Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs: 2019 preview, draw, squad changes, every player.........

Vlasnik

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Written ByTROY WHITTAKER
Sweeping changes are afoot at the Canterbury Bulldogs in 2019.


Gone are stalwarts Josh Morris, Brett Morris and Greg Eastwood after salary cap pressures forced a mass exodus.
So too is marquee prop David Klemmer, who was granted a release on compassionate grounds.

Canterbury are in the midst of a development phase following the horror show that was last season, which saw the club languish in 12th place and avoid the wooden spoon by just four points.

The Bulldogs lay claim to one of the youngest 2019 squads in the NRL, with an average age of 23.5. The 30-year-old Aiden Tolman is the team's oldest and most experienced player.

But despite being raw, the Dogs have plenty of ability in their ranks.

Fans should be especially excited about the acquisition of fullback Nick Meaney from the Newcastle Knights.

A bona fide reserve grade star, Meaney made his NRL debut in 2018 when he deputised for the injured Kalyn Ponga. He quickly showed his wares at the top level.

Although the Belmore club's forward stocks copped a massive blow when Klemmer departed, Queensland Origin firebrand Dylan Napa, Corey Harawira-Naera and Sauaso Sue are solid replacements.

Promising playmaker Jack Cogger and flying winger Christian Crichton also join the Dogs.

Fresh off an impressive debut year, rising pivot Lachlan Lewis will likely play alongside halfback Kieran Foran, who has battled injury and form issues in recent times but is world class on his day.

But for all the team's talent, qualifying for the finals may be a bridge too far for this youthful squad.

Regardless, the value of playing consistent first-grade will hold the Bulldogs in great stead for the future.





CANTERBURY BULLDOGS' 30-MAN NRL SQUAD
Player Date of Birth Height, weight Position NRL matches Rep honours
Adam Elliott 16/10/1994 185cm, 103kg Second-row 55 Country Origin
Aiden Tolman 10/11/1988 183cm, 102kg Prop 234 Country Origin
Brandon Wakeham 11/1/1999 172cm, 78kg Halfback 0 Nil
Chris Smith 16/1/1994 185cm, 104kg Second-row 4 Nil
Christian Crichton 12/7/1996 182cm, 100kg Wing 20 Samoa
Corey Harawira-Naera 18/5/1995 187cm, 96kg Second-row 46 Nil
Danny Fualalo 20/10/1994 187cm, 115kg Prop 58 Nil
Dylan Napa 13/11/1992 198cm, 113kg Prop 121 Queensland, Cook Islands
Fa'amanu Brown 24/12/1994 180cm, 85kg Halfback/Hooker 34 Samoa
Francis Tualau 23/5/1994 187cm, 106kg Prop 10 Nil
Jack Cogger 5/8/1997 176cm, 83kg Halfback 20 Nil
Jayden Okunbor 2/3/1997 196cm, 108kg Second-row 0 Nil
Jeremy Marshall-King 2/12/1995 186cm, 83kg Five-eighth/Halfback 24 Nil
John Olive 4/1/1996 186cm, 95kg Centre/Wing 13 Nil
Josh Jackson (captain) 8/1/1991 180cm, 99kg Second-row 157 NSW, Country Origin
Kerrod Holland 25/9/1992 182cm, 94kg Centre 46 Nil
Kieran Foran 13/7/1990 180cm, 90kg Halfback/Five-eighth 185 New Zealand, NRL All Stars
Lachlan Lewis 19/8/1996 191cm, 91kg Five-eighth 9 Nil
Marcelo Montoya 17/2/1996 189cm, 95kg Centre/Wing 34 Fiji
Michael Lichaa 18/7/1993 183cm, 90kg Hooker 100 Lebanon
Nick Meaney 10/9/1997 187cm, 90kg Fullback 5 Nil
Ofahiki Ogden 6/6/1996 192cm, 106kg Prop 9 Nil
Raymond Faitala-Mariner 26/6/1993 191cm, 105kg Second-row/Prop 55 New Zealand, Samoa
Reimis Smith 13/5/1997 196cm, 97kg Wing/Centre 12 Nil
Renouf To'omaga 25/6/1995 190cm, 110kg Prop 4 Nil
Rhyse Martin 1/3/1993 180cm, 103kg Second-row 14 Papua New Guinea
Sauaso Sue 20/4/1992 188cm, 105kg Prop 116 Samoa
Will Hopoate 9/5/1992 186cm, 97kg Fullback/Centre 123 Tonga, NSW, City Origin
Zac Saddler 16/6/1999 192cm, 111kg Prop 0 Nil
COACH: Dean Pay

