The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have officially announced the signing of Newcastle Knights fullback and NSW Cup star Connor Votano on a two-year deal.
He began his junior career at The Entrance Tigers before progressing through the Newcastle Knights' development pathways.
The 20-year-old quickly established himself as one of the club's most promising talents, claiming the Kurt Gidley Medal as the Knights' Harold Matthews Cup Player of the Year in 2023.
In 2024, Votano's rise continued as he represented New South Wales in the Under-19s State of Origin match.
Ahead of the 2025 season, Votano was elevated to the Knights' full-time NRL roster and made his NRL debut in round 24 against the North Queensland Cowboys.
Votano's agency, Titans Sports Management, confirmed the decision to head to the Bulldogs in September after earlier reports from The Daily Telegraph and ESPN.
This season, Votano scored seven tries and had 15 try assists in 17 games.
He played a significant role in the Knights advancing to the NSW Cup Preliminary Final, where they fell short to the eventual premiers, Penrith Panthers.
Phil Gould, who confirmed the signing on social media in recent weeks, spoke about the club's excitement about the NSW Cup star.
“We're thrilled to have Connor join the Club. He is a young, exciting footballer who is determined to take the next step in his career,” he said in the club's statement.
“Connor has bided his time at the Knights, and we're confident he will thrive in the Bulldogs system.”
The club confirmed that Votano will begin training in November with the other Bulldogs players for the pre-season.
