As much as it might hurt fans of the blue and white, the Bulldogs are no better than they were in 2022.
In fact, it could be argued rather convincingly that the performances of the team under new coach Cameron Ciraldo are as bad as they have been across the last four seasons.
During that period, the once perennially contending Bulldogs have finished no better than 12th, winning just three matches in 2020 and 2021, before managing seven wins last season.
A measly 14 points a game were averaged in the ‘for’ column in 2020, with that number matched the following season.
Despite plenty of hope and promises of something different, 16 points a game was the best the Bulldogs could muster in 2022 with an attack that many people were hoodwinked into believing could perform consistently without the presence of a stable and quality number seven.
Phil Gould has been on the Bulldog payroll for the past two seasons, along with many a handy recruit that had been brought into the fold after the extensive clean-out necessitated by the salary-cap atrocities of former coach Des Hasler between 2012 and 2017.
Canterbury fans are simply sick of hearing about that period. As close to a premiership as it brought the club, the aftermath has not been worth the tilt at the trophy. Fans of the Dragons might feel exactly the same way, with long-term supporters of both clubs more likely to enjoy consistent competitiveness than a flash in the pan playoff run or two followed up by years in the wilderness.
Gould’s arrival at the kennel for the third time in his career was intended to jettison the errors of the past and move the club into a brave new world of contention that the youngest Canterbury fans are yet to experience.
He was employed to right the ship, attracted the required players, oversee the football department and get the club on a steady and improving course.
Board minds appeared to be convinced that the media personality was the answer to those issues; with a premiership and State of Origin resume undoubtedly offering some validity to their view.
However, with his media opinions growing ever more controversial around issues such as head trauma and his penchant for rather paltry attempts at entertainment in the commentary box leading to little more than melodrama, the question as to whether Gould had slipped too far from clubland and its realities was a fair one.
A desperate club took a desperate swing on a man who divides like few others in the game and is far from as clever as some sections of the media choose to give him credit for.
Canterbury general manager Phil Gould. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Upon arrival, Gould suggested that then coach Trent Barrett would be at the club for far longer than he would. That was just prior to the former representative five-eighth being jettisoned from the coaches box.
Just prior to Gould’s arrival and soon after, the signings continued to roll in and the recruitment looked impressive to some. Josh Addo-Carr, Matt Burton, Viliame Kikau, Reed Mahoney, Tevita Pangai jnr and Ryan Sutton were added to a group of developing players that, despite not potentially being at their best until 2024 or 2025, promised supporters that better times were ahead.
Instead of any improvement taking place, the Dogs now sit at Round 17 in second last spot, above only the Tigers and with a massive -154 points differential, the worst by far of any team.
It is fair to ask, what exactly has changed? The answer appears to be nothing and all the nonsense around Gould’s arrival, and the rookie coach who has failed as dismally as his predecessors, now seems like nothing more than hullabaloo.
Viliame Kikau. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
No doubt it will all be part of a Gould plan (pick your year number) and the long-term vision will be the mantra he adopts, just as he did at Penrith. Yet all the Panthers needed to do better was retain the cream of the endless supply of youthful talent at their disposal, something the Dogs do not have the luxury of enjoying.
The 65-year-old general manager has somehow forged an infallible rugby league reputation, where his presence appears to demand attention, respect and consideration. He arrives with a mighty large shadow and few seem prepared to question his methods or decisions.
People at Canterbury should be doing so right now. Now matter the recruitment, coaching staff or ogres overseeing the entire operation, the team continues to tread water at best and arguably, regress.
Bulldogs fans deserve better and Gould is increasingly losing credibility as the man likely to bring that to them.
