Canterbury may have been dismantled by the Sydney Roosters last Friday night at Allianz Stadium.
But the Bulldogs have received support from an unexpected quarter with Australian Kangaroos coach Kevin Walters confidently declaring he still expects Cameron Ciraldo’s squad to make the 2025 grand final.
“I think they’re alright the Bulldogs,” Walters said on the Inside Ball podcast.
“Their defence will get them through.”
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Walters acknowledged the Bulldogs still have plenty of work to do, but pointed to history as the cause for his confidence as the 2025 NRL finals series looms large.
“They (Canterbury) have a couple of big games coming up, but in the last twenty years the best defensive team normally makes it through—and they’re the best defensive team,” he said.
“I think they’ll be in the grand final, going on history, facts, data.”
‘Sexton is not going back in’ declares Kevin Walters
Despite growing external noise around a potential recall for Toby Sexton, the former Brisbane Broncos and Queensland coach also said he thinks Cameron Ciraldo will stick firm with Lachlan Galvin in the halves.
“That’s not going to happen, Sexton is not going back in,” Walters said.
“Personally? I’d be okay with it, but it’s obviously an opinion from the head coach and a few other people (at the Bulldogs).”
The third placed Bulldogs face the second placed Storm at AAMI Park on Friday night in the first meeting between the sides since Round 6 of 2024.
Both sides remain in the hunt for the NRL minor premiership.