To say an NRL club canโt win a premiership before a ball is kicked is a big call, especially one that made the finals the year before. But looking at the Bulldogโs squad, they just simply donโt have the ingredients for a premiership.
The Bulldogs heavily rely on their forward pack. Thatโs something Des Hasler hasnโt exactly kept hidden over the past few years. With players like Sam Kasiano, James Graham and Dave Klemmer up front, itโs hard to argue itโs their strong suit. But such a heavy reliance on their pack is a double-edged sword, one that leaves them lacking in most other areas.
Will Hopoate surprised many in 2016 at fullback, scoring as many tries in his first 11 matches as a Bulldog as he did in 38 games with Parramatta. But his religious decision to sit out Sunday matches, while respectable in a moral sense, is a big disadvantage for Canterbury. Interchanging your fullback on a regular basis isnโt recommendable, with custodians one of the most integral positions in modern day rugby league.
Brett Morris and Josh Morris form a very strong left edge, with the former Kangaroos some of the best in the business in their positions. The other edge is a different story. The right centre and wing position are up for grabs, with Kerrod Holland, Brenko Lee and Richie Kennar fighting for the spots. No matter which combination Hasler goes with, itโs sure to be a target for opposition teams in 2017.
Arguably the biggest issue is the halves, however. In Moses Mbye and Josh Reynolds, the Bulldogs have two great off-the-cuff five-eighths that can create something from nothing. The problem? Neither possesses strong organisational skills. The Bulldogs forwards will have no issue getting Canterbury to the opposition red zone, but setting up plays, organising the team around thatโs where the Dogs will struggle. Theyโll score some impossible tries, but theyโll fluff the easier chances. If Hasler had kept Trent Hodkinson and moved Reynolds into a bench utility role, theyโd be a much more feared rival this season.
Des Hasler himself even presents as a possible problem, with the premiership-winning coachโs future murky beyond this season. Reports emerged that Hasler was close to being sacked at the end of 2016, meaning his chances of earning an extension are slim. The Dragons have reportedly offered Hasler a sizeable contract for 2018 and beyond, and if Hasler does sign on that dotted line, then expect his mind to be elsewhere this season. If the Dogs arenโt sitting firmly in the top eight by Round 20, expect Des to get the boot early.
Thereโs no doubt the Bulldogs will have flashes of genius in 2017, as they always do, but while other clubs around the Bulldogs have recruited strongly, the Dogs biggest signing is Brenko Lee. Expect a fair share of teams to leapfrog Canterbury-Bankstown this as they miss the finals for the first time since 2011, and begin the forever dreaded rebuilding phase.
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