PRESSURE GAUGE: VERY HIGH
THE BULLDOGS
Phil Gould has been at Belmore for three years, finishing 16th (wooden spoon) in 2021, 12th in 2022 and 15th last season under hyped-up new coach Cameron Ciraldo.
It’s a slow old rebuild at a club that has become more of a transit lounge than a title contender.
There has been zero stability – they have used 70 players since Gould arrived.
Yes, they needed a roster shake-up but this is by far the most of any club.
In the same time Cronulla has used 38, the Rabbitohs 43 and Penrith 44. The Wests Tigers (57) have turned over the second-highest number of players.
No one’s job is safe. “It creates uncertainty with players walking on eggshells,” said one Penrith official from Gould’s days at the foot of the mountains.
One leading player agent, with two of the biggest names in the NRL, now refuses to do business with the club because of the manner in which contracts have been broken.
On paper the Bulldogs should improve.
Phil Gould’s Bulldogs revolution is yet to bear fruit. Picture: Julian Andrews
They have picked up an outstanding big-match, X-factor player in Stephen Crichton.
Worryingly though, you look at other key signings at Belmore in recent times and it’s fair to say the likes of Reed Mahoney, Matt Burton and Josh Addo-Carr are not the same players they were at their previous clubs.
Outside of Crichton there have been some puzzling calls on recruitment.
Last year after a 66-nil loss to the Knights, Gould called a press conference. He announced a plan to: “rebuild from within”. To put resources into pathways and junior development.
In a complete contradiction they offloaded outstanding local juniors Jake Averillo (Moorebank Rams) and Paul Alamoti (Milperra Colts) to the Dolphins and Panthers. They also released highly regarded SG Ball centre Michael Gabrael to the Cronulla Sharks. He scored three tries last weekend in his first SG Ball game for the Sharks.
The Dogs have gone for a whole host of handy utility players – Connor Tracey, Blake Taaffe, Kurt Mann, Jaeman Salmon and Drew Hutchison.
All were borderline first graders at their previous clubs.
REVOLVING DOOR: Number of players clubs have used over the past three years
| Cronulla | 38 |
| South Sydney | 43 |
| Penrith | 44 |
| Canberra | 46 |
| Parramatta | 47 |
| Manly | 48 |
| Newcastle | 49 |
| North Queensland | 49 |
| Gold Coast | 49 |
| Sydney Roosters | 49 |
| Melbourne | 50 |
| St George Illawarra | 52 |
| Warriors | 55 |
| Brisbane | 56 |
| Wests Tigers | 57 |
| Canterbury | 70 |
It’s puzzling because the positions that really needed strengthening – halfback and front-row – have been ignored.
Gould hired Ciraldo on a five-year $4 million contract. Some are now suggesting he took the wrong coach from Penrith, although Ciraldo has respect from the players.
Gus could have got Andrew Webster, the man who did such a terrific job with the Warriors to be named Dally M coach of the year.
Gould doesn’t have a great record with coaching appointments.
In 2015 he sacked Ivan Cleary at the Penrith Panthers because he was “tired”, replaced him with Anthony Griffin from the Broncos, extended Griffin’s contract – then sacked him a few months later.
Gould then quit Penrith when then chairman Dave O’Neill stepped in and brought Cleary back.
The man Gus didn’t want has since coached Penrith to four-straight grand finals and won three-straight premierships.
