djdeep4172
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BULLDOGS
Halves: Matt Burton (also centre), Jake Averillo (also centre), Kyle Flanagan, Brandon Wakeham, Bailey Biondi-Odo (also hooker)
Hooker: Jeremy Marshall-King (also halves), Josh Cook
Prop: Paul Vaughan, Jack Hetherington (also second row), Luke Thompson (also lock), Ava Seumanufagai, Chris Patolo
Second row: Raymond Faitala Mariner, Tevita Pangai Jr (also prop), Matt Doorey, Joe Stimson, Corey Waddell, Jackson Topine (also hooker)
Lock: Josh Jackson (also second row), Max King (also second row and prop)
Fullback: Matt Dufty, Corey Allan (also wing)
Centre: Brent Naden (also fullback), Aaron Schoupp, Paul Alamoti
Wing: Josh Addo-Carr, Jayden Okunbor, Tui Katoa, Braidon Burns (also centre)
The Bulldogs led the way in recruitment for 2022. The additions of Matt Burton, Matt Dufty, Brent Naden, Paul Vaughan and Tevita Pangai Jr will do wonders for the team’s competitiveness — and depth.
What will also benefit them is that they are the only NSW-based club to have two feeder teams after announcing last year that they will field their own NSW Cup side, while also continuing a partnership with Mounties. If Covid or injuries sweep through an NRL squad, you want as many feeder teams as possible — the more options of players, the better.
New recruit Josh Cook provides genuine depth at hooker, while the club’s 2021 Rookie of the Year, Bailey Biondi-Odo also got a taste of dummy-half, as well as the halves last season.
Josh Jackson is most dominant at lock, opening up a spot for Tevita Pangai Jr to cement in the second row. Meanwhile, fiery prop Jack Hetherington was trialled on an edge late last season and was impressive.
The second row could do with some reinforcements though. Raymond Faitala-Mariner is coming back from a long stint on the sidelines with a serious foot injury, while Matt Doorey will miss the first couple of months of the season due to an ACL injury. Maybe Willie Mason can dust off the boots.
Expect Brent Naden and Aaron Shoupp to nail down the starting centre roles, and while Paul Alamoti is tipped to have a big future, there should be no rush to throw the 18-year-old in the deep end. While the Bulldogs freed up cap space by releasing Nick Cotric early, they also lost a stack of talent and experience in the outside backs. Braidon Burns can play on the wing or in the centres but another outside back should be on the Dogs’ hit-list.
And it’s hard to ignore the lack of experience in the halves. Matt Burton is the club’s best option, but it’s important to remember this will be his first full season as an NRL half. Coach Trent Barrett is invested in Jake Averillo, but he’s still very much in the development stage. As are Kyle Flanagan and Brandon Wakeham.
The club only has one spot left in the Top 30 though so there will have to be a decision on which position is more pressing. There were reports claiming winger Jacob Kiraz had signed, but the club is yet to confirm that. They haven’t signed any players to development contracts though so there are four spaces there.
Halves: Matt Burton (also centre), Jake Averillo (also centre), Kyle Flanagan, Brandon Wakeham, Bailey Biondi-Odo (also hooker)
Hooker: Jeremy Marshall-King (also halves), Josh Cook
Prop: Paul Vaughan, Jack Hetherington (also second row), Luke Thompson (also lock), Ava Seumanufagai, Chris Patolo
Second row: Raymond Faitala Mariner, Tevita Pangai Jr (also prop), Matt Doorey, Joe Stimson, Corey Waddell, Jackson Topine (also hooker)
Lock: Josh Jackson (also second row), Max King (also second row and prop)
Fullback: Matt Dufty, Corey Allan (also wing)
Centre: Brent Naden (also fullback), Aaron Schoupp, Paul Alamoti
Wing: Josh Addo-Carr, Jayden Okunbor, Tui Katoa, Braidon Burns (also centre)
The Bulldogs led the way in recruitment for 2022. The additions of Matt Burton, Matt Dufty, Brent Naden, Paul Vaughan and Tevita Pangai Jr will do wonders for the team’s competitiveness — and depth.
What will also benefit them is that they are the only NSW-based club to have two feeder teams after announcing last year that they will field their own NSW Cup side, while also continuing a partnership with Mounties. If Covid or injuries sweep through an NRL squad, you want as many feeder teams as possible — the more options of players, the better.
New recruit Josh Cook provides genuine depth at hooker, while the club’s 2021 Rookie of the Year, Bailey Biondi-Odo also got a taste of dummy-half, as well as the halves last season.
Josh Jackson is most dominant at lock, opening up a spot for Tevita Pangai Jr to cement in the second row. Meanwhile, fiery prop Jack Hetherington was trialled on an edge late last season and was impressive.
The second row could do with some reinforcements though. Raymond Faitala-Mariner is coming back from a long stint on the sidelines with a serious foot injury, while Matt Doorey will miss the first couple of months of the season due to an ACL injury. Maybe Willie Mason can dust off the boots.
Expect Brent Naden and Aaron Shoupp to nail down the starting centre roles, and while Paul Alamoti is tipped to have a big future, there should be no rush to throw the 18-year-old in the deep end. While the Bulldogs freed up cap space by releasing Nick Cotric early, they also lost a stack of talent and experience in the outside backs. Braidon Burns can play on the wing or in the centres but another outside back should be on the Dogs’ hit-list.
And it’s hard to ignore the lack of experience in the halves. Matt Burton is the club’s best option, but it’s important to remember this will be his first full season as an NRL half. Coach Trent Barrett is invested in Jake Averillo, but he’s still very much in the development stage. As are Kyle Flanagan and Brandon Wakeham.
The club only has one spot left in the Top 30 though so there will have to be a decision on which position is more pressing. There were reports claiming winger Jacob Kiraz had signed, but the club is yet to confirm that. They haven’t signed any players to development contracts though so there are four spaces there.
