It was a season to forget for the Bulldogs in 2023, but rookie coach Cameron Ciraldo “hasn’t held again” in pre-season in a bid to make his facet “bulletproof”.
Canterbury-Bankstown completed their final marketing campaign in fifteenth place and have been uncovered numerous instances in defence, conceding probably the most factors of any NRL facet.
Ciraldo is aware of what success seems to be like, having gained two premierships on the Panthers as assistant coach, main the membership’s defence to turn into the competitors’s benchmark.
The solely place to look at each video games of the Las Vegas opening double-header dwell is Fox League, out there on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial at present >
But now, after 12 months of teething at Belmore, Ciraldo is doing every thing he can to emulate the ‘Dogs of War’ and set a brand new benchmark.
“Off the back of last year, he was new, myself, I was new. A lot of other boys were new as well and some new coaches,” captain Reed Mahoney mentioned to foxsports.com.au.
“So it’s hard to kind of balance everything and get everything right that he wants. Off the back of last year too we have played with a lot of things, things that didn’t work.
“I think this pre-season everyone knows the standards, everyone knows how every day works and it’s been really smooth through every week.
“But like every pre-season they’re hard, been trying to build the best base, get us bulletproof for the season because once you get into it there’s not turning back.
“He hasn’t held back either, off the back of our results last year it shows we got a lot of things wrong and we had to get them right this season.
“Everyone’s really grown into themselves and grown into a better player and it’s getting to that time of the season now where we have trials and everything we do in pre-season has to come out in the trials.”
How will the Bulldogs enhance? Mahoney believes setting new requirements is the one method.
But enhancing his squad hasn’t been easy crusing for Ciraldo, with reviews of participant unrest rising all through the 2023 season.
His gruelling coaching strategies have been additionally referred to as into query after an unnamed participant walked out of a 12-man wrestling session.
However, now Mahoney emphasised everybody on the membership has to purchase in and be the “best version” you will be to assist your teammates.
“Every club has standards, every club wants to have elite standards, you’re professional athletes. That’s how it is and if you don’t cut it, you aren’t going to fit in,” Mahoney mentioned.
“It’s really simple mate, turning up on time, having the right intentions off the field, having yourself right on days off to make sure you’re good to go to be at your best to train.
“Being the best version of yourself so you can be the best for your teammates, it’s really basic stuff but it’s just having good intentions.”
Bunnies jet off to Vegas forward of opener | 02:42
Get all the newest NRL news, highlights and evaluation delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!
The Bulldogs even have a elaborate new toy this season in Panthers celebrity Stephen Crichton, who’s arguably the very best centre within the competitors.
Ciraldo labored with the 23-year-old at Penrith and the Origin gun defined his former coach was a consider his choice to maneuver away from the three-time premiers.
“Yeah probably, not the main factor but I see this as a massive opportunity to grow as a footy player, him being here gave me confidence he could help me,” Crichton mentioned to foxsports.com.au.
“I feel like I wouldn’t be the footy player I am without the teachings he gave me when he was at Penrith. Him already being here gave me confidence I can grow.
“It’s just the mindset things he teaches, the mind is good when footy is going good, we are just trying to learn when things get hard, what are we thinking about.”
When requested what the Bulldogs targets have been this season, Crichton clearly needed to play finals soccer, having featured in four-straight grand finals at his outdated membership.
“That’s the whole reason why you play first grade, to win games and don’t want to look too far ahead but we are trying to nail pre-season,” Crichton mentioned.
“I’m a strong believer if you have a good pre-season, you have a good season and that’s what we are trying to do here.
“We have been training really hard and I’m so excited to how we go this year… it’s just
Here foxsports.com.au breaks down all the key factors for the Bulldogs heading into the 2024 season!
STRENGTH
Their backrow. The Bulldogs boast one of the best backrow pairings in the competition in Viliame Kikau and Jacob Preston. Kikau endured a disastrous debut season in Belmore and featured in only nine games after suffering a pectoral muscle rupture that required surgery. The 28-year-old was one of Penrith’s danger men during his two premiership-winning seasons in 2021 and 2022. His line running and ability to draw defenders was a key cog in the Panthers’ attacking prowess and it remains to be seen how Cameron Ciraldo will utilise him in 2024. If he stays fit Kikau will be in for a huge season alongside Preston who was a shining light for the Bulldogs last season. The 22-year-old came from the clouds to make his NRL debut off the bench, moving from the Roosters to seek first grade opportunities. Ciraldo knew he had a good player on his hands after one game and Preston stayed in the run on side from the remainder of the year, going on to earn winning the Dr George Peponis Medal as the Bulldogs best player alongside the rookie of the year award.
