As part of a series profiling the expected Round 1 sides for all 17 NRL clubs in 2024, it’s time to see if the Bulldogs can finally lift themselves out of the doldrums.
The Bulldogs have undergone yet another roster overhaul in search of success.
For a proud club which has not made the finals since 2016, it’s been a dark period for the Dogs and year two of coach Cameron Ciraldo’s tenure brings greater expectations after finishing 15th in his first season at the helm.
There is plenty of talent at Canterbury with Matt Burton, Reed Mahoney, Josh Addo-Carr, Viliame Kikau and now Stephen Crichton on the books.
But the big-name recruits have not translated to success in recent years so this time around, apart from Crichton, they have picked up reliable first-graders rather than stars.
The No.7 jersey remains a problem area with ex-Titans half Toby Sexton, a mid-season acquisition last year, to get first crack at striking up a successful halves partnership with Burton.
Who’s new?
Crichton is the marquee addition and will get a chance to establish himself at his preferred position of fullback after being stuck in the centres at Penrith due to the presence of Dylan Edwards.
Former Sharks young gun Bronson Xerri will try to resurrect his career in the centres after serving a four-year ban for performance-enhancing drugs while Warriors forward Josh Curran should bring plenty of much-needed mongrel to the Dogs pack.
Bulldogs general manager Phil Gould has signed a slew of utility players who can cover the edge, spine and backline positions with Blake Taaffe (Rabbitohs), Jaeman Salmon (Panthers), Roosters duo Drew Hutchison and Jake Turpin), Kurt Mann (Knights) and Connor Tracey (Sharks) giving Ciraldo plenty of options for the make-up of his side.
Ex-Roosters prop Poasa Faammausili could be a useful pick-up after underwhelming stints at the Dragons and Dolphins as the Dogs lack depth in the middle forwards.
Matt Burton. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Who’s gone?
Tevita Pangai jnr’s decision to retire despite having a year left on his lucrative deal was a major surprise but Luke Thompson returning to Wigan was not.
Local juniors Jake Averillo (Dolphins) and Paul Alamoti (Panthers) had the potential to form a long-term centre combination but they were both allowed to leave.
Kyle Flanagan’s turbulent stint at Belmore is over after he linked with his dad at the Dragons while second-rower Corey Waddell has gone back to the Sea Eagles and outside backs Braidon Burns and Declan Casey haven’t been retained.
Key spots to unlock
It’s probably easier to list the ones that are locked in.
Burton will be five-eighth, Mahoney at hooker, Kikau on the left edge, Foxx on a wing and everything else up for grabs.
The serious neck injury to Karl Oloapu means Sexton is almost certain to play half although that is Hutchison’s preferred spot and he did well in limited opportunities there last season at the Roosters.
(Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
Tracey is too good a player not to be in the starting side somewhere while Mann will likely be used as a starting lock or lightweight bench middle backing up the bigger boppers.
After asking for a release in the off-season, veteran forward Raymond Faitala-Mariner is now set to stay but could be struggling to make the top game-day 17.
Getting cohesion in the side will be a priority for Ciraldo early in the season with so many new faces and although their depth has improved on recent seasons, they again can’t afford too many injuries as they don’t have many experienced options in reserve.
Round 1 predicted team
1 Stephen Crichton
2 Jacob Kiraz
3 Bronson Xerri
4 Connor Tracey
5 Josh Addo-Carr
6 Matt Burton
7 Toby Sexton
8 Liam Knight
9 Reed Mahoney
10 Max King
11 Viliame Kikau
12 Jacob Preston
13 Josh Curran
Interchange
14 Drew Hutchison
15 Ryan Sutton
16 Kurt Mann
17 Jaeman Salmon
Other squad members: Karl Oloapu (injured), Raymond Faitala-Mariner, Blake Taaffe, Bailey Biondi-Odo, Kitione Kautoga, Blake Wilson, Jordan Samrani, Sam Hughes, Jeral Skelton, Jake Turpin, Hayze Perham, Chris Patolo, Zac Montgomery.
