Bulldogs 2023 preview: Can more star power ever be a bad thing?

Cameron Ciraldo’s reign at the Canterbury Bulldogs begins in earnest in early March and all rugby league eyes are already turning to the Belmore rebuild.

If there’s one exciting project in the NRL, it’s the Bulldogs

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Every week it seemed like the Canterbury club was announcing another signing, and none were slouches either. This season they’ve scooped up top names like Reed Mahoney, who is fresh off a grand final appearance, Viliame Kikau, and rising young gun Franklin Pele.

Add that to already proven talents in the blue and white like Josh Addo-Carr, Matt Burton, Tevita Pangai Junior, and Max King, and the Bulldogs list begins to look like a real title threat straight out the gates.

Last season, the club had all the spark on the footy field, but suffered 17 defeats on the way to a 12th-place finish. Can adding more stars fire them higher?

Last year’s finish: 12th, seven wins and 17 losses

Last ten NRL campaigns: 12th, Spoon, 15th, 12th, 12th, 11th, 7th (Qualifying), 5th (Semi), 7th (Runners-up), 6th (Qualifying)

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Predicted Round 1 lineup

1. Jake Averillo
2. Hayze Perham
3. Paul Alamoti
4. Jacob Kiraz
5. Josh Addo-Carr
6. Matt Burton
7. Kyle Flanagan
8. Tevita Pangai Junior
9. Reed Mahoney
10. Luke Thompson
11. Raymond Faitala-Mariner
12. Viliame Kikau
13. Max King
14. Fa’amanu Brown
15. Ryan Sutton
16. Andrew Davey
17. Franklin Pele

Coach: Cameron Ciraldo

Biggest loss: Josh Jackson, Aaron Schoupp Biggest gain: Reed Mahoney, Viliame Kikau

How 2023 is looking for Canterbury

As mentioned, the Bulldogs have recruited heavily out of what felt for a time like an endless warchest. Canterbury dynamo Gus Gould has lured several big Panthers to the club and—in this Sporting Base writer’s eyes, at least—scored the signing of the offseason in Mahoney.

With Matt Burton leading the team in the halves armed with some of the best playmaking knowledge in the game and a kicking bomb that’s near impossible to defuse, there’s already a strong heart to the team.

Add Mahoney and his ball play at the ruck into the mix and Burton, as well as Addo-Carr, Jake Averillo, and explosive forwards like Kikau and TPJ will run amok.

The one big question is how Ciraldo plans to leave his mark.

If the much-lauded new head coach sticks to exciting, attacking footy, he certainly has the tools to succeed. Don’t expect Todd Payten/Cowboys-style success right out the gate, but if the Bulldogs stars can take to Ciraldo’s plan quickly then finals may move ever closer for the Sydney heavyweights.

Predicted 2023 finish: 10th

First five: Warriors (A), Tigers (A), Dolphins (H), Raiders (H), Sea Eagles (A)

TopSport odds: Premiers $21, Make Top 4: $5.50, Make Final 8: $2.10, Miss The Top 8: $1.71

Pass mark: Make finals off the back of star signings.

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