2017 NRL Season Preview - Canterbury Bulldogs
Canterbury Bulldogs 2017 Season Preview
2016 Review - The Bulldogs made the finals for the fifth straight season under Des Hasler in 2016, however the Club finished the year with a cloud hanging over them. With Bulldogs fans unhappy with the side's meek Week 1 exit from the finals and poor late season form, Hasler had to survive an emergency board meeting to save his job. However, after leaving the meeting with no contract extension, the pressure is well and truly on at Belmore in 2017. The messages from the powerbroker and fans at Belmore is that, for a football operations that spends a lot more than some other clubs, the Bulldogs performances have been underwhelming, especially their dour and outdated style of play.
The Bulldogs pack was once again strong in the middle of the field in terms of yardage, with James Graham, Aiden Tolman and David Klemmer in the Top 8 for total metre eaters in the NRL by season's end. However, despite grinding out a number of victories to finish with 14 wins and 7th spot, the Bulldogs' attack was clunky and awful at times in 2016. They scored less points than any other side in the Top 8 and forced just 29 repeat seats which was ranked 13th in the NRL. Their spine of Hopoate, Reynolds, Mbye and Lichaa really struggled to impose themselves on games and give the Bulldogs any sort of cut and thrust inside the opposition 20. Despite making the 4th least errors, the Bulldogs often found themselves totally bereft of ideas inside the opposition 20-metre zone.
2017 Gains - The Bulldogs, like the Broncos, have failed to make any sort of statement in the off season, player wise. This is surprising for a club that is not afraid to splash the cash and might suggest there is too much money tied up in players that are not producing the goods. Whilst the Bulldogs have signed Zac Woolford (Raiders), Josh Cleeland (Sharks), Rhyse Martin (Townsville Blackhawks), Brenko Lee (Raiders), Tom Carr (Dragons), Francis Tualau (Storm), Richard Kennar (Storm), Asipeli Fine (Wests Tigers), Rod Griffin (Wests Tigers) and Andy Saunders (Panthers), none of those players are regular First Graders. Young Zac Woolford is a hooker of potential and might put pressure on Michael Lichaa who really struggled for form and fluency in 2016.
2017 Losses - The Bulldogs have lost both wingers in Sam Perrett and Curtis Rona. Perrett has hung up his boots after being a very reliable and experienced winger. However, last season he was starting to slow down as injuries took their toll. Rona will be a loss as he was a very good finisher and one of the better Bulldogs' back line players over the past two seasons.. The Bulldogs have finally lost patience with Tony Williams after his sluggish displays over the last few seasons and I can hardly blame them. Other losses for the Dogs include Pat O'Hanlon (retirement), Tim Browne (Panthers), Richard Coorey (released), Makahesi Makatoa (Raiders), Jarrod McInally (Queensland Intrust Super Cup), Graham Clark (released), Jake Kamire (released), Reubenn Rennie (released), Lamar Liolevave (released) and Lloyd Perrett (Sea Eagles)
2017 Player To Watch - Moses Mbye - I expect the Bulldogs to revamp their style of play over the off-season with less emphasis on forwards getting the ball inside the opposition half. The tip-on plays that proved successful for 18 months looked outdated last season, and it's clear the team's playmakers need to take more ownership and responsibility over the team's playing style. Mbye is crucial to that as, while he showed flashes of brilliance last season, there were many games he drifted in and out of. He has a very dangerous running game, however his passing game and especially his kicking game was often wildly inconsistent. He often did not get the ball at times when he was defending. He needs to learn to shove some of his more senior players out of the way and take more command in games if the Dogs are going to improve this season.
2017 Draw (Very Favourable) - Maybe the man that constructed the NRL draw is a Bulldogs' fan as The Bulldogs have been gifted the best draw in the NRL. They play last year's Top 4 just once, and last season's bottom 8 a whopping 15 times. So don't expect any complaints from Des Hasler about the draw any time soon. The Bulldogs also don't leave Sydney between Rounds 7 and 16. They have a few 5-day turn arounds, however other than that, this looks a very kind fixture for the Bulldogs.
2017 Forecast - 12th
Eventually their is a tipping point for this side and I think it is this season. I had this side as a Bottom 4 team before I saw their draw. Their soft fixtures means, once again, they will be pretty short odds to qualify for the finals for a sixth time under Des Hasler. However, for mine, they are still going to struggle for three reasons. One, being they have not improved the side in any area with their off-season purchases. Two, I think their spine is probably the worst in the competition. Hopoate is slow and won't scare sides while I think the hooker Lichaa is the worst in the competition in terms of starting hookers. The Halves give me a headache watching them play, and whilst Josh Reynolds is a competitor and does make some real impact plays, he does not control games for them.
I think a few of their forwards in Graham, Tolman and Eastwood might be a little bit past their best and will not make as great an impact as they have in years gone by. The Morris boys were flyers back in the day, however even they seem like they are being grinded down by injuries. Overall, this team really needs a freshen up in personnel and their style of football and, whilst I expect them to play differently in 2017, I don't think they have the quality of players to worry the big sides. Their pack is still strong and aggressive and I am a big fan of the likes of Jackson and Klemmer, however they can only get them down the field, they can't get them over the try line. When I look at the Bulldogs starting 17, I just think there is a real stale ness about this side, and I think Des Hasler is going to struggle to turn it around this season. I expect them to make a big signing or two for 2018 in the backs or halves which will help get this side back up challenging for titles where they expect to be.