Papa Joe
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Author: Brad Walter
www.nrl.com
With a new coach and the recruitment of some big name players, Canterbury will start the season full of hope but fans need to remain patient because 2023 is likely to be merely another step in the club's rebuilding phase.
After finishing 12th last year under the guidance of interim coach Mick Potter following the mid-season sacking of Trent Barrett, a place in the top eight should be a realistic goal for Cameron Ciraldo's men.
Ryan Sutton adds experience in the middle alongside fellow English prop Luke Thompson, while Viliame Kikau provides strike on the edge and Reed Mahoney is the quality specialist dummy half Canterbury have lacked in recent seasons.
However, the Bulldogs are also investing heavily in young talent under Ciraldo - touted as a development coach - and it is expected to take time before he can shape the team into premiership contenders.
Cameron Ciraldo will take charge of a new look Bulldogs side in 2023 ©Hattie Ryan/Bulldogs Media
Predicted Round 1 team
1. Jake Averillo
2. Jacob Kiraz
3. Braidon Burns
4. Paul Alamoti
5. Josh Addo-Carr
6. Matt Burton
7. Kyle Flanagan
8. Luke Thompson
9. Reed Mahoney
10. Ryan Sutton
11. Raymond Faitala-Mariner
12. Viliame Kikau
13. Max King
14. Fa’amanu Brown
15. Tevita Pangai Junior
16. Jackson Topine
17. Corey Waddell
Others: Bailey Biondi-Odo, Declan Casey, Brandon Clarke, Andrew Davey, Samuel Hughes, Iverson Matai (development), Isaac Matalavea-Booth (development), Jayden Okunbor, Joseph O’Neill (development), Chris Patolo, Franklin Pele, Hayze Perham, Jacob Preston, Jordan Samrani (development), Jeral Skelton.
Hooker Reed Mahoney is one of the new faces at Belmore ©Arthur Meredith/Bulldogs Media
Squad watch
Among the others on train-and-trial deals are boom playmaker Khaled Rajab, who starred for Lebanon at the World Cup, halfback Bailey Hayward, who played for Scotland, utility Zac Hetherington – the son of Bulldogs great Jason Hetherington – and Australian Schoolboys star Joash Papali’i.
Bulldogs rookie Khaled Rajab starred for Lebanon at the World Cup ©Getty Images
The presence of Reynolds and Rajab is set to keep halfback Kyle Flanagan on his toes after winning back the No.7 jersey last year.
Off-season recruits Andrew Davey and Franklin Pele provide depth in the forwards but Canterbury’s stocks in the outside backs appear low after the departures of Aaron Schoupp and Corey Allan, although young centres Paul Alamoti and Jeral Skelton are highly rated.
Health watch
Bulldogs head physiotherapist: Adrian Low reports that rookie fullback Declan Casey is set to return in round two after undergoing off-season shoulder surgery. Casey has returned to running and commenced light weights in the gym.
Utility Bailey Biondi-Odo is expected to be sidelined until July with the knee injury that ruled him out of Papua New Guinea’s World Cup campaign.
Biondi-Odo ruptured his ACL during the NSW Cup play-offs and has started weight training in the gym as he recovers from surgery.
Rookie forward Sam Hughes underwent lumbar disc surgery in September to treat a lower back injury. He has begun on-field running and will soon integrate into team-based activities, with an expected return to playing in round three.
2022 debutant Billy Tsikrikas is on track to play in round 1 after his rookie season was cut short when he injured his medial patella ligament and medial meniscus. Tsikrikas has returned to the field where he has resumed non-contact fieldwork.
Most contentious position
Can Josh Addo-Carr captain the team from the wing, or will new coach Cameron Ciraldo choose star playmaker Matt Burton or one of his big name recruits, Viliame Kikau or Reed Mahoney, to lead the team.
RELATEDNRL NEWS
Follow the Foxx: Addo-Carr puts hand up to lead Bulldogs
Captaining the Bulldogs is a prestigious position and just four men have held the honour since the club’s last premiership triumph in 2004 – Andrew Ryan, Michael Ennis, James Graham and Josh Jackson.
With Jackson’s retirement, Canterbury will have a new captain for the first time since Graham handed over the reins to him at the end of the 2017 season.
