News October Update from the CEO, Chairman & Head Coach

[D- voice]

With the start of pre-season fast approaching, we thought that it would be a good time to check-in and update you with some news that we believe is extremely positive and will help set the club up for success in the future. An enormous amount of hard work has taken place in the off-season to make sure that we are preparing ourselves for an extremely positive year, on and off the field. We would like to start with some news which we believe will excite all of our fans and is something that was very important to us as a club.

The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs to bring back a NSW Cup team in 2022 This decision will see the Bulldogs go back to running run their own team in the NSW Cup in 2022, in addition to continuing their partnership with Mounties, to whom they will provide players and support. The Bulldogs have a tremendous history at a reserve grade level, having won 10 Premierships throughout history, with the last coming in 2018, after a last gasp 18-12 victory over Newtown at a packed Leichhardt Oval. Bringing the NSW Cup side back to Canterbury has been something that Chair John Khoury has worked tirelessly on since taking over the role : "Bringing back our Reserve Grade side to Belmore is something that was very important to both the Board and all of our fans, and we are delighted that we have been able to achieve this for next season. The decision will be beneficial in that it will allow us to create a full pathway from juniors all the way through to the NRL, and the NSW Cup side will be a vital part of that going forward. We have a rich history of success at Reserve Grade level and that has always flowed through to the NRL. Our aim is to create depth and competition, and to return to being a club that develops its own players and brings them through the system. We want to return to creating a winning culture here at Belmore, and we believe that this will be another step in the right direction in regard to getting there. We will continue to partner with Mounties to provide support for their team in 2022, through the provision of players. We thank both Mounties and the NSWRL for working with us to achieve this, and we look forward to seeing our players run out in Bulldogs colours this coming season.”

Football Update Phil Gould and Trent Barrett have been working tirelessly since the end of the season to prepare for this upcoming pre-season period. In addition to the decision to bring back our NSW Cup team in Canterbury colours, we have made some additional changes within our Pathways system, with the appointment of Shane Millard as the new Head Coach of the Bulldogs Academy and Pathways, and Gurpreet Singh as the new Pathways’ Head of Strength and Conditioning Millard will work closely with the NRL coaching staff to ensure standards, methods and philosophies are passed down throughout all junior representative programs, in addition to mentoring all Junior Representative Coaching Staff. He will also bring enormous experience, with his playing career spanning 272 First Grade matches with the Roosters, Western Suburbs, St George Illawarra, London Broncos, Widnes, Leeds and Wigan. Singh has most recently been involved with the Cronulla Sharks, where he was Head of Performance for Academy and Pathways Programs, in addition to being involved with the NSW Rugby League Pathways Program over the past three years. We believe that both appointments will greatly complement our current NRL Football program.

Community Update

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It has been a massive period for the Bulldogs in the Community, with the Vaccination Hub at Belmore complementing the first-ever partnership between the Bulldogs and the Community Care Kitchens, which has seen former player Hazem El Masri lead the program and help deliver over 200 fresh meals per week to those people experiencing difficulties during the lockdown period. In addition, The creation of the ‘Bulldogs by your Side’ program has allowed local primary school students to have ‘zoom’ calls with members of our current NRL squad. On top of each of these programs has been the Vaccination Hub at Belmore, that has seen hundreds of members of the local community receive vaccinations in a ‘drive through’ system. Dr Jamal Rifi, who has helped lead the program from its inception has been delighted with the positive effect it has had on making vaccinations more available in recent times: “I knew that Partnering With the Bulldogs to establish a drive through vaccinations clinic at the iconic Belmore Sports Ground would be a game changer in encouraging our local community to be vaccinated in a safe and friendly environment . I would like to thank the Bulldogs Chairman Mr John Khoury, and his Board Members, for facilitating the process and making the idea of a drive through system a reality. It has, and will always be, a pleasure to work with our beloved Bulldogs.” Watch the Vaccination Hub video on bulldogs.com.au

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We again thank you for your continued support. There is some real excitement starting to take place at Belmore as the players return for pre-season training. You are the most passionate and loyal Members in the game and as we all know : ‘Once a Bulldogs, Always a Bulldog’ With a great deal of hard work to do before the Christmas break, everyone will be making sure that no stone will be left unturned in preparation for next season. Stay safe and well. Sincerely, John Khoury - Chairman, Aaron Warburton - Chief Executive Officer, & Trent Barrett - Head Coach

Our reserve grade is back...
Bravo !!!

 

[D- voice]

It was done during the first Covid closure of the Leagues Club in 2020 when the grants stopped and The Football Club was subsequently able to stay in the black in 2020. It was only ever a short term deal of 2 years. Good to see reserves back in our colours after only one season without but a pretty clear sign that JK will axe the Mounties deal at the end of ‘22. Assume it means Mick Potter will coach the Bulldogs NSW Cup team and Mounties will make their own arrangements.

I still dream of the days when the under 23's reserves and first grades played on the same day and venue...It was great joy to watch connecting fans with all the squads !
Maybe we can at least have reserves and first grades, who knows ?

