S4Sonny
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With an influx of backrow signings at the Bulldogs, lock forward David Stagg admits he might have to shed his tag as one of the NRL's best 80 minute players.
Stagg, who will line up against Canberra in a trial match in Tamworth on Saturday night, has recovered from a shoulder reconstruction in the off-season.
Stagg played 40 minutes against St George Illawarra last weekend, coming through unscathed - and he is aiming to push his workload up to 60 minutes against the Raiders to prove he will be a certain starter against the Wests Tigers in round one.
But so will fellow backrowers Frank Pritchard, who has overcome a knee problem to be fit for this weekend, and captain Andrew Ryan, who is being rested following a shoulder reconstruction.
Coach Kevin Moore will have plenty of headaches doing the maths to work out out the minutes when he factors in workhorses Gary Warburton, Grant Millington and Corey Payne.
"Absolutely, Kevvie (Moore) mentioned to us this morning that he had trouble getting the squad down to 20 players to take away this weekend," Stagg told AAP.
"I imagine it's only going to get harder to bring it down to the 17, and after that he'll be working out the rotation with the playing roster."
The rugby league ironman made his name as the tackling machine for the Broncos, but his minutes were reeled back last season regularly playing roughly 60 minutes a match.
"We haven't spoken about (gametime) in great detail with regards to gametime," Stagg explained.
"Last year was a little bit different ... Kev thought for the benefit of both myself and the team I should have some breaks over the last year which is new to me.
"If that's what is required, obviously Kev's looking out for me longterm but it's also what is best for the team.
"We'll come to that further down the track, but if that's what he wants then I'm more than happy for that to be the case to help the side."
Stagg is also the unofficial face of the Bulldogs membership drive to recruit 13,000 members before their season-opener against the Tigers at ANZ Stadium.
The Bulldogs will be looking to break the record for the highest monday night football crowd in history which is 37,981 for a Roosters v Manly match in 1996 at the SFS.
"13's the magic number I guess," the Bulldogs' No.13 said.
"The 13,000 mark is certainly something that we're pushing but our fanbase has always been very passionate."
Meanwhile, inspirational Canberra skipper Alan Tongue will make a return from a rib injury in the trial match, with the Raiders also welcoming back Josh Dugan and Tom Learoyd-Lahrs (suspension).
But they will again be without Joel Thompson (ribs) and key signing Matt Orford, who will be given until round one to recover from a knee injury.
Stagg, who will line up against Canberra in a trial match in Tamworth on Saturday night, has recovered from a shoulder reconstruction in the off-season.
Stagg played 40 minutes against St George Illawarra last weekend, coming through unscathed - and he is aiming to push his workload up to 60 minutes against the Raiders to prove he will be a certain starter against the Wests Tigers in round one.
But so will fellow backrowers Frank Pritchard, who has overcome a knee problem to be fit for this weekend, and captain Andrew Ryan, who is being rested following a shoulder reconstruction.
Coach Kevin Moore will have plenty of headaches doing the maths to work out out the minutes when he factors in workhorses Gary Warburton, Grant Millington and Corey Payne.
"Absolutely, Kevvie (Moore) mentioned to us this morning that he had trouble getting the squad down to 20 players to take away this weekend," Stagg told AAP.
"I imagine it's only going to get harder to bring it down to the 17, and after that he'll be working out the rotation with the playing roster."
The rugby league ironman made his name as the tackling machine for the Broncos, but his minutes were reeled back last season regularly playing roughly 60 minutes a match.
"We haven't spoken about (gametime) in great detail with regards to gametime," Stagg explained.
"Last year was a little bit different ... Kev thought for the benefit of both myself and the team I should have some breaks over the last year which is new to me.
"If that's what is required, obviously Kev's looking out for me longterm but it's also what is best for the team.
"We'll come to that further down the track, but if that's what he wants then I'm more than happy for that to be the case to help the side."
Stagg is also the unofficial face of the Bulldogs membership drive to recruit 13,000 members before their season-opener against the Tigers at ANZ Stadium.
The Bulldogs will be looking to break the record for the highest monday night football crowd in history which is 37,981 for a Roosters v Manly match in 1996 at the SFS.
"13's the magic number I guess," the Bulldogs' No.13 said.
"The 13,000 mark is certainly something that we're pushing but our fanbase has always been very passionate."
Meanwhile, inspirational Canberra skipper Alan Tongue will make a return from a rib injury in the trial match, with the Raiders also welcoming back Josh Dugan and Tom Learoyd-Lahrs (suspension).
But they will again be without Joel Thompson (ribs) and key signing Matt Orford, who will be given until round one to recover from a knee injury.
