Canterbury Bulldogs fans, the premiership wait is nearly over, if you believe the social media prophecy giving long-suffering fans hope.
Long-suffering Canterbury Bulldogs fans believe the nearly two-decade long premiership drought is almost over, according to a wild trend that has taken NRL social media by storm.
The Bulldogs had yet another horror season, finishing in 15th place on the NRL ladder with just seven wins and sporting the NRL’s worst defence and second worst attack in 2023.
The Bulldogs had a horror end to the season, winning just one of their last seven and two of their matches after round 12 and extending their finals drought another year, having last featured in the playoffs in 2016.
It also didn’t help that the club was embroiled in ugly accusations late in the season where first-year coach Cameron Ciraldo was
slammed for his training practices after a player walked away from the club after a wrestling punishment dragged the club
into the spotlight.
When you’re losing, everything becomes harder.
But despite the club’s dire position, the fans have some hope thanks to history.
The Bulldogs club has been around since 1935 but what interests fans most is the record since 1974.
In that season, the Dogs lost the grand final 19-4 to Eastern Suburbs.
A decade later in 1984, the club won its fourth premiership 6-4 over the Eels.
In 1994, Canberra beat the Bulldogs 36-12 in the grand final.
The Bulldogs’ last premiership victory was in 2004, a 16-13 win over the Roosters.
In 2014, the Dogs lost 30-6 against the Rabbitohs.
See where we’re going with this?
Since 1974, the club as gone L, W (1984), L (1994), W (2004) and L (2014), meaning the club is due for another W in 2024.
Interestingly, it was the Bulldogs that ended the last three-peat when the ended the Eels reign of premierships in 1981, 1982 and 1983 with a win in 1984.
Could history repeat itself again?
A TikTok user who goes by Trademark Sports added that in 2003, the Dogs won the Jersey Flegg competition, then won first grade in 2004.