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Leadership guru helps Reed Mahoney turn Bulldogs around
Forthright about the upcoming 2024 season.
Brutally honest on where the Bulldogs need to improve.
And determined to become a better captain by employing his own leadership guru.
Canterbury skipper Reed Mahoney has turned to Andrew May, the highly-regarded performance coach, who has worked with Manly’s Anthony Seibold, ARL Commission chairman Wayne Pearce, ARU boss Phil Waugh and former Test cricketer and NSW captain Simon Katich, in a bid to become a stronger leader for the Dogs next season.
In his first interview since commencing pre-season training, Mahoney was also bullish about the Bulldogs’ chances of making the finals for the first time since 2016.
“The sky’s the limit for us,’’ Mahoney said, when asked if Canterbury can play finals in 2024.
“It’s about the work we do now at training before Christmas and how we come back after Christmas.
“We need to connect, gel and work our butts off.
“We’ve got some great players coming, we’ve got some great players here, it’s about bringing it all together.’’
LEADERSHIP
The Bulldogs’ leadership void stuck out like a beacon in 2023, triggered by the sudden retirement of Josh Jackson this time last year.
It led to the appointment of current co-captains Matt Burton, Reed Mahoney and Raymond Faitala-Mariner. All, while seriously talented, were rookie leaders, having never led an NRL dressing room before.
Mahoney spoke with honesty when dissecting how he handled leading the Dogs in 2023.
“I definitely think that the last 12 months, coming to a new club, under a new head coach, new everything and then becoming captain as well, it can become quite overwhelming,’’ Mahoney said.
“During the year, there were a lot of lessons for all of us, the whole club.
“There were probably times in the year that I tried too hard because of the results we were not getting.
“My actions are my best way to lead.
“I look at the best leaders to have played the game, like Daly Cherry-Evans and Cameron Smith, I look at how they were the best for so long?
“I’m really young in that sense.
“But being able to lead the way in the pre-season and setting a good benchmark for the young boys, by being the hardest worker, that’s where it begins.’’
CAPTAIN’S CLASS
Last Wednesday, when the rest of the playing squad were relaxing in each other’s company, Mahoney met May and head coach Cameron Ciraldo for lunch at Canterbury Leagues Club.
Mahoney took a notepad to the lunch, where he, May and Ciraldo discussed the tools the talented hooker can use to become a better leader.
“Andrew was at Parra with me and as I moved on, I wanted to keep him with me,’’ Mahoney said.
“We’ve talked regularly and we’ve had some really honest and truthful conversations in the last 12 months about myself.
“And they’re all lessons that I’ve learned and hopefully I don’t make those mistakes again.
“This happens when you start to lose. You start to doubt yourself and you get frustrated.
“All these little things start to creep in where you don’t realise.
“Maybe I could’ve been a better leader in those times, but they were all lessons for me.
“I know I’m going to be better for it, for my teammates.’’
RECRUITS
The Bulldogs have moved quickly to add layers of experience to the 2024 roster with no less than nine new recruits totalling 771 NRL appearances.
A tragic footy fan who watches old games on his days off, we asked Mahoney who of the nine, he was most looking forward to working with.
“I’ve liked the look of all of them,’’ Mahoney said.
“Our biggest one is Stephen Crichton, who is alongside the biggest recruits of the Bulldogs in a long time.
“I know he’ll come in and buy-in straight away. He’s obviously got a strong relationship with Ciro (Ciraldo).
“But you add Josh Curran, (Siosiua) Taukeiaho, (Blake) Taaffe, (Jaemon) Salmon, they all come from great clubs that have been successful, but are all good people and that is what we are about here at the Dogs.’’
HALVES
A pivotal member of the spine at dummy-half, Mahoney finished the 2023 season with Matt Burton and Toby Sexton as his two halves partners.
However, the recruitment of halfback Drew Hutchison from the Roosters, ex-Knights ballrunner Kurt Mann, Panthers utility and former NSW under-18s five-eighth Jaemon Salmon and South Sydney fullback or half Blake Taaffe, suddenly provides Ciraldo with option in his halves.
Mahoney stopped short of declaring his preferred halves partner.
However, in a sign of his developing leadership and forthright attitude, declared that no jersey or position was assured in 2024.
“Burto and Toby did a fairly good job at the back end of last year and we started to get a good understanding and connection together,’’ Mahoney said.
“The thing with Burto is, he’s a freak. He could play fullback if he wanted too.
“However, that will be the coach’s decision.
“What I do know is that every spot is open.
“Whether it’s your first pre season or your eighth pre-season, you’ve got to earn your spot.’’
