NRL news: Bulldogs launch bid to snare Eels hooker Reed Mahoney
The Bulldogs have stepped up their pursuit of off-contract Eels star Reed Mahoney over dinner at a Chinese restaurant.
Dean Ritchie and
Phil Rothfield
Canterbury has launched a multimillion-dollar bid to sign Parramatta Eels hooker Reed Mahoney over a private dinner at a Chinese restaurant on Tuesday night.
The Daily Telegraph has obtained footage from the Dynasty restaurant inside Canterbury Leagues Club where the club’s heaviest hitters met with Mahoney, who comes off contract after next season.
Bulldogs head coach Trent Barrett was at the meeting along with general manager of football, Phil Gould, club chairman, John Khoury along with Mahoney and his manager, Sam Ayoub.
Before dinner, Mahoney was given a tour of the Bulldogs’ facilities at Belmore Sports Ground.
Mahoney told Canterbury officials he was impressed with the facilities and would make a decision within the next fortnight.
The hooker was upfront with the Bulldogs, telling them he wanted to speak with Parramatta before finalising his decision.
Mahoney, already linked to Brisbane, Gold Coast and the Dolphins, is free to officially explore his options for 2023 given he comes off contract after next season.
Dogs are back and hungry to right recent wrongs
-Dean Ritchie
In sticky 24C temperatures on Wednesday, Canterbury became the first NRL club to start training for the 2022 season. And most would agree the Bulldogs should be first back given they ran last this year.
Even new recruit Max King spoke about wanting to help “restore some pride in the jersey”.
High-profile signing Paul Vaughan was among a group of NRL players, including King, Corey Allan, Jake Averillo, Josh Cook, Jayden Okunbor, Aaron Schoupp, Jackson Topine, Zac Hetherington, Bailey Biondo-Odo, Matt Doorey and Brandon Wakeham, to step out for off-season training on Wednesday.
Players underwent morning screen tests before a gym and wrestle session followed by an afternoon field session. Rookie Bulldog players — along with train-and-trialists – returned to training on Monday.
“I’m just trying to be the best player I can be,” King said. “I feel like it’s been a great match for me coming here because the club’s in that sort of rebuilding stage where they want to put a bit more pride in the jersey. I’m in that stage in my career where I’m hungry to help build the club into that.
“That is one thing that, you know, such a historic club, I’m eager to learn more about that history. Terry Lamb was a bit young for me but I remember it being Willie Mason and Sonny Bill, Steve Price and watching James Graham. But yeah, it is a power club.
“It’s a proud, hardworking club. And I’m sure the club would be the first one to say it’s probably gone away from that over the last couple of years, and that’s probably something it’s aiming to work towards. And, yeah, sort of restore a bit of pride in the jersey.”
Expectations continue to soar at Belmore after an amazing recruitment drive which netted Vaughan, Matt Dufty, Matt Burton, King, Josh Cook, John Asiata, Brent Naden, Braidon Burns, Tevita Pangai and Josh Addo-Carr.
“There is a heap of optimism in and around the club this coming season. They have bought unbelievably well and I guess with that expectations will increase,” Bulldogs great David ‘Cement’ Gillespie said.
“The club has endured a few lean seasons but you can feel the fans are getting their confidence back due to the improved roster.
“Addo-Carr will be huge, as will Burton and Pangai. I reckon Canterbury has easily been the most active and successful club in the open market. Success may not come instantly but I think this is certainly a top eight side. And that’s what the loyal fans deserve.
“Canterbury has such a long and proud history and it hurts everybody to see them on the bottom. Having Gus (Gould) there is also huge for the Bulldogs.”
The mainstays of Canterbury’s top 30 for next season will return on November 17 before the new buys who competed in the 2021 finals — Naden, Burton, Pangai and Addo-Carr – start in early December.
Canterbury won just three games this year and finished last while claiming only three matches in 20202. That equates to a modest six wins in the past 44 games for a win ratio of 13.6 per cent.
Bulldogs CEO Aaron Warburton is understandably upbeat heading into the season.
“There is a really positive vibe around the club at the moment and everyone has bought into what we are trying to achieve this year,” Warburton said.
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