Brett Allen
Roar Rookie
I do, every week
Bloke7
Roar Rookie
As someone who closely watches the Bulldogs every week and has done for the better part of 30+ years I beg to differ. We look more dangerous and show so much more potential. The kids play well to a certain point but struggle mentally when things go against them. We've missed a lot of our most expensive players for big chunks of the season and if a couple of close calls had gone out way (warriors obstruction try and Roosters forward pass call specifically) we'd be on the fringe of the eight. We've had 5 wins that could very easily be 7. Barrett has 5 wins in 34 games but never looked like things were going to change. What I see is some young kids that are not far off doing a lot better. The previous 3 or 4 years I saw nothing on the horizon. Given how strong the lower grades are looking as well and I'd say we're in a much better position than the same time last year.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
I don’t endorse them at all & never have . If you’d read my comments before , you’d know that. I was replying to the comment about Phil Gould & the Bulldogs. Especially the part about him not being able to do the same thing at the Bulldogs as he did at the Panthers . As the Bulldogs don’t have the same junior catchment area as Penrith. If the person who’d passed that comment about Gould & the Dogs had had knowledge about how well the Dogs are doing in the lower grades & how. They’d never have passed that comment. I’m not for the Sea Eagles being at Blacktown either etc. This is just what’s happening.
Nick
Roar Rookie
No, Phil Gould was once a great mind and insight into the game. But the game has changed. He hasn't. The game left him in the mid 2000's. He's a good mentor to some, yes. But his tactical insight is gone
Nick
Roar Rookie
Listen to his podcast.
wilbas
Roar Rookie
That's right...you endorse feeder clubs even if they are not in your area..Roosters had teams in St Mary's..money talks.
wilbas
Roar Rookie
Gould knows his football..He constantly predicts the psychological outcome of games.Some of us do understand rugby league philosophy and that very much played out in origin one when the QLD player was sinned bin. Good leadership would have chartered course for a victory but when you have reactionary leadership you are at the whim of the winds of chance...
wilbas
Roar Rookie
Bulldogs problems were in the boardroom with factions vying to control the petty cash box.
wilbas
Roar Rookie
I think you have to be mindful that Hasler load the salary cap with back end deals that dictated the bulldogs could not purchase any talent for years...They are where the Tigers were 5 years ago..Remember Penrith took time after Gould came in...They are going better this year .
Brett Allen
Roar Rookie
No one said he’s perfect, but his achievements are undeniable, and let’s be honest Cleary’s coaching record at the time was far less impressive than it is now. He literally saved the Panthers from bankruptcy.
soapit
Roar Guru
Little choice but to hope your right anyway i spose
Brett Allen
Roar Rookie
When has he denied fault for anything ?
CT
Roar Rookie
A bit harsh. Gus maybe old, slow and slimy. However he has carried (9 NRL) television on his back like forever. Now you Stuart have trampled on him. Remember he is a Rugby League genius. Just ask him!
danwain
Roar Rookie
His podcast is brilliant when he analyses the game, not so much when he begins ranting about climate change or concussion science
danwain
Roar Rookie
Absolutely, if the dogs don't want him I'll happily take him at the dragons, seems a similar job to the Panthers rebuild..
Panthers
Roar Rookie
The junior catchment doesn’t mean anything. The Bulldogs through Gould, are building up very good lower & junior grades . They also have junior sides running in the Newcastle area & on the North Coast. They have already had some outstanding success . Just look at the lower grades tables now, if you need some further convincing.
Nat
Roar Guru
And it will come. It didn't fall in a hole in one year so it will take a few to climb out. The best/future star players are all 20 - 23yo. Add Crichton and Quai-Ward to right center. I reckon Oloapu needs more time in the reserves and it may have been a mistake to let Stuckey go.
Phil
Roar Rookie
Quite a whack on Gus there but Canterbury are exactly what the author says. Whether Gus can turn it around time will tell. Their points diff is abysmal, leaking as many as Saints with those two the only clubs to leak over 400. I'm not ready to write off Cameron Ciraldo as a coach considering the injury toll he has had to deal with. On another thread a week or so back I passed criticism which prompted a reply to give them another year or so which is fair enough. Maybe Gould's history can repeat itself, we have to wait and see.
Nick
Roar Rookie
Ivan Cleary lives in the house that Gus built at Penrith. The same Ivan Cleary that was evicted from that house by Gus because he apparently wasn't good enough to win a premiership?
Nick
Roar Rookie
When has Gus ever pumped up his own tyres ? Gus has never claimed credit for anything other than what he’s actually done, Good grief. That last sentence is particularly galling considering his propensity to deny any fault either