News The Mole: Seven new Bulldogs tipped to make team after Phil Gould axes 'dead wood'

[djdeep4172]

The Bulldogs will have the biggest transformation of any team in the NRL in 2024 with up to seven new faces in the 17-man side for round one.

After finishing 15th, 12th, last and 15th in the past four seasons, football boss Phil Gould has swept a broom through the club, getting rid of plenty of dead wood.

His recruitment has concentrated on quantity rather than elite quality, with one exception – former Panthers match-winner Stephen Crichton.

Crichton will add much needed strike power out wide in the centres, as will former Shark Bronson Xerri, if he can regain his mojo after his lengthy drugs ban.

Xerri looked sharp on debut in the win over the Storm on Thursday night in an encouraging sign.

Former Titans playmaker Toby Sexton did enough last year to start in the key No.7 role, but will be kept honest by Roosters recruit Drew Hutchison, a steady campaigner capable of steering the team around the park.

Blake Taaffe from the Rabbitohs has the speed and class to make a go of the fullback spot in a backline brimming with pace.

I like former Sharks utility Connor Tracey – he has the skills to also make a fine fullback but he is versatile and brings impact, making him an ideal No.14 off the bench.

Ex-Warrior Josh Curran is a great pick-up in the forwards, as is the versatile Kurt Mann from Newcastle.

Another newcomer, Jaeman Salmon from the Panthers, also brings something to the table as an interchange player.

In summary, a sharper and faster team than in 2023 and as a result, should win more games.

2024 gains: Bronson Xerri (return from ban), Stephen Crichton (Panthers), Connor Tracey (Sharks), Blake Taaffe (Rabbitohs), Jaeman Salmon (Panthers), Josh Curran (Warriors), Drew Hutchison (Roosters), Kurt Mann (Knights), Jake Turpin (Roosters), Poasa Faamausili (Dolphins).

2024 losses: Jake Averillo (Dolphins), Tevita Pangai Junior (retired), Kyle Flanagan (Dragons), Paul Alamoti (Panthers), Luke Thompson (Wigan Warriors), Corey Waddell (Sea Eagles), Braidon Burns (Rabbitohs NSW Cup), Declan Casey (Wests Tigers, train and trial), Michael Gabrael (Sharks), Raymond Faitala-Mariner (Dragons), Zac Montgomery (released).

BULLDOGS' BEST 17

1. Blake Taaffe 2. Josh Addo-Carr 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Jacob Kiraz 6. Matt Burton 7. Toby Sexton 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Josh Curran 11. Jacob Preston 12. Viliame Kikau 13. Kurt Mann 14. Connor Tracey 15. Samuel Hughes 16. Jaeman Salmon 17. Liam Knight

 

[Chris Harding]

I'd love to see Skelton, O'Neill, Papalii, and Hayward in the line up, but another year, and maybe they will be pushing out the older players.

 

[GoTeamRaRaFunky]

curran is not a prop

 

[DinkumDog]

I'd love to see Skelton, O'Neill, Papalii, and Hayward in the line up, but another year, and maybe they will be pushing out the older players.

Plenty of time and likely a key reason why many of this years recruits were signed to two year contracts.

Probably also will keep most of the kids at Belmore as they see their window and aren’t being shut-out by three/four year deals given to blow-ins. Smart strategy.

 

[MichaelM]

Not a bad looking 17
Curran to lock, Mann to the bench and Hughes to start in the front row
We need to get 2 front rowers on the bench so players like Poassa, Patolo, Kinght and Kautoga will be in the mix for 2 bench spots.
We also have better depth, particularly in the backs, so hopefully inevitable injuries won’t lead to an implosion this year.

 

[doggieaaron]

If knight is picked over every other prop that outplayed him they r kidding

 

[diddly]

If knight is picked over every other prop that outplayed him they r kidding

How Knight played on Thursday helps explain why he has often been in reggies at training.

 

[DFLWatto]

Curran said on the bloke podcast that he came to the dogs to play lock

 

[KLil]

How Knight played on Thursday helps explain why he has often been in reggies at training.

Something was wrong on Thursday.. he had a very strong pre season. Fcuker was running hard at training!

 

[doggieaaron]

I think by round 5 jonah will be our fb

 

[diddly]

Something was wrong on Thursday.. he had a very strong pre season. Fcuker was running hard at training!

There was one run where he dead set stopped before the line - i know he is no super star forward but is the better tha what he showed on Thursday - seemsto be down the order behind King Hughes Poasa and Morrin -

You have seen more training than me - is Curran guaranteed a spot in the 17?

 

[D- voice]

Plenty of time and likely a key reason why many of this years recruits were signed to two year contracts.

Probably also will keep most of the kids at Belmore as they see their window and aren’t being shut-out by three/four year deals given to blow-ins. Smart strategy.

It is the wider picture that some people can't or refuse to see opting to be negative instead !