Graham had inherited the role three years earlier from Mick Ennis, who was appointed captain after Andrew Ryan’s retirement in 2011.
Ryan had captained the Bulldogs to grand final glory in 2004 after Steve Price was ruled out with injury and he took over the role the next season following the Test prop’s departure to the Warriors.
Steve Price and Andrew Ryan celebrate the 2004 grand final win ©NRL Photos
Addo-Carr, who captained the Indigenous All Stars last season, has put his hand up to lead the team, while Kikau has credentials after co-captaining Fiji at the World Cup.
However, Mahoney and Burton are the players who will handle the ball the most for the Bulldogs so it could also make sense for one of them to officially call the shots.
Biggest strength
Canterbury’s left edge is set to rival South Sydney’s for potency, with the recruitment of Fiji strike forward Viliame Kikau from Penrith.
The Burton and Foxx magic show
The Burton and Foxx magic show
Kikau will play outside star five-eighth Matt Burton, who last season formed a lethal partnership with left winger Josh Addo-Carr and the combination of the trio will be a major threat to rival defences.
Biggest question mark
The Bulldogs have recruited strongly but they are also putting a lot of faith in new coach Cameron Ciraldo’s ability to develop the young talent in the squad, particularly in the outside backs.
Jake Averillo is only 22 but he has played every position in the Canterbury backline in his 54 NRL appearances – of which only the last 10 have been in his preferred fullback role.
Star winger Jacob Kiraz, who played fullback for Lebanon at the World Cup, was a contender for NRL rookie of the year last season, while 18-year-old centre Paul Alamoti and former schoolboys rugby union star Jeral Skelton are yet to make their first grade debuts.
Most-watched tries of 2022: No. 17
Most-watched tries of 2022: No. 17
Canterbury Bulldogs 2023 draw snapshot
Pre-season Challenge information
• Feb 12: Bulldogs v Raiders at Ack Weyman Oval, Moruya
• Feb 19: Bulldogs v Sharks at Belmore Sports Ground
Team Talk: Bulldogs 2023 overview, best 17, squad update
With a new coach and the recruitment of some big name stars, Canterbury will start the season full of hope but fans need to remain patient.
www.nrl.com
With a new coach and the recruitment of some big name players, Canterbury will start the season full of hope but fans need to remain patient because 2023 is likely to be merely another step in the club's rebuilding phase.
After finishing 12th last year under the guidance of interim coach Mick Potter following the mid-season sacking of Trent Barrett, a place in the top eight should be a realistic goal for Cameron Ciraldo's men.
Ryan Sutton adds experience in the middle alongside fellow English prop Luke Thompson, while Viliame Kikau provides strike on the edge and Reed Mahoney is the quality specialist dummy half Canterbury have lacked in recent seasons.
However, the Bulldogs are also investing heavily in young talent under Ciraldo - touted as a development coach - and it is expected to take time before he can shape the team into premiership contenders.
Cameron Ciraldo will take charge of a new look Bulldogs side in 2023 ©Hattie Ryan/Bulldogs Media
Predicted Round 1 team
1. Jake Averillo
2. Jacob Kiraz
3. Braidon Burns
4. Paul Alamoti
5. Josh Addo-Carr
6. Matt Burton
7. Kyle Flanagan
8. Luke Thompson
9. Reed Mahoney
10. Ryan Sutton
11. Raymond Faitala-Mariner
12. Viliame Kikau
13. Max King
14. Fa’amanu Brown
15. Tevita Pangai Junior
16. Jackson Topine
17. Corey Waddell
Others: Bailey Biondi-Odo, Declan Casey, Brandon Clarke, Andrew Davey, Samuel Hughes, Iverson Matai (development), Isaac Matalavea-Booth (development), Jayden Okunbor, Joseph O’Neill (development), Chris Patolo, Franklin Pele, Hayze Perham, Jacob Preston, Jordan Samrani (development), Jeral Skelton.
Hooker Reed Mahoney is one of the new faces at Belmore ©Arthur Meredith/Bulldogs Media
Squad watch
- Squad spots filled: 28/30
Among the others on train-and-trial deals are boom playmaker Khaled Rajab, who starred for Lebanon at the World Cup, halfback Bailey Hayward, who played for Scotland, utility Zac Hetherington – the son of Bulldogs great Jason Hetherington – and Australian Schoolboys star Joash Papali’i.
