Who else do the Bulldogs need to get the most out of Cotric?
On that note, signing Cotric alone won’t solve their problems and at that moment, he certainly won’t be able to shine in the current Bulldogs set-up. Cotric has made a name for himself at the Raiders as one of the best finishers in the game. Be it on the wing or in the centres, his sheer power and athleticism has seen him ice many tries for the Raiders. The passes won’t be as crisp at the Bulldogs though. Too often, their more inexperienced halves don’t get the execution right with passes either going to ground or sailing into the stands. While Cotric has a knack for scoring tries out of nowhere, the Bulldogs need to address their attack in the opposition 20 before believing he alone will fix their problems. Going to the market is one option with Jai Field, Benji Marshall and Blake Green just a few of the playmakers available. Jackson Hastings has also been linked to an NRL return next year and could provide a similar mix of creativity and passion to that Josh Reynolds provided during his time at the Bulldogs. Even if they don’t go to the open market, they need to prioritise nailing down Foran’s halves partner during the off-season rather than constantly chopping and changing the spine. There are plenty of experienced options available at hooker including Andrew McCullough, Jake Friend and Nathan Peats but the Bulldogs are building towards the future and need to invest in a long-term solution. Tom Starling, if he continues to impress like he did on Thursday night for Canberra, could be a smart buy given he could be desperate for an opportunity stuck behind Josh Hodgson and Siliva Havili. It will also be worth monitoring the situation at Melbourne around Harry Grant and Brandon Smith, as well as the impact that has on Jacob Liddle.
