For all their recent list of high-profile purchases, the big question still lingers at Canterbury about who’s going to steer their new-look ship.
The Bulldogs have made a massive splash in the past few months bringing in new faces for the upcoming season and the next one, prompting many NRL observers to believe they can not only end their five-year finals drought but start competing again for what would be their first trophy since 2004.
They’ve added a proven representative star like Josh Addo-Carr as well as several established first-graders like St George Illawarra duo Matt Dufty and Paul Vaughan, Panthers rising stars Matt Burton and Brent Naden, Rabbitohs centre Braidon Burns and Broncos forward Tevita Pangai jnr after a quick detour via Penrith.
Canterbury have also consolidated their 2023 roster with the addition of Panthers second-rower Viliame Kikau and Bulldogs hooker Reed Mahoney.
But for all the signings, the No.7 jersey still has a question mark hovering over who will be its long-term occupant.
Burton is a possibility but seems to have the body type and game style that suits the five-eighth role – when Nathan Cleary was unavailable for Penrith last season, Burton was shifted from centre to the No.6 jersey with regular pivot Jarome Luai preferred as the chief playmaker.
That leaves Jake Averillo, Kyle Flanagan and Brandon Wakeham to fight it out to be Canterbury’s first-choice halfback in 2022.
Averillo came into the top grade as a centre but played almost exclusively in the halves last season and is likely to get first crack at Burton’s scrum-base partner.
He does not necessarily look like an organising style of playmaker so he and Burton could be too similar to work as an effective duo.
Flanagan’s career has gone haywire – after coming into the NRL at the Sharks touted as a star of the future, his switch to the Roosters ended abruptly after an up-and-down season.
He struggled at the Dogs last year, particularly on last-tackle options in attack, and with two seasons left on his lucrative deal, it’s too early to give up on Flanagan living up to his undoubted potential.
If he gets an extended run alongside a classy halves partner in Burton and with a much-improved pack getting the team on the front foot, he can re-establish himself if he can convert good-ball sets into points.
Wakeham has had a few chances to cement a starting spot but has never managed to hold onto it and his best hope of seeing game time is probably as a utility option on the bench as he could also cover hooker.
After collecting the wooden spoon last season, Canterbury should be nowhere near the bottom of the ladder in 2022.
Forward depth hasn’t been a problem in their recent lean years but potency in the pack has held them back.
Pangai and Paul Vaughan should give them a lot more punch through the middle which can allow captain Josh Jackson to go back to what he does best – tackling like a trojan and hoovering up all the dirty work, rather than be relied upon to try to create attacking chances.
The jury is still out on English import Luke Thompson, who has only appeared in 25 of the 36 rounds since he arrived midway through 2020, mainly due to a string of suspensions for reckless play.
His fellow firebrand forward Jack Hetherington also faces similar problems due to his woeful judiciary record – if either player puts a foot, or swinging arm, out of line, they’ll be facing a lengthy ban.
And 2022 is also a mammoth year for coach Trent Barrett in the second year of a three-season deal. After walking out on his Manly deal due to his unhappiness about resourcing at the club, he now has a decent roster and plenty of support off the field to get the Bulldogs back up with the big dogs of the competition.
His predecessor, Dean Pay, was given a similar timeframe to turn the club’s fortunes around and much worse personnel.
Barrett clearly can coach, as evidenced by his efforts in getting Penrith’s attack firing on all cylinders, but if the Bulldogs continue to struggle and his tenure there ends on a sour note, a third chance at the helm in the NRL might not be so easy to come by.
What’s new
There’s not much that isn’t new, especially out wide with Josh Addo-Carr, Matt Burton, Matt Dufty, Brent Naden and Braidon Burns replacing Will Hopoate, Nick Cotric, Lachlan Lewis, Nick Meaney, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak from last year’s back line.
Up front, Tevita Pangai jnr and Paul Vaughan will beef up a pack that has lost Adam Elliott, Dylan Napa and Ofahiki Ogden.
Matt Burton. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
Star on the rise
The Dogs have quickly morphed into a veteran team with only Matt Burton and Jake Averillo in their likely starting team in the rising star category. Burton was on the fringe of NSW selection during Penrith’s premiership run last year and whether he can translate that form back to the halves after playing out of position at centre, will go a lon way to determining Canterbury’s 2022 ladder position.
Who’s under the pump
Luke Thompson was heralded as a significant signing a couple of years ago but the English forward has not been impressive enough for Canterbury to not entertain offers for him to play elsewhere. Add in frequent suspensions and it’s a long-term contract they would probably knock back if given a mulligan.