Additions (players who weren't in 2018 top 30): Dylan Napa (Sydney Roosters), Jack Cogger (Newcastle Knights), Nick Meaney (Newcastle Knights), Christian Crichton (Penrith Panthers), Sauaso Sue (Wests Tigers), Corey Harawira-Naera (Penrith Panthers), Chris Smith (Sydney Roosters), Brandon Wakeham, Jayden Okunbor

Losses: David Klemmer (Newcastle Knights), Brett Morris (Sydney Roosters), Josh Morris (Cronulla Sharks), Matt Frawley (Huddersfield Giants), Asipeli Fine (unsigned), Clay Priest (unsigned), Greg Eastwood (unsigned)

Re-signed: Raymond Faitala-Mariner (2020), Lachlan Lewis (2020), Jeremy Marshall-King (2020), Rhyse Martin (2020), Reimis Smith (2020)

Off-contract beyond 2019: Fa'amanu Brown, Danny Fualalo, Morgan Harper, Tui Katoa, Michael Lichaa, Rhyse Martin, John Olive, Francis Tualau

CANTERBURY BULLDOGS' BETTING ODDS
Paying $41 (as of 8/12/18), the Bulldogs are second-last in the betting to win the 2019 premiership. If they did shock bookies and lift the Provan-Summons Trophy, it would be the club's first title since 2004.

There isn't much love for Canterbury players in the Dally M Medal market. At a whopping $101, Will Hopoate and Lachlan Lewis are rated the Bulldogs' best chances to take out the honour.

Canterbury are priced at $4 to make the top eight, $10 to finish in the first four and $3.50 to suffer the most losses out of every team.





CANTERBURY BULLDOGS' 2019 DRAW
Round Date Opponent Venue
1 Saturday 16 March 3:00pm New Zealand Warriors Mt Smart Stadium
2 Sunday 24 March 4:05pm Parramatta Eels ANZ Stadium
3 Sunday 31 March 4:05pm Wests Tigers Campbelltown Stadium
4 Sunday 7 April 4:05pm Melbourne Storm AAMI Park
5 Sunday 14 April 4:05pm St George Illawarra Dragons Jubilee Oval
6 Friday 19 April 4:05pm South Sydney Rabbitohs ANZ Stadium
7 Friday 26 April 6:00pm North Queensland Cowboys ANZ Stadium
8 Saturday 4 May 5:30pm Manly Sea Eagles Lottoland
9 Saturday 11 May 3:00pm Newcastle Knights Suncorp Stadium
10 Saturday 18 May 3:00pm Gold Coast Titans Cbus Super Stadium
11 Sunday 26 May 2:00pm Melbourne Storm Belmore Sports Ground
12 Saturday 1 June 7:35pm Canberra Raiders ANZ Stadium
13 Monday 10 June 4:00pm St George Illawarra Dragons ANZ Stadium
14 Sunday 16 June 4:05pm Sydney Roosters Sydney Cricket Ground
15 Sunday 30 June 4:05pm Cronulla Sharks ANZ Stadium
16 BYE – –
17 Friday 12 July 7:55pm Newcastle Knights McDonald Jones Stadium
18 Thursday 18 July 7:50pm Brisbane Broncos Suncorp Stadium
19 Sunday 28 July 2:00pm Sydney Roosters ANZ Stadium
20 Saturday 3 August 5:30pm Penrith Panthers Bankwest Stadium
21 Saturday 10 August 7:35pm Wests Tigers ANZ Stadium
22 Saturday 17 August 7:35pm South Sydney Rabbitohs ANZ Stadium
23 Thursday 22 August 7:50pm Parramatta Eels Bankwest Stadium
24 Thursday 29 August 7:50pm North Queensland Cowboys 1300SMILES Stadium
25 Saturday 7 September 5:30pm Brisbane Broncos ANZ Stadium
Games played on