Bulldogs rookie Khaled Rajab starred for Lebanon at the World Cup ©Getty Images
The presence of Reynolds and Rajab is set to keep halfback Kyle Flanagan on his toes after winning back the No.7 jersey last year.
Off-season recruits Andrew Davey and Franklin Pele provide depth in the forwards but Canterbury’s stocks in the outside backs appear low after the departures of Aaron Schoupp and Corey Allan, although young centres Paul Alamoti and Jeral Skelton are highly rated.
Health watch
Bulldogs head physiotherapist: Adrian Low reports that rookie fullback Declan Casey is set to return in round two after undergoing off-season shoulder surgery. Casey has returned to running and commenced light weights in the gym.
Utility Bailey Biondi-Odo is expected to be sidelined until July with the knee injury that ruled him out of Papua New Guinea’s World Cup campaign.
Biondi-Odo ruptured his ACL during the NSW Cup play-offs and has started weight training in the gym as he recovers from surgery.
Rookie forward Sam Hughes underwent lumbar disc surgery in September to treat a lower back injury. He has begun on-field running and will soon integrate into team-based activities, with an expected return to playing in round three.
2022 debutant Billy Tsikrikas is on track to play in round 1 after his rookie season was cut short when he injured his medial patella ligament and medial meniscus. Tsikrikas has returned to the field where he has resumed non-contact fieldwork.
Most contentious position
Can Josh Addo-Carr captain the team from the wing, or will new coach Cameron Ciraldo choose star playmaker Matt Burton or one of his big name recruits, Viliame Kikau or Reed Mahoney, to lead the team.
RELATEDNRL NEWS
Follow the Foxx: Addo-Carr puts hand up to lead Bulldogs
Captaining the Bulldogs is a prestigious position and just four men have held the honour since the club’s last premiership triumph in 2004 – Andrew Ryan, Michael Ennis, James Graham and Josh Jackson.
With Jackson’s retirement, Canterbury will have a new captain for the first time since Graham handed over the reins to him at the end of the 2017 season.
Graham had inherited the role three years earlier from Mick Ennis, who was appointed captain after Andrew Ryan’s retirement in 2011.
Ryan had captained the Bulldogs to grand final glory in 2004 after Steve Price was ruled out with injury and he took over the role the next season following the Test prop’s departure to the Warriors.
Steve Price and Andrew Ryan celebrate the 2004 grand final win ©NRL Photos
Addo-Carr, who captained the Indigenous All Stars last season, has put his hand up to lead the team, while Kikau has credentials after co-captaining Fiji at the World Cup.
However, Mahoney and Burton are the players who will handle the ball the most for the Bulldogs so it could also make sense for one of them to officially call the shots.
Biggest strength
Canterbury’s left edge is set to rival South Sydney’s for potency, with the recruitment of Fiji strike forward Viliame Kikau from Penrith.
The Burton and Foxx magic show
The Burton and Foxx magic show
Kikau will play outside star five-eighth Matt Burton, who last season formed a lethal partnership with left winger Josh Addo-Carr and the combination of the trio will be a major threat to rival defences.
Biggest question mark
The Bulldogs have recruited strongly but they are also putting a lot of faith in new coach Cameron Ciraldo’s ability to develop the young talent in the squad, particularly in the outside backs.
Jake Averillo is only 22 but he has played every position in the Canterbury backline in his 54 NRL appearances – of which only the last 10 have been in his preferred fullback role.
Star winger Jacob Kiraz, who played fullback for Lebanon at the World Cup, was a contender for NRL rookie of the year last season, while 18-year-old centre Paul Alamoti and former schoolboys rugby union star Jeral Skelton are yet to make their first grade debuts.
Most-watched tries of 2022: No. 17
Most-watched tries of 2022: No. 17
Canterbury Bulldogs 2023 draw snapshot
Pre-season Challenge information
• Feb 12: Bulldogs v Raiders at Ack Weyman Oval, Moruya
• Feb 19: Bulldogs v Sharks at Belmore Sports Ground
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