The Dogfather
Kennel Established
- Joined
- Oct 16, 2013
- Messages
- 853
- Reaction score
- 170
2016 position: 7th
Predicted 2017 position: 8th
Key Player: Moses Mbye
2017 Head coach: Des Hasler
What a season 2016 was for the boys from Belmore. A year of drama which has had it all. Board members resigning, staff being shown the door, head coach put on notice and a 7th place finish to end an underwhelming season.
With the Bulldogs faithful questioning where the magic has gone, it is clear that with a 12 year premiership drought the fans are hungry for success. The 2016 season saw the club struggle to build any sort of pressure and grind out the tough games. They scored fewer points than any of the teams in the top 8 and only managed to force 29 repeat sets. The season finished with 14 wins and 10 losses as the club only managed to score 91 tries whilst conceding 78.
Inconsistency was the story of the 2016 season. Long gone are the days of the 'Dogs Of War'. In their place are a Bulldogs side merely making up the numbers following their elimination final loss to Penrith. Boasting one of the most lethal forward packs in the game, there was no reason why the Bulldogs could not have been real premiership contenders.
As the preparations for the 2017 season have begun, the Bulldogs faithful have every right to fear what is yet to come. Premiership winning coach Des Hasler seems to have lost his punch with the dogs lacking spark in attack. The 1-6-7-9 combination failed to guide the club to a top four finish. With Josh Reynolds, Michael Lichaa and Will Hopoate all coming off contract at the end of 2017, there is a big question mark over who will lead the club into the future. Having signed playmaker Josh Cleeland from Cronulla and young dummy half Zac Woolford from Canberra, the pressure is building on the current Bulldogs spine which has failed to provide the same clinical control shown by the more experienced playmakers in the NRL.
It is relatively unknown what lies ahead in 2017 but one thing is for certain, the boys from Belmore are set for another long year. Everyone is under pressure to perform with Moses Mbye emerging as a key player next season. His ability to lead the team around the park will either make or break the Bulldogs' season.
Head coach Des Hasler is in need of results. With his future hanging in the balance he must somehow guide the club out of their form slump and help them become one of the competition's heavyweight sides. With no big name recruit as of yet and a disappointing season in 2016, the Bulldogs are looking at an 8th place finish in 2017.
2017 Gains: Tom Carr (St George Illawarra Dragons), Josh Cleeland (Cronulla Sharks), Richard Kennar (Melbourne Storm), Brenko Lee (Canberra Raiders), Rhyse Martin (Townsville Blackhawks), Francis Tualau (Melbourne Storm), Zac Woolford (Canberra Raiders)
2017 Losses: Tim Browne (Penrith Panthers), Dane Chisholm (Bradford Bulls), Graham Clark (released), Shaun Lane (Manly Sea Eagles), Lamar Liolevave (released), Makahesi Makatoa (Canberra Raiders), Lyndon McGrady (released), Jarrod McInally (QLD Cup), Pat O'Hanlon (retired), Sam Perrett (retired), Curtis Rona (Rugby Union), Tony Williams (Cronulla Sharks)
Predicted 2017 position: 8th
Key Player: Moses Mbye
2017 Head coach: Des Hasler
What a season 2016 was for the boys from Belmore. A year of drama which has had it all. Board members resigning, staff being shown the door, head coach put on notice and a 7th place finish to end an underwhelming season.
With the Bulldogs faithful questioning where the magic has gone, it is clear that with a 12 year premiership drought the fans are hungry for success. The 2016 season saw the club struggle to build any sort of pressure and grind out the tough games. They scored fewer points than any of the teams in the top 8 and only managed to force 29 repeat sets. The season finished with 14 wins and 10 losses as the club only managed to score 91 tries whilst conceding 78.
Inconsistency was the story of the 2016 season. Long gone are the days of the 'Dogs Of War'. In their place are a Bulldogs side merely making up the numbers following their elimination final loss to Penrith. Boasting one of the most lethal forward packs in the game, there was no reason why the Bulldogs could not have been real premiership contenders.
As the preparations for the 2017 season have begun, the Bulldogs faithful have every right to fear what is yet to come. Premiership winning coach Des Hasler seems to have lost his punch with the dogs lacking spark in attack. The 1-6-7-9 combination failed to guide the club to a top four finish. With Josh Reynolds, Michael Lichaa and Will Hopoate all coming off contract at the end of 2017, there is a big question mark over who will lead the club into the future. Having signed playmaker Josh Cleeland from Cronulla and young dummy half Zac Woolford from Canberra, the pressure is building on the current Bulldogs spine which has failed to provide the same clinical control shown by the more experienced playmakers in the NRL.
It is relatively unknown what lies ahead in 2017 but one thing is for certain, the boys from Belmore are set for another long year. Everyone is under pressure to perform with Moses Mbye emerging as a key player next season. His ability to lead the team around the park will either make or break the Bulldogs' season.
Head coach Des Hasler is in need of results. With his future hanging in the balance he must somehow guide the club out of their form slump and help them become one of the competition's heavyweight sides. With no big name recruit as of yet and a disappointing season in 2016, the Bulldogs are looking at an 8th place finish in 2017.
2017 Gains: Tom Carr (St George Illawarra Dragons), Josh Cleeland (Cronulla Sharks), Richard Kennar (Melbourne Storm), Brenko Lee (Canberra Raiders), Rhyse Martin (Townsville Blackhawks), Francis Tualau (Melbourne Storm), Zac Woolford (Canberra Raiders)
2017 Losses: Tim Browne (Penrith Panthers), Dane Chisholm (Bradford Bulls), Graham Clark (released), Shaun Lane (Manly Sea Eagles), Lamar Liolevave (released), Makahesi Makatoa (Canberra Raiders), Lyndon McGrady (released), Jarrod McInally (QLD Cup), Pat O'Hanlon (retired), Sam Perrett (retired), Curtis Rona (Rugby Union), Tony Williams (Cronulla Sharks)
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