Best-case scenario
If all their new players strike up combinations quickly and the spine can finally become settled, this team on paper can challenge for a top-eight spot. After four straight years among the also-rans, Dogs fans will just be happy to move out of the cellar.
Worst-case scenario
Jack Hetherington, Tevita Pangai jnr and Luke Thompson need to avoid their regular judiciary dramas or the Dogs will again be shuffling their squad around on a weekly basis. It’s not easy to get instant success with so many new parts from different clubs on the same page so Trent Barrett will have his work cut out meshing his various recruits with his squad to form a functioning team.
Round 1 predicted team
1. Matt Dufty
2. Corey Allan
3. Braidon Burns
4. Brent Naden
5. Josh Addo-Carr
6. Matt Burton
7. Jake Averillo
8. Tevita Pangai jnr
9. Jeremy Marshall-King
10. Paul Vaughan
11. Josh Jackson
12. Raymond Faitala-Mariner
13. Luke Thompson
14. Kyle Flanagan
15. Jack Hetherington
16. Corey Waddell
17. Ava Seumanufagai
Others: Paul Alamoti, Bailey Biondi-Odo, Jayden Okunbor, Josh Cook, Matt Doorey, Tui Katoa, Max King, Chris Patolo, Aaron Schoupp, Jackson Topine, Joe Stimson, Brandon Wakeham
mushi
Roar Guru
I'm dubious if a coaching group with pretty good kicking chops chose not to use him as their second kicker. It isn't that hard to shift on tackle 5 given the kicking set ups would be practiced to death. Often big boot =/= a great long kicker (ie: the drop out kicker isn't necessarily a regular general play kicker). That said happy to be proven wrong on that as I like Burton.
London Panther
Roar Rookie
Love this series looking at 2022, and well done to the authors for sticking the necks out and making some predictions. In terms of this article, I do disagree with the optimism for 2022. I would love the Dogs to go well; they are a great club and when they are strong they bring a tribalism to the game that really none can match. But I think they are 12 months away from being contenders even for the eight. I don’t really rate their back line part from JAC; some of the others will score some points, but they will let a lot more in. The pack is really undisciplined, which will hurt them within the game and could set a record for most weeks on the sideline (particularly if we start the season with a focus on concussions). But the real issue is that the spine is a bottom 4 spine. Love what Burto did for my Panthers, but he is a few years away (at least) from being a player who can consistently carry a team on his shoulders and the rest of the spine are each in the bottom half of quality relative to other NRL starters. Hopefully they surprise on the upside, and I can see them having some good games and get the odd high quality scalp; but I struggle to see them being consistent week to week.
Succhi
Roar Rookie
Yes, their spine and discipline could be their Achilles heel. I think they should improve from 2021 but for me the big question mark is on Barrett as a head coach. Some are just better assistant coaches than head coaches - my jury is out on Barrett as a head coach - 2022 will be the decisive year for him.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
I can see what the Dogs are trying to do. Halfbacks are as rare as quality NRL commentators, and you either get one by lucking out and a local junior falls into your lap (Penrith), or you ruin your salary cap by chasing one (Dragons). The Dogs are looking to have a "game manager" in the halves (a 2016 Chad Townsend). They have assembled a decent team - a strong pack and an explosive back line. The halves just need to give the backs clean ball, a good kicking game and occasionally take on the line. Strong defence (which is their biggest weakness, not the halves) is where improvement will come from. Keep this formula up, hope Burton has another level to go to and one year it will all come together. Think 2016 Sharks The biggest question mark is still the "offensive genius". If I was a fan then 8th spot is the benchmark this season While this is going on Gus will be developing the pathways so the future returns to "bred, not bought". The coach after the guy who replaces Barrett will be the beneficiary of this
Aiden
Guest
Definitely a team that can get to 11th, 10th, 9th with good coaching. Will struggle beyond that without a decent 9 and an unsettled halves combination. Still … that’s some progress (if it happens).
Paul Suttor
Expert
Schoupp could definitely get a start in round 1 as one of Canterbury’s few incumbents who had a decent season
Paul Suttor
Expert
Waiting an extra year to get Reed Mahoney will be worth it
Max power
Guest
They have spent the same as last year but yes they have ignored the 2 major positions in the game
Max power
Guest
They all sue me the same with the salary cap
JennyfromPenny
Guest
Extremely complimentary to say left centre is his best position, when prior to 2021, he’d never played centre in his life.