 

[B-Train]

I still dream of the days when the under 23's reserves and first grades played on the same day and venue...It was great joy to watch connecting fans with all the squads !
Maybe we can at least have reserves and first grades, who knows ?

Having three grades on game day is one of the few good suggestions to come out of the V'Landys Rugba League era.

I don't know why the NRL have gone away from this for the past 20 years. Their obsession with the NYC for years ruined lower grade footy.

 

[DinkumDog]

I still dream of the days when the under 23's reserves and first grades played on the same day and venue...It was great joy to watch connecting fans with all the squads !
Maybe we can at least have reserves and first grades, who knows ?

Yep, the good old times of a ‘day’ at the footy.
I didn’t always watch 23’s but usually reserves to see the young pups coming through and of course firsts. The SL/ARL war blew up the model, not sure if it’ll ever return under the NRL structure but anything’s possible.

 

[B-Train]

Yep, the good old times of a ‘day’ at the footy.
I didn’t always watch 23’s but usually reserves to see the young pups coming through and of course firsts. The SL/ARL war blew up the model, not sure if it’ll ever return under the NRL structure but anything’s possible.

V'landys mentioned a few months ago it was something they were looking at. Hopefully they follow through with it instead of making 50 more rule changes that make the game worse.

 

[Chris Harding]

Great work by Dr. Rifi. Getting the Bulldogs to help with the vaccinations was a real positive for the community.

 

[wendog33]

Great work by Dr. Rifi. Getting the Bulldogs to help with the vaccinations was a real positive for the community.

That guy is a champion.

 

[RookieDog]

Very important decision. I remember watching Barba and Reynolds carve up the Cup 2018 GF and both kicked onto to bigger and better things in first grade.

Barba and Reynolds both played in our first grade grand final loss to Storm ... in 2012

 

[bullanth]

Great to see our colours back in reggies again,but would’ve liked some sort of update on our future home ground,and what actually happened with the architects who looked at belmore and said a25,000 capacity was feasible.

 

[Ripley]

I don't know why the NRL have gone away from this for the past 20 years. Their obsession with the NYC for years ruined lower grade footy.

Because you can’t find a stadium management that would allow 3 games to be played on the same day with any regularity. Especially considering most of the bigger ones would have an A-League or Union game scheduled in the next week, or day.

 

[B-Train]

Because you can’t find a stadium management that would allow 3 games to be played on the same day with any regularity. Especially considering most of the bigger ones would have an A-League or Union game scheduled in the next week, or day.

There are logistical issues for some grounds but they could just have FG and Reserves and have 2 grades. They did that for every game for about six seasons or more with the stupid Under 20's comp that no one cared about so they can do it with Reserves.

 

[Ripley]

There are logistical issues for some grounds but they could just have FG and Reserves and have 2 grades. They did that for every game for about six seasons or more with the stupid Under 20's comp that no one cared about so they can do it with Reserves.

It’s not logistical mate, stadium management, including councils, just won’t have it.

They only get the same money for “one day” no matter how many games are played, they want to be able to hire the place out next week, or the next day even, with the thing in good condition.

 

[Roger the alien]

Awesome news regarding nsw cup.... hopefully this means players like Waddell play for mounties while top juniors like Kurtis Morrin play for the Bulldogs.

 

[B-Train]

It’s not logistical mate, stadium management, including councils, just won’t have it.

They only get the same money for “one day” no matter how many games are played, they want to be able to hire the place out next week, or the next day even, with the thing in good condition.

It happened for several years not that long ago. If they did it then, they can do it again. The same issues you're mentioning were factors then, yet they still did it for a 20's comp. Surfaces weren't ripped to shreds because of the extra game.

 

[CQDog]

Does this mean we have two reserve grade teams???

 

[Roger the alien]

Does this mean we have two reserve grade teams???

For 2022 yes.... we had way too many players to fit into one team.

 

[Ripley]

It happened for several years not that long ago. If they did it then, they can do it again. The same issues you're mentioning were factors then, yet they still did it for a 20's comp. Surfaces weren't ripped to shreds because of the extra game.

Yeah but it was dumped for $$$ wasn’t it.

Stadium management aren’t giving away games on their surface for free, IF and it’s a big IF they allow a second game on the day, they charge for it - and three’s out of the question, regularly, for ground maintenance purposes.

And yet the hirer, NRL or clubs, can only charge once can’t they.

Pay double, recoup once.

 

[B-Train]

Yeah but it was dumped for $$$ wasn’t it.

Stadium management aren’t giving away games on their surface for free, IF and it’s a big IF they allow a second game on the day, they charge for it - and three’s out of the question, regularly, for ground maintenance purposes.

And yet the hirer, NRL or clubs, can only charge once can’t they.

Pay double, recoup once.

Of course the NRL will have to pay for it. I doubt it would be double. We'll see what happens. V'landys mentioned it himself so don't shoot the messenger. He wouldn't have mentioned it or consider it if it was too costly because he's all about the money.

 

[habs]

Tldr

 

[CQDog]

This is good, means my weekend of footy of watching the dogs in seen on three teams