The proud Canterbury Bulldogs are going to finish the 2021 NRL Season with the wooden spoon. The Dogs of War. The Entertainers. The Family Club.
The basket case.
Thank God they have Phil Gould with his feet under the desk, because Canterbury is a club in crisis.
The Bulldogs showed coach Dean Pay the door in favour of Trent Barrett, who led Manly to one finals series in three years after a decade of success. Barrett had more recently been an assistant to Ivan Cleary at Penrith, and was hailed for his attacking strategy,
With that in mind, Canterbury bought Kyle Flanagan from the Roosters, Origin winger Nick Cotric from Canberra, and another Origin player, Corey Allan, from South Sydney. Injuries have played their part, but all three signings have gone backwards at the Bulldogs.
Canterbury have won just two games all year. They have one great aggressive forward in Jack Hetherington, but if he isn’t careful, he could be rubbed out of the game for too many indiscretions. He is the perfect example of a good player needing some serious coaching on his technique.
But 2022! The Dogs have signed a heap of players to turn it around!
Have they though?
Josh Addo-Carr is the best winger in the game, and will be fine. I wonder how he now feels about going from premiers to wooden spooners though.
Matt Dufty is an excitement machine, but he apparently had problems with new Dragons’ coach Anthony Griffin. He is still developing his game in the key position of fullback.
Brent Naden at least has some history with Trent Barrett. A cracking centre at his best, he is also still developing, and has been unable to find a regular spot in the Penrith team this year after being dropped before the 2020 Grand Final.
Matt Burton is a future Origin player, There was even talk of him being drafted into the NSW team this year. He is behind Nathan Cleary at Penrith, so it makes sense he would be looking for more opportunities, I wonder though if he has had a chat with Kyle Flanagan about how he has developed his game under the coaching of a former test five-eighth.
Paul Vaughan was sacked from St George-Illawarra after BBQ-Gate, and is looking to resurrect his career. A former representative forward, I again wonder if he had a chat with former Origin prop Dylan Napa before signing with Dogs.
Tevita Pangai has long been touted as a future representative forward, but came undone at Brisbane over the last couple of years. A change of scenery could be good for him. However, he probably needs some forwards around him to settle in before being expected to lead the pack.
Apart from Dylan Napa, the Bulldogs have also lost Will Hopoate to Super League, while Dallin Watene-Zelezniak transferred to the Warriors late in 2021. That’s three experienced representative players lost. Throw in Nick Meaney, who will follow former teammate Reimis Smith in fulfilling his potential at Melbourne.
Canterbury have chopped and changed their halves so many times this year, I can’t predict how they will line up in round one in 2022. There are plenty of players with talent at the club, but they desperately need mentorship.
Hopefully, Phil Gould is the person to provide that.