2023 Preview: Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs

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They are the most hyped team of the off-season and for good reason, with Canterbury making significant strides to return one of Sydney's biggest clubs back to the glory days of consistent finals appearances and premierships.

The Bulldogs spent the best part of the 80's through to the 2000's being envied by their competitors for their success, but horrendous salary cap management by previous administrations saw the club hit freefall. So much so that even their rivals start to show sympathy….the worse kind of emotion you can evoke from your enemies. 

2023 sees optimism return to their loyal fan base, led by the new ‘mayor of Canterbury' Phil Gould. The man they call ‘Gus' has recruited backrower Viliame Kikau from the back to back premiers and hooker Reed Mahoney from bitter rivals Parramatta, who join in demand rookie coach Cameron Ciraldo, who Gould has entrusted to lead the club back to summit of the NRL premiership. There is fair warning from season 2022 however, where a similar recruitment drive netted Australian and Origin winger Josh Addo-Carr, red hot prospect Matt Burton and the enigma that is Tevita Pangai Jr to the club.

2022 began with a dour 6-4 win over the Cowboys in Round 1, however from there despite the new cavalry, Trent Barrett's Dogs seemed to somehow go backwards not winning another game until Round 8. That win ultimately spared their coach a stay of execution when they stunned the high flying Roosters by 16-12. 

The win was an anomaly however, which culminated in a Magic Round catastrophe against the struggling Knights, thus concluding Trent Barret's era at the club which resulted in an incredibly poor record of just 5 wins in 34 matches. 

The keys were then handed over to club great Mick Potter, who despite lacking immediate victories managed to produce an unexpected attacking outfit who were prepared to throw the ball around and score some tries. This culminated in a season highlight on the Queen's Birthday match vs Parramatta, where new recruits Burton and Addo-Carr ran riot, with the latter scoring a hat-trick in a memorable 34-4 win. While the wins didn't flow, the game plans were refreshing and had even non-supporters reaching for the remote when Canterbury were playing. The Bulldogs finished the season on a high with a gritty win against the Sea Eagles in Round 25, which saw them finish on 12th place, a result which looked fanciful following the sacking of their coach mid-season.  

Why they'll win it

Belief. The Dogs of War. The Entertainers. This is Canterbury. If you have been following the Bulldogs social media accounts, it is plain to see that both Football Manager Phil Gould and Coach Cameron Ciraldo have ensured the current crop of Bulldogs know their history, what has come before them and the community they represent. On paper the addition of Kikau and Mahoney provide them with a good enough forward pack to mix it with the top sides and the spark provided by the combination of Burton and Addo-Carr will only get better. Their electric efforts for the Kangaroos at the World Cup are just the tip of the iceberg and they'll bring that confidence out of their teammates and encourage their young guns to come along for the ride. A team on the rise with nothing to lose, as it has already been taken away over the past six seasons.  

Why they won't

Canterbury are the most hyped team of the off-season; that brings with it expectation. Let's be honest, we heard similar hype in 2022, but as mentioned they somehow got worse before winning five of their last 14 matches. While on paper they look much better, how long will these new combinations take to gel? By that time this happens they may have left their run too late. 

Further to the noise coming from the media, their spine still remains unsettled. While the recruitment of Mahoney is a huge piece of the puzzle to revamp the team, it still does not have the top sides quaking in their boots. Kyle Flanagan has so far failed to live up to the lofty expectations when he signed with the club and the fullback role is still up for grabs going into the trials. A work in progress. 

Key Players

The obvious is five-eighth and Co-captain Matt Burton, but all signs point to the Blues and Kangaroos representative getting the job done consistently. For Canterbury to really challenge they need something special, an x-factor that can prove a point of difference. Looking at the squad Tevita Pangai can provide that x-factor. Pangai has shown some promising signs in his first season at the club, which were dampened by an ankle injury mid-season.

His late offloads at the line are sublime at times and can unlock an advantage through the second phase play it creates. There is no doubt Pangai is a match winner on his day but it is his consistency that has been the missing piece for the former Bronco. If Cameron Ciraldo can unlock his potential then it can take the Dogs up a notch.   

Rookies to watch

Paul Alamoti has been on the bubble since last season, however the 19 year old looks set to make his debut at centre from Round 1. His strength for his age has impressed many at the club, with club legend Willie Mason ear marking the junior NSW representative as one to watch in 2023. 

Jacob Preston is another rookie who has been making inroads during the pre-season. Preston comes across after being snatched away by the Roosters, where he was the Jersey Flegg (under 21's) captain. Preston had an impressive run for the Roosters feeder side North Sydney in 2022, playing 12 NSW Cup games for 7 tries and 7 line breaks. The retirement of Josh Jackson was a sad sight for Dogs fans but many are tipping Preston to be his heir apparent. 

Player Movement 

Gains: Reed Mahoney, Hayze Perham (Parramatta), Viliame Kikau (Penrith), Ryan Sutton (Canberra), Andrew Davey (Manly), Franklin Pele (Cronulla), Jacob Preston (Sydney/North Sydney), Josh Reynolds (Hull FC)

Losses: Brent Naden (Wests Tigers, during 2022), Matt Dufty (Warrington, during 2022), Jeremy Marshall-King (Dolphins), Jack Hetherington (Newcastle), Paul Vaughan (Warrington), Joe Stimson, Aaron Schoupp (Gold Coast), Matt Doorey (Parramatta), Corey Allan (Sydney), Brandon Wakeham (Wests Tigers), Ava Seumanufagai, Josh Cook, Reece Hoffman, Tuipulotu Katoa (released)
Josh Jackson (retired)

2023 Bulldogs squad

Predicted Round 1 Team

1. Hayze Perham 
2. Jacob Kiraz
3. Jake Averillo
4. Paul Alamoti
5. Josh Addo-Carr
6. Matt Burton (c)
7. Kyle Flanagan
8. Max King
9. Reed Mahoney
10. Luke Thompson
11. Raymond Faitala-Mariner
12. Viliame Kikau
13. Tevita Pangai Jr

14. Josh Reynolds
15. Ryan Sutton
16. Andrew Davey
17. Chris Patolo

2023 Bulldogs fixtures