IT’S A BIG YEAR FOR
Matt Burton. The former Panther hasn’t set the world on fire during his time at the Bulldogs. But with a full pre-season under his belt, the NSW representative believes he’s never been more ready to deliver. “I missed out on last year’s pre-season and sort of floated into the season, so I feel a lot fitter this season,” he mentioned to foxsports.com.au. “(I’ve been working on) little effort areas around my game, little supports and defence. I feel like I lacked (in those areas) last year.” It stays to be seen who he’ll accomplice within the halves in 2024, however each Drew Hutchison or Toby Sexton will seemingly take the majority of organisational work. That offers Burton a license to run the ball and play ‘eyes up’ rugby league like he did throughout his time in Penrith. Burton’s working, alongside his towering bombs, is the very best facet of his recreation and Ciraldo must be doing every thing he can to unlock his gun five-eighth.
MORE NRL NEWS
RD1 TEAM TIPS: Roosters star recruit to overlook Vegas after crusher deal with
‘COME ON REF’: Warriors enforcer despatched off after brutal hit knocks out Tigers recruit
HIS OWN MAN: Why Tom Flegler’s Broncos name ‘needed to be done’
COACHES UNDER PRESSURE: Eels actuality; Bennett murmurs Souths boss can’t shake
WHO’S UNDER PRESSURE
Reed Mahoney. His first season on the Bulldogs didn’t go to plan and by his personal admission, the previous Eels hooker mentioned he was upset along with his performances. “It’s hard, you obviously pick and choose at everything and it probably took me a while to put my hand up and say some of my footy wasn’t up to standard,” Mahoney mentioned to foxsports.com.au. He additionally defined being a captain was a steep studying curve and took a toll on him as he learnt the right way to be a frontrunner. Now the strain is on Mahoney to ship for Ciraldo as each a frontrunner and a hooker. The 25-year-old is likely one of the NRL’s elite hookers when in type however equally missed probably the most tackles within the competitors final yr in keeping with NRL.com’s stats. Mahoney will likely be determined to return the Bulldogs to finals competition in 2024, so anticipate his requirements to elevate forward of a Round 1 conflict along with his outdated workforce.
THE RISING STAR
Sam Hughes. When requested who had stood out in pre-season, it was straightforward for Mahoney to choose Hughes out of the pack. The 23-year-old performed 5 NRL video games in 2023, making his debut in Round 6. Mahoney believes he’s primed for an enormous season and will even make a shock push for a spot within the run on facet. “Young fellow, played five or six games last year and he hasn’t held back this year, he’s come with the right intentions to grab a starting spot even,” Mahoney mentioned. “A bench spot to begin with to be there every week, but he’s grabbed pre-season with both hands. “He’s 110 kilograms and running quick in our time trials, so he’s been a real highlight for us.”
THE UNLUCKY ONES
Either Toby Sexton or Drew Hutchison. Only one in every of these gamers will begin within the No.7 jersey and each gamers have been spectacular within the membership’s first pre-season trial. Sexton arrived at Belmore final yr and seemed like Burton’s long-term halves accomplice, nevertheless Hutchison’s pre-season arrival created a range headache. The former Rooster was given a glowing wrap by Burton and he mentioned: “(Hutchison) has been great for us, as you said the experience helps and he’s an older head so he helps the younger boys out”. The 28-year-old has 75 NRL video games beneath his belt and may be picked as a utility off the bench, whereas Sexton’s finest place is clearly at halfback. It’s as much as both of those gamers to stamp their mark and declare the jersey to shut out the Bulldogs’ pre-season marketing campaign.
BEST 17
1. Blake Taaffe
2. Blake Wilson
3. Jacob Kiraz
4. Stephen Crichton
5. Josh Addo-Carr
6. Matt Burton
7. Drew Hutchison
8. Max King
9. Reed Mahoney
10. Liam Knights
11. Viliame Kikau
12. Jacob Preston
13. Josh Curran
14. Jaeman Salmon
15. Ryan Sutton
16. Samuel Hughes
17. Kitione Kautoga
Source web site: www.foxsports.com.au