 

[D- voice]

The Bulldogs will have the biggest transformation of any team in the NRL in 2024 with up to seven new faces in the 17-man side for round one.

After finishing 15th, 12th, last and 15th in the past four seasons, football boss Phil Gould has swept a broom through the club, getting rid of plenty of dead wood.

His recruitment has concentrated on quantity rather than elite quality, with one exception – former Panthers match-winner Stephen Crichton.

Crichton will add much needed strike power out wide in the centres, as will former Shark Bronson Xerri, if he can regain his mojo after his lengthy drugs ban.

Xerri looked sharp on debut in the win over the Storm on Thursday night in an encouraging sign.

Former Titans playmaker Toby Sexton did enough last year to start in the key No.7 role, but will be kept honest by Roosters recruit Drew Hutchison, a steady campaigner capable of steering the team around the park.

Blake Taaffe from the Rabbitohs has the speed and class to make a go of the fullback spot in a backline brimming with pace.

I like former Sharks utility Connor Tracey – he has the skills to also make a fine fullback but he is versatile and brings impact, making him an ideal No.14 off the bench.

Ex-Warrior Josh Curran is a great pick-up in the forwards, as is the versatile Kurt Mann from Newcastle.

Another newcomer, Jaeman Salmon from the Panthers, also brings something to the table as an interchange player.

In summary, a sharper and faster team than in 2023 and as a result, should win more games.

2024 gains: Bronson Xerri (return from ban), Stephen Crichton (Panthers), Connor Tracey (Sharks), Blake Taaffe (Rabbitohs), Jaeman Salmon (Panthers), Josh Curran (Warriors), Drew Hutchison (Roosters), Kurt Mann (Knights), Jake Turpin (Roosters), Poasa Faamausili (Dolphins).

2024 losses: Jake Averillo (Dolphins), Tevita Pangai Junior (retired), Kyle Flanagan (Dragons), Paul Alamoti (Panthers), Luke Thompson (Wigan Warriors), Corey Waddell (Sea Eagles), Braidon Burns (Rabbitohs NSW Cup), Declan Casey (Wests Tigers, train and trial), Michael Gabrael (Sharks), Raymond Faitala-Mariner (Dragons), Zac Montgomery (released).

BULLDOGS' BEST 17

1. Blake Taaffe 2. Josh Addo-Carr 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Jacob Kiraz 6. Matt Burton 7. Toby Sexton 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Josh Curran 11. Jacob Preston 12. Viliame Kikau 13. Kurt Mann 14. Connor Tracey 15. Samuel Hughes 16. Jaeman Salmon 17. Liam Knight

I agree with most of the selections definitely not all, we also have to remember that there is another trial and many players to come back,
Therefore I predict this 17 lineup
1 Taaffe
2 Kiraz
3 Crichton
4 Tracey / Xerri, could force his way in with another good performance !
5 JAC
6 Burton
7 Sexton
8 King
9 Mahoney
10 Hughes
11 Preston
12 Kikau
13 Curran

14 Hutchison
15 Faamasuli
16 Salmon
17 Mann / Kautoga, showed good form and has size !

 

[KLil]

There was one run where he dead set stopped before the line - i know he is no super star forward but is the better tha what he showed on Thursday - seemsto be down the order behind King Hughes Poasa and Morrin -

You have seen more training than me - is Curran guaranteed a spot in the 17?

Curran shares lock duties with Mann.

Curran may push to prop to accommodate Mann during games.

Salmon throws spanner in works.

 

[DoggyStyla]

I think Salmon will be 13, Curran as a bench player. Jarman killed it the other night, Curran not so much in the Allstars.

 

[Berries]

Something was wrong on Thursday.. he had a very strong pre season. Fcuker was running hard at training!

No one can play that badly two times in a row surely.

 

[KLil]

No one can play that badly two times in a row surely.

Was not normal.

 

[Berries]

I think Salmon will be 13, Curran as a bench player. Jarman killed it the other night, Curran not so much in the Allstars.

Curran had to play with randoms in a higher intensity game…. Salmon had six months to prep for that with the team lol

 

[diddly]

Curran shares lock duties with Mann.

Curran may push to prop to accommodate Mann during games.

Salmon throws spanner in works.

Mann n Salmon bench with two middles Hughes and one other (Knight, Morrin Kautoga, Edwards or someone they buy between now and rd 1)?

 

[boggie23]

I stopped reading after Liam Knight

Guy couldn’t get a game at Souths with many forward injuries.

Tracey if fit should be the 1. Most experienced and best fullback at the club. Wasted on the bench. Taaffe should be in the 17. But so should hutch which is a bit of a conundrum.

Critta must be a centre. Xerri has done enough to probably start. Looked slicked and played a full game. The try he set up for his winger was all class and scored one himself. String carries too. Skelton looks solid. His runs are great, but with kiraz and fox he is knocking on the door but not there yet.

Burton and sexton to start you’d think. The utility on the bench is a toss up. If Tracey isn’t ready Taaffe starts hutch on bench.