Long-suffering Canterbury Bulldogs followers consider the practically two-decade lengthy premiership drought is sort of over, in keeping with a wild pattern that has taken NRL social media by storm.
The Bulldogs had one more horror season, ending in fifteenth place on the NRL ladder with simply seven wins and sporting the NRL’s worst defence and second worst assault in 2023.
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The Bulldogs had a horror finish to the season, successful simply one in every of their final seven and two of their matches after spherical 12 and increasing their finals drought one other yr, having final featured within the playoffs in 2016.
It additionally didn’t assist that the membership was embroiled in ugly accusations late within the season the place first-year coach Cameron Ciraldo was slammed for his coaching practices after a participant walked away from the membership after a wrestling punishment dragged the membership into the highlight.
When you’re dropping, every part turns into tougher.
But regardless of the membership’s dire place, the followers have some hope because of historical past.
The Bulldogs membership has been round since 1935 however what pursuits followers most is the document since 1974.
In that season, the Dogs misplaced the grand closing 19-4 to Eastern Suburbs.
A decade later in 1984, the membership received its fourth premiership 6-4 over the Eels.
In 1994, Canberra beat the Bulldogs 36-12 within the grand closing.
The Bulldogs’ final premiership victory was in 2004, a 16-13 win over the Roosters.
In 2014, the Dogs misplaced 30-6 in opposition to the Rabbitohs.
See the place we’re going with this?
Since 1974, the membership as gone L, W (1984), L (1994), W (2004) and L (2014), which means the membership is due for one more W in 2024.
Interestingly, it was the Bulldogs that ended the final three-peat when the ended the Eels reign of premierships in 1981, 1982 and 1983 with a win in 1984.
Could historical past repeat itself once more?
A TikTok consumer who goes by Trademark Sports added that in 2003, the Dogs received the Jersey Flegg competitors, then received first grade in 2004.
In 2023, the Jersey Flegg champions had been the Canterbury Bulldogs after a 22-20 win over the Sydney Roosters.
However, he himself mentioned it was unlikely after the Bulldogs’ horror season in 2023 regardless of bringing within the likes of Viliame Kikau and Reed Mahoney.
“Doggies fans, you’re not winning the premiership next year,” he mentioned.
With Panthers premiership winner Stephen Crichton coming to the facet together with Rabbitohs utility Blake Taaffe, ex-Sharks centre Bronson Xerri after his two yr drug ban and Panthers utility Jaeman Salmon, the membership hasn’t added too many alternative items to unlock its premiership puzzle.
However, this video is much from the one one on TikTok and it hasn’t stopped followers from leaping on the bandwagon.
For the document, as of October 6 2023, the Bulldogs are $46 to win the 2024 premiership.
Although a lot of the posts seem to have their tongue firmly planted of their cheeks, followers shopping for in should keep in mind the previous soccer adage — it’s the hope that kills you.
While the Bulldogs present have the previous Panthers mastermind who helped ship the membership’s three straight premierships in Phil Gould as their GM of soccer, even the league legend believes followers should be affected person.
Speaking in July, Gould mentioned the membership was aiming for sustained success, and that takes time.
“It’s a difficult question, but I just know that we can’t cut corners on the process because as soon as you do, you put yourself further behind and it hurts you in the long term,” Gould mentioned after the Dogs’ 66-0 loss to the Knights in spherical 18.
“If you go out and try to look for quick fixes, then it never works that way and you’re pushing the problem further down the track.
“Someone has to come in and make the tough decisions and realise this is going to be tough for a while. I wish someone had done this six or seven years ago. If they had, then we wouldn’t be in this position today.
“My aim is that they’re not in this position in five or six years’ time.”
Source web site: www.foxsports.com.au
