 15: Bye
Round 16: Bulldogs versus Broncos (Saturday, June 25, 7:30pm at ANZ Stadium)
Round 17: Roosters versus Bulldogs (Thursday, June 30, 7:50pm at Allianz Stadium)
Round 18: Bulldogs versus Wests Tigers (Saturday, July 9, 7:30pm at ANZ Stadium)
Round 19: Bye
Round 20: Cowboys versus Bulldogs (Thursday, July 21, 7:50pm at 1300Smiles Stadium)
Round 21: Bulldogs versus Dragons (July 28-August 1 at ANZ Stadium)
Round 22: Knights versus Bulldogs (August 4-August 8 at Hunter Stadium)
Round 23: Bulldogs versus Sea Eagles (August 11-August 15 at ANZ Stadium)
Round 24: Broncos versus Bulldogs (August 18-August 22 at Suncorp Stadium)
Round 25: Bulldogs versus Cowboys (August 25-August 29 at Belmore Sports Ground)
Round 26: Bulldogs versus Rabbitohs (September 1-September 4 at ANZ Stadium)
Prediction
Canterbury have a great roster but they will struggle with inconsistency and tough opposition. As a result, Des Hasler will take his first early-September holiday since he began coaching in 2004, with the Bulldogs to finish in ninth place – just short of a finals appearance.
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