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CANTERBURY are planning to host their first NRL match in 17 years at their spiritual home of Belmore Oval next season.
The historical move back to the ground the Bulldogs last called home in 1998 will coincide with the club's 80th anniversary celebrations.
Bulldogs chief executive Raelene Castle confirmed to The Sunday Telegraph ahead of today's trial match against South Sydney, which will be played at the 94-year-old ground, that planning had already begun to return for an official NRL match in 2015.
"As part of our strategic plan there is an aim to get Belmore to a stage where we could bring an NRL game back home and we continue to work towards that,'' Castle said.
"We also believe that would be a very nice fit for our 80th anniversary celebrations in 2015."
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While consideration for who the Dogs would play in their return to Belmore match remains premature, it's likely they would host an out-of-town team like the Melbourne Storm or North Queensland Cowboys.
A crowd of close to 10,000 is expected for today's trial match, but club officials believe that Belmore would cater for almost 15,000 for an official NRL match.
In recent years, Belmore Oval has undergone a $7m upgrade.
The Dogs players and coaching staff now boast world class training facilities, high performance unit, gymnasium and offices.
A second stage of development to then ground and precinct is dependent on state funding.
"We've had four million dollars of state funding confirmed in the budget, which is about half of the funding required to develop stage two of Belmore,'' Castle said.
"It includes an arts and multicultural facility and stadium facilities, including dressing rooms on Peter Moore field (adjacent to Belmore Oval) for the Sydney Olympic football club.
"It would take what is currently a high-performance sporting facility into a genuine community facility which will add great value to the people of this area.''
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The Bulldogs are currently contracted to play their home games out of ANZ Stadium.
A one-off return to Belmore next season would be supported by the NRL despite a strategic plan over the next five seasons to force every club into bigger stadiums and away from traditional home grounds.
Dogs coach Des Hasler has named a 33-man squad to tackle Michael Maguire's Rabbitohs. Canterbury's squad includes NRL regulars co-captain Michael Ennis and Frank Pritchard, Greg Eastwood, James Graham, Josh Morris and Tony Williams.
Josh Reynolds, Reni Maitua and David Klemmer have been rested.
South Sydney's squad also features several NRL stars including new recruits Lote Tuqiri, Joel Reddy and Joel Picker.
And in what will be an intriguing preview to the season ahead, the Rabbitohs Adam Reynolds and Luke Keary will line-up together this afternoon in the halves
The historical move back to the ground the Bulldogs last called home in 1998 will coincide with the club's 80th anniversary celebrations.
Bulldogs chief executive Raelene Castle confirmed to The Sunday Telegraph ahead of today's trial match against South Sydney, which will be played at the 94-year-old ground, that planning had already begun to return for an official NRL match in 2015.
"As part of our strategic plan there is an aim to get Belmore to a stage where we could bring an NRL game back home and we continue to work towards that,'' Castle said.
"We also believe that would be a very nice fit for our 80th anniversary celebrations in 2015."
SUPERCOACH: FRONT ROW 4:16
Play video
Ahead of the 2014 NRL season, Supercoach experts Heath Kelly and Tom 'Guru' Sangster take us through the front row must haves.
While consideration for who the Dogs would play in their return to Belmore match remains premature, it's likely they would host an out-of-town team like the Melbourne Storm or North Queensland Cowboys.
A crowd of close to 10,000 is expected for today's trial match, but club officials believe that Belmore would cater for almost 15,000 for an official NRL match.
In recent years, Belmore Oval has undergone a $7m upgrade.
The Dogs players and coaching staff now boast world class training facilities, high performance unit, gymnasium and offices.
A second stage of development to then ground and precinct is dependent on state funding.
"We've had four million dollars of state funding confirmed in the budget, which is about half of the funding required to develop stage two of Belmore,'' Castle said.
"It includes an arts and multicultural facility and stadium facilities, including dressing rooms on Peter Moore field (adjacent to Belmore Oval) for the Sydney Olympic football club.
"It would take what is currently a high-performance sporting facility into a genuine community facility which will add great value to the people of this area.''
RUGBY LEAGUE'S GREATEST COMEBACKS AND HEARTBREAKS 2:37
Play video
Ahead of a 2014 NRL season with so much promise, we take a look at some of the game's most inspiring comebacks and heartbreaking injuries.
The Bulldogs are currently contracted to play their home games out of ANZ Stadium.
A one-off return to Belmore next season would be supported by the NRL despite a strategic plan over the next five seasons to force every club into bigger stadiums and away from traditional home grounds.
Dogs coach Des Hasler has named a 33-man squad to tackle Michael Maguire's Rabbitohs. Canterbury's squad includes NRL regulars co-captain Michael Ennis and Frank Pritchard, Greg Eastwood, James Graham, Josh Morris and Tony Williams.
Josh Reynolds, Reni Maitua and David Klemmer have been rested.
South Sydney's squad also features several NRL stars including new recruits Lote Tuqiri, Joel Reddy and Joel Picker.
And in what will be an intriguing preview to the season ahead, the Rabbitohs Adam Reynolds and Luke Keary will line-up together this afternoon in the halves