Thursday: 3

Friday: 3

Saturday: 9

Sunday: 8

Monday: 1

Teams they play twice

Parramatta Eels, Wests Tigers, Melbourne Storm, St George Illawarra Dragons, South Sydney Rabbitohs, North Queensland Cowboys, Newcastle Knights, Sydney Roosters, Brisbane Broncos

It's a big year for...

Dylan Napa.

After six years at the Sydney Roosters where he was part of two premiership-winning squads, Napa arrives at the Bulldogs with huge expectations on him.

The Queensland representative was flanked by stars at the Roosters who shared the load equally. This year, however, he will be Canterbury's chief forward leader in an inexperienced group.

Napa has the opportunity to stamp his authority away from the Bondi club and prove that he's capable of performing at an elite level in a weaker team.

The 26-year-old can cement his standing among the premier props in the competition with a strong season.

View image on Twitter


NRL Bulldogs

✔@NRL_Bulldogs

https://twitter.com/NRL_Bulldogs/status/1067574163756376064

Dylan Napa looking
in the blue and white! #proudtobeabulldog



https://twitter.com/NRL_Bulldogs/status/1067574163756376064
 

Dogna88

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I'll be very suprised if we make the 8
 

Vlasnik

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I'll be very suprised if we make the 8
Even with the large amount of personnel upheaval and changes to our playing roster I still believe we are able to finish this coming season in the top 8. Besides I like the thought of giving all the so called experts a big fat shit burger to eat especially to Buzz and all his Daily Telegraph brothers and sisters.
 

speedy2460

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I think a few of the young forwards will step up. I expect big things from Danny Fualolo.
 

Dingo

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Pleasantly surprised Crichton stands 182cm tall, he looks more like 172cm.
 

albatross

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Re-signed: Raymond Faitala-Mariner (2020), Lachlan Lewis (2020), Jeremy Marshall-King (2020), Rhyse Martin (2020), Reimis Smith (2020)
I thought Martin only signed for one year -2019.
 

boggie23

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Completely forgot about Chris Smith. Sort of faded from the spot light with injuries. But another hard running hard hitting forward.

Funny thing we had klemmer, woods, graham, kasiano on our books recently. But our 19 pack might be more feared even after losing so many rep quality players.

Imagine pinning a team in the corner then running into a fired up Napa, followed by Smith, then CHN, and maybe get flattened by RFM before having to kick from your own 20.

Best part of all this is besides Foran not much deadwood floating around.
 

Kelpie03

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Pay and Anderson must see a lot of potential in Saddler, a prop, only 19 years old, from memory no ISP games and injured most of 2018.
As for CHN only 96 KG, my guess probably bought to play Centre anyway.
 

coach

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Fcuk Klemmer… Imagine we still had Klemmer, Napa, CHN and RFM running around the paddock at the same time.
Wouldn't of had Napa if klemmer stayed
 

BELMORE

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Pleasantly surprised Crichton stands 182cm tall, he looks more like 172cm.
He’s not 182cm. Someone came on this forum and confirmed already. He actually is around. 170cm
 

CrittaMagic69

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Pay and Anderson must see a lot of potential in Saddler, a prop, only 19 years old, from memory no ISP games and injured most of 2018.
As for CHN only 96 KG, my guess probably bought to play Centre anyway.
Pretty sure he has been listed at 96kg for a few years, don't think information like this is very accurate a lot of the time.
 
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