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
A bit harsh calling Dufty mediocre. He has his issues defensively but is one of the most exciting attacking players in the game. I'd rather Dufty than Latrell who rarely strings together consecutive games without a blatant cheap shot
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
The Bulldogs spent big but didn't buy a hooker or a half which they badly need. It looks like panic buying bringing in some good players but ignoring their weaknesses. They offer no threat out of dummy half and their halves options are very limited. Dufty will score tries and set them up but has a lot to work on defensively.
Eelsalmighty
Roar Rookie
"The large number of quality players wanting to play at the Dogs despite their ladder position is an indicator that Trent has strength where it matters." I don't think it's that simple, but will admit I haven't paid that much attention to the Dogs. How many, if any, of those "quality players" had a similar or better offer on the table when they signed on? Maybe, and I think it's a definite maybe, most new players didn't manage to get way overs, but that's a very different story to "an indicator Trent has strength". I think the strategy of having a relatively (borderline very) cheap spine has afforded the Dogs more cap space to spend elsewhere, but that is an extremely risky strategy, and I'd add, coupled with Trent as coach? I think they'll miss the 8, but wave bye bye to Trent in 2022.
Greg
Roar Pro
I think Flanagan himself is a great example. Looked pretty good to start with at the Roosters whilst Radley was controlling the middle. His game quickly declined after Radley's injury. Jamal Fogarty is another good example. An organiser who was good in 2020 with Peachey (a ball player) playing the bulk of the minutes at 13 (admittedly off the bench for a lot of the season), finished the season with a 5 game win streak with Peachey the starting 13. His form this year was patchy with Peachey and Tino being interchanged in the position and he really fell away when Tino was getting most of the minutes. Tino played great but he wasnt what Fogarty needed. I am concerned about Raiders if the plan is Horsburgh/Sutton/Tapine at 13. I think they would be better served with Adam Elliot or Elliott Whitehead there. Although he spent more time at 6 than 7 i think Clifford, whom i see more as an organiser than a runner, benefited from Watson at 13. Although, i think Watson probably needed another pre-season to really be physically suited to his role. The best players tend to be able to both the roles of their position very well. For example Thurston was a great ball runner off the back of Taumalolo but Thurston was also a great organiser when needed also. Similarly Cameron Murray has excellent subtle ball playing that benefits Reynalds but Murray also does a great job as a middle forward. If you just look at last year however: Storm have Finucance/NAS/Smith all play as genuine middle forwards at 13 and Hughes as a ball runner at 7. Cleary/Reynalds an organiser with Yeo/Murray a ball player. I think both DCE and Trbojevic tend to do a decent job in both roles so more difficult to place them. I think Moses has tried to do a bit of both roles and Nathan Brown has improved his ball playing to somewhat allow for this but i feel they have both been at their best when Brown just plays his high aggression, hard running role and Moses plays with his natural instincts. Though i understand trying to grow both their games so they are more adaptable to the context of each game. I'm not going to try to work out what was happening when at the Roosters given the injuries in the halves and Radley's suspensions. I should also note even a 'ball playing lock' must be a competent middle forward first and foremost. IMO Peachey is probably as small as you can go in the position and still be successful. Any smaller and you will be losing the forward contest too much to gain any ground by kicking to corners and asking questions of the defence. So you couldnt just throw a 3rd half into the position and expect to get results.
Eelsalmighty
Roar Rookie
"Canterbury will field 2 NSW/ Intrust/ Knock on Cup sides next year". Yeah, but the 1 they fielded this year in the FG comp didn't do much, other than collect the spoon.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Yeah, that’s right but they still have to name their 30 player roster, but hopefully it means a good stream of young players coming through… There’s still a few issues with the roster… we’ve got a couple of mid tier players on massive overs. Hopefully in the next two years we can replace those guys with some talented youngsters coming through…
KenW
Roar Rookie
That's an interesting perspective, and seems to make sense. I'm having trouble thinking of any real-world examples though, was there any combinations you had in mind?
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
TB, correct me if I'm wrong but I believe Canterbury will field 2 NSW/ Intrust/ Knock on Cup sides next year . A Canterbury side and Mounties so depth shouldn't be an issue but I'm not sure how it works with salary cap .
Malo
Guest
How good is Gould. They will definitely make the 8, whilst the Tigers spend heaps and get no one and will get the spoon.
Paul
Roar Guru
Your call on a possible premiership in 2024 gives the Dogs time to sort out these issues. I'll be interested to see what Barrett the coach can do with the halves talent at his disposal. I think Ricky Stuart was a great half but an ordinary halves coach, while Barrett got a pass from me as a player, so hopefully he'll make something good from the guys he's got.