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League legends Andrew Johns and Brad Fittler believe there's still plenty of holes in the Bulldogsroster despite the insane rebuild that continues under general manager Phil Gould.
The release of Raymond Faitala-Mariner to the Dragons ensured Gould has completely culled the club's 2021 squad with not a single player remaining from that roster.
This season the Dogs have been aggressive in the recruitment market with 12 players signed to the club while 14 have left since the start of 2023.
Stephen Crichton is the most high profile recruit for the club, having been made captain while Bronson Xerri could explode if he adjusts back to the game after four years away.
The Bulldogs haven't played finals since 2016, and claimed the wooden spoon in that 2021 year.
Last year they finished 15th under new coach Cameron Ciraldo.
In 2021 the club's squad included players like Lachlan Lewis, Nick Meaney, Jake Averillo, Dylan Napa, Will Hopoate, Nick Cotric, Kyle Flanagan, Adam Elliott, Josh Jackson, Jeremy Marshall-King, Luke Thompson and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.
Some of those have scaled great heights since departing while others have fallen into retirement.
The current crop of recruits have brought plenty off the field for the Bulldogs, with the music notably louder and the speaker not far away from Crichton.
Speaking to Wide World of Sports, five-eighth Matt Burton indicated there's been a definitive lift in attitude within the team.
"It's been mad. The vibes that Critta (Crichton) and that have brought in, you come into training full of energy and it gives you that extra lift so it's been mad in that way," he said.
"Critta can be a punish sometimes, pressing that button on the speaker, but it lifts all the boys up.
"It's either one of them (Crichton or Josh Addo-Carr) having it on full bore."
The Bulldogs team named to play the Eels in round one will include Max King and Poasa Faamausili in the starting front row, which is an area Fittler believes needs significant improvement.
"You need to have a really good front row, Max King is a stronger player but you need good front rowers," he said on Wide World of Sports' Freddy & The Eighth.
"... Gus knows, you need extra front rowers that can come in and do a job. That's where they'll struggle."
The other problem facing the Bulldogs is their halves, with Drew Hutchison selected at halfback for round one.
As Stephen Crichton prepares to lead Canterbury back to the glory years, the new captain is trying to emulate one of the most famous Bulldogs - Sonny Bill Williams.
Toby Sexton is also in the squad but has been overlooked.
Matt Burton will play at five-eighth but there's been constant conjecture around whether he's more suited to the centres.
Both Fittler and Johns agreed that Burton is more suited to the No.6 jersey with the latter adding he needs to be complemented by his halfback.
"I don't think Matt Burton is a real big talker so he needs a halfback that does it all, is talking to his dummy half, organising his forwards and then even organising Matt Burton but he hasn't got that or had stability in the half," Johns said.
"... The problem is there's no halfbacks going around. The Tigers have landed Jarome Luai to play halfback, there is no real quality ... (the Bulldogs have) signed Mitch Woods, I worked with him when we had the Origin pathways when Freddy had position specific (coaching), he was the pick of them.
"I texted Gus after and said your young bloke from the Bulldogs is very impressive but he's three years off but they've earmarked him and signed him long-term."
The release of Raymond Faitala-Mariner to the Dragons ensured Gould has completely culled the club's 2021 squad with not a single player remaining from that roster.
This season the Dogs have been aggressive in the recruitment market with 12 players signed to the club while 14 have left since the start of 2023.
Stephen Crichton is the most high profile recruit for the club, having been made captain while Bronson Xerri could explode if he adjusts back to the game after four years away.
The Bulldogs haven't played finals since 2016, and claimed the wooden spoon in that 2021 year.
Last year they finished 15th under new coach Cameron Ciraldo.
In 2021 the club's squad included players like Lachlan Lewis, Nick Meaney, Jake Averillo, Dylan Napa, Will Hopoate, Nick Cotric, Kyle Flanagan, Adam Elliott, Josh Jackson, Jeremy Marshall-King, Luke Thompson and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.
Some of those have scaled great heights since departing while others have fallen into retirement.
The current crop of recruits have brought plenty off the field for the Bulldogs, with the music notably louder and the speaker not far away from Crichton.
Speaking to Wide World of Sports, five-eighth Matt Burton indicated there's been a definitive lift in attitude within the team.
"It's been mad. The vibes that Critta (Crichton) and that have brought in, you come into training full of energy and it gives you that extra lift so it's been mad in that way," he said.
"Critta can be a punish sometimes, pressing that button on the speaker, but it lifts all the boys up.
"It's either one of them (Crichton or Josh Addo-Carr) having it on full bore."
The Bulldogs team named to play the Eels in round one will include Max King and Poasa Faamausili in the starting front row, which is an area Fittler believes needs significant improvement.
"You need to have a really good front row, Max King is a stronger player but you need good front rowers," he said on Wide World of Sports' Freddy & The Eighth.
"... Gus knows, you need extra front rowers that can come in and do a job. That's where they'll struggle."
The other problem facing the Bulldogs is their halves, with Drew Hutchison selected at halfback for round one.
As Stephen Crichton prepares to lead Canterbury back to the glory years, the new captain is trying to emulate one of the most famous Bulldogs - Sonny Bill Williams.
Toby Sexton is also in the squad but has been overlooked.
Matt Burton will play at five-eighth but there's been constant conjecture around whether he's more suited to the centres.
Both Fittler and Johns agreed that Burton is more suited to the No.6 jersey with the latter adding he needs to be complemented by his halfback.
"I don't think Matt Burton is a real big talker so he needs a halfback that does it all, is talking to his dummy half, organising his forwards and then even organising Matt Burton but he hasn't got that or had stability in the half," Johns said.
"... The problem is there's no halfbacks going around. The Tigers have landed Jarome Luai to play halfback, there is no real quality ... (the Bulldogs have) signed Mitch Woods, I worked with him when we had the Origin pathways when Freddy had position specific (coaching), he was the pick of them.
"I texted Gus after and said your young bloke from the Bulldogs is very impressive but he's three years off but they've earmarked him and signed him long-term."