Good Grief
Roar Rookie
Thankful to offload Flanno. Finding the preferred halves combo and injury backup is key. After 2023 season i was surprised they didn’t recruit more go-forward in the middle, but i expect they are still actively looking. Maybe hoping to trade Tracey/Taaffe mid season to a club that has rotten luck with fullback injuries, or Hutchison/Mann to a club that has rotten luck with injuries to halves and are looking for a steady hand? I like all these players - maybe not world beaters, but wholehearted first graders. Wishing them all well and hoping they make the most of this opportunity because they have sure taken a risk going to the bulldogs.
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
I reckon.
Greg
Roar Pro
Disagree with most the comments regarding recruitment. The 17 may not have improved much but looking at players 18-30 this squad is much better than last year. As for the best 17. In a team lacking talented middles Chris Patolo is a must on the bench and expect Sam Hughes to impress if given a chance. I'd also reshuffle the backline a little. Kiraz and Crichton starting centres. Tracey fullback and Wilson wing.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
Completely agree, it's a crazy way to build a team capable of challenging for a premiership, but I think the entire Doggies recruitment & retention strategy has been a mess since Gus arrived. Letting Averillo & Alamoti go to other Clubs makes zero sense when they're your best junior products and both more than capable of playing in most teams starting XIII. They then recruit two gun centres and pay them top dollar to play out of position. Gus gives them a supporting cast of average to good utility players and somehow expects this group to be competitive with the Panthers, Broncos, Storm, etc?
andrew
Roar Rookie
Woods couldn't possibly be on more than that surely. The way I see it is that older players are simply blocking the way for up and comers. It'd be different if they were vital for the team but you can't tell me Woods is anywhere near the player he was 5 or 6 years ago, he's too slow and cumbersome.
Muzz Manyana
Roar Rookie
As in having puppies?
London Panther
Roar Rookie
I don’t disagree this is a poor bench, but Hutchinson, Salmon and Mann were not brought in (and payed handsomely) to play NSW Cup.
London Panther
Roar Rookie
If they end up with Chrichton and Burton in te centre that would be the most expensive centre pairing in the salary cap era. Surely you can build a contending team like that…
Phil
Roar Rookie
I keep thinking about the two former workmates at Penrith and how their paths have gone. Webster went almost unheralded across the moat and resurrected a team no-one expected to excel. Ciraldo was a wanted man by Wests, Canterbury, Saints and possibly more, hailed as the next super coach in waiting but is not quite where he would want to be. Maybe in due course these hard times will make a better coach out of Ciraldo, We shall see.
Sportstragic
Roar Rookie
interchange 14 Drew Hutchison 15 Ryan Sutton 16 Kurt Mann 17 Jaeman Salmon Surely this bench is a joke. I noticed that no writer put their name to it and was probably written by the work experience kid :)
Full Credit to the Boys
Roar Rookie
I don't doubt Gould football smarts, but this looks a team of bit parts.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Pretty sure the elderly ones in here are restricted to contracted earnings of $100k or less in tha season.
Tony
Roar Guru
You'd certainly think so
andrew
Roar Rookie
I've always thought a development player was a junior with potential Tony. There must be different levels for elderly players.
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
This year the Dogs are still copulated, or whatever the term is.
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
I've got no idea what to expect from the Bulldogs this year. With all these new players, they should play an old fashioned Possibles vs Probables to see who makes round one!
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Crichton is probably the best candidate at the club to play fullback, Taafe’s ordinary under a decent high ball, but he’s definitely not locked in there despite the money. Forget last year, torn apart with injury and some rotten apples, judgement begins this year. Kiraz and Preston to play Origin.
Dutski
Roar Guru
Didn’t realise that. Quality player and the chooks don’t often let those go. Mind you with their current crop they might have figured back row is covered (Nat Butcher, Wong, Crichton and Toupinouea).
Succhi
Roar Rookie
Something will give at the Bulldogs in 2024. Gus will go, the CEO will go, the coach will go or their major sponsor will go. I think their only hope is if they sign Luai, and shift Burton back where he belongs (centre). They now have signed what were the two best centres in Burton and Crichton, and will play them both out of position. No decent half, a slow toiler of a 9 and no proven fullback, and the forward pack look a bit light on. But, who knows, maybe Gus the Great has a secret plan the rest of us can’t see.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
I like Curran. At least will have an honest crack. Crichton may be a low ROI if their forwards don’t lay the ground work.