Forthright about the upcoming 2024 season.
Brutally honest on where the Bulldogs need to improve.
And determined to become a better captain by employing his own leadership guru.
Canterbury skipper Reed Mahoney has turned to Andrew May, the highly-regarded performance coach, who has worked with Manly’s Anthony Seibold, ARL Commission chairman Wayne Pearce, ARU boss Phil Waugh and former Test cricketer and NSW captain Simon Katich, in a bid to become a stronger leader for the Dogs next season.
In his first interview since commencing pre-season training, Mahoney was also bullish about the Bulldogs’ chances of making the finals for the first time since 2016.
“The sky’s the limit for us,’’ Mahoney said, when asked if Canterbury can play finals in 2024.
“It’s about the work we do now at training before Christmas and how we come back after Christmas.
“We need to connect, gel and work our butts off.
“We’ve got some great players coming, we’ve got some great players here, it’s about bringing it all together.’’
LEADERSHIP
The Bulldogs’ leadership void stuck out like a beacon in 2023, triggered by the sudden retirement of Josh Jackson this time last year.
It led to the appointment of current co-captains Matt Burton, Reed Mahoney and Raymond Faitala-Mariner. All, while seriously talented, were rookie leaders, having never led an NRL dressing room before.
Mahoney spoke with honesty when dissecting how he handled leading the Dogs in 2023.
“I definitely think that the last 12 months, coming to a new club, under a new head coach, new everything and then becoming captain as well, it can become quite overwhelming,’’ Mahoney said.
“During the year, there were a lot of lessons for all of us, the whole club.
“There were probably times in the year that I tried too hard because of the results we were not getting.
“My actions are my best way to lead.
“I look at the best leaders to have played the game, like Daly Cherry-Evans and Cameron Smith, I look at how they were the best for so long?
“I’m really young in that sense.
“But being able to lead the way in the pre-season and setting a good benchmark for the young boys, by being the hardest worker, that’s where it begins.’’
CAPTAIN’S CLASS
Last Wednesday, when the rest of the playing squad were relaxing in each other’s company, Mahoney met May and head coach Cameron Ciraldo for lunch at Canterbury Leagues Club.
Mahoney took a notepad to the lunch, where he, May and Ciraldo discussed the tools the talented hooker can use to become a better leader.
“Andrew was at Parra with me and as I moved on, I wanted to keep him with me,’’ Mahoney said.
“We’ve talked regularly and we’ve had some really honest and truthful conversations in the last 12 months about myself.
“And they’re all lessons that I’ve learned and hopefully I don’t make those mistakes again.
“This happens when you start to lose. You start to doubt yourself and you get frustrated.
“All these little things start to creep in where you don’t realise.
“Maybe I could’ve been a better leader in those times, but they were all lessons for me.
“I know I’m going to be better for it, for my teammates.’’
RECRUITS
The Bulldogs have moved quickly to add layers of experience to the 2024 roster with no less than nine new recruits totalling 771 NRL appearances.
A tragic footy fan who watches old games on his days off, we asked Mahoney who of the nine, he was most looking forward to working with.
“I’ve liked the look of all of them,’’ Mahoney said.
“Our biggest one is Stephen Crichton, who is alongside the biggest recruits of the Bulldogs in a long time.
“I know he’ll come in and buy-in straight away. He’s obviously got a strong relationship with Ciro (Ciraldo).
“But you add Josh Curran, (Siosiua) Taukeiaho, (Blake) Taaffe, (Jaemon) Salmon, they all come from great clubs that have been successful, but are all good people and that is what we are about here at the Dogs.’’
HALVES
A pivotal member of the spine at dummy-half, Mahoney finished the 2023 season with Matt Burton and Toby Sexton as his two halves partners.
However, the recruitment of halfback Drew Hutchison from the Roosters, ex-Knights ballrunner Kurt Mann, Panthers utility and former NSW under-18s five-eighth Jaemon Salmon and South Sydney fullback or half Blake Taaffe, suddenly provides Ciraldo with option in his halves.
Mahoney stopped short of declaring his preferred halves partner.
However, in a sign of his developing leadership and forthright attitude, declared that no jersey or position was assured in 2024.
“Burto and Toby did a fairly good job at the back end of last year and we started to get a good understanding and connection together,’’ Mahoney said.
“The thing with Burto is, he’s a freak. He could play fullback if he wanted too.
“However, that will be the coach’s decision.
“What I do know is that every spot is open.
“Whether it’s your first pre season or your eighth pre-season, you’ve got to earn your spot.’’
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