Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs: 2019 preview, draw, squad changes, news, every player, odds and ticketing

Troy Whittaker

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs: 2019 preview, draw, squad changes, news, every player, odds and ticketing image

The upcoming season shapes as one of development for the Canterbury Bulldogs, who have an average player age of under 24 after a mass exodus of experience.

Gone are international representatives David Klemmer, Josh Morris, Brett Morris and Greg Eastwood, taking a combined 854 first-grade games with them.

The 30-year-old Aiden Tolman is now the team's oldest and most-capped player.

But perhaps a rebuilding phase is needed following the horror show that was last season, which saw the club languish in 12th place and avoid the wooden spoon by just four points.

Although raw, the Dogs have plenty of ability in their ranks.

Dylan Napa and Corey Harawira-Naera have arrived at Belmore, while players like Lachlan Lewis, Will Hopoate and Kieran Foran are top class at their best.

But for all their talent, qualifying for the finals may prove a bridge too far for this youthful squad.

However, the value of playing consistent NRL will hold the Bulldogs in great stead for the future.

#Lachlan Lewis

CANTERBURY BULLDOGS PRE-SEASON NEWS

It has certainly been an eventful off-season for the Bulldogs.

New signing Dylan Napa featured in multiple sex tapes, which were filmed some years ago, that circulated around social media.

Napa avoided suspension over the embarrassing saga but copped a fine worth 10 per cent of his 2019 salary.

That came after the club was forced into crisis mode when News Corp photographers captured players behaving poorly during Mad Monday celebrations at the Harbour View Hotel in Sydney.

A $250,000 fine (of which half was suspended) was the result, along with charges of wilful and obscene exposure for players Adam Elliott and Asipeli Fine.

The pair pleaded guilty to the offences and were given two-year good behaviour bonds.

Despite the drama, the Bulldogs are still enjoying strong commercial support, having secured advertisers for every available spot on their 2019 playing strip for a total kit sponsorship of almost $4 million.

Adam Elliott

PRE-SEASON TRIALS

February 23 – Bulldogs 22 lost to Raiders 28

The referenced media source is missing and needs to be re-embedded.

CANTERBURY BULLDOGS' 30-MAN NRL SQUAD

Just when the chaos from Mad Monday subsided, the Dogs were rocked by a release request from star prop David Klemmer.

After weeks of 'will he, won't he', Klemmer was allowed to leave to take up a deal with the Newcastle Knights.

He was quickly replaced by Sydney Roosters firebrand Dylan Napa.

Ex-Penrith prop Corey Harawira-Naera also joins the club, while burly bookend Ofahiki Ogden has re-signed for two further years.

Fans should be especially excited about the acquisition of fullback Nick Meaney from the Newcastle Knights.

A bona fide reserve grade star, Meaney made his NRL debut in 2018 when he deputised for the injured Kalyn Ponga. He quickly showed his wares at the top level.

Former Newcastle playmaker Jack Cogger and Penrith winger Christian Crichton add depth to the team.

The Bulldogs finalised their NRL top 30 squad in January after the elevation of promising centre Morgan Harper.

Tui Katoa, James Roumanos and Jarred Anderson are the club's development players for 2019.

These players are not counted in the top squad but can play without exemption in the NRL after June 30.

Below is Canterbury's 2019 NRL squad. Players will be added to the list as they are confirmed.

 Player Date of Birth Height, weight Position NRL matches Rep honours
1Adam Elliott16/10/1994185cm, 103kgSecond-row55Country Origin
2Aiden Tolman10/11/1988183cm, 102kgProp234Country Origin
3Brandon Wakeham11/1/1999172cm, 78kgHalfback0Nil
4Chris Smith16/1/1994185cm, 104kgSecond-row4Nil
5Christian Crichton12/7/1996182cm, 100kgWing20Samoa
6Corey Harawira-Naera18/5/1995187cm, 96kgSecond-row46Nil
7Danny Fualalo20/10/1994187cm, 115kgProp58Nil
8Dylan Napa13/11/1992198cm, 113kgProp121Queensland, Cook Islands
9Fa'amanu Brown24/12/1994180cm, 85kgHalfback/Hooker34Samoa
10Francis Tualau23/5/1994187cm, 106kgProp10Nil
11Jack Cogger5/8/1997176cm, 83kgHalfback20Nil
12Jayden Okunbor2/3/1997196cm, 108kgSecond-row0Nil
13Jeremy Marshall-King2/12/1995186cm, 83kgFive-eighth/Halfback24Nil
14John Olive4/1/1996186cm, 95kgCentre/Wing13Nil
15Josh Jackson (captain)8/1/1991180cm, 99kgSecond-row157NSW, Country Origin
16Kerrod Holland25/9/1992182cm, 94kgCentre46Nil
17Kieran Foran13/7/1990180cm, 90kgHalfback/Five-eighth185New Zealand, NRL All Stars
18Lachlan Lewis19/8/1996191cm, 91kgFive-eighth9Nil
19Marcelo Montoya17/2/1996189cm, 95kgCentre/Wing34Fiji
20Michael Lichaa18/7/1993183cm, 90kgHooker100Lebanon
21Morgan HarperNot listed (age 21)Not listedCentre0Nil
22Nick Meaney10/9/1997187cm, 90kgFullback5Nil
23Ofahiki Ogden6/6/1996192cm, 106kgProp9Nil
24Raymond Faitala-Mariner26/6/1993191cm, 105kgSecond-row/Prop55New Zealand, Samoa
25Reimis Smith13/5/1997196cm, 97kgWing/Centre12Nil
26Renouf To'omaga25/6/1995190cm, 110kgProp4Nil
27Rhyse Martin1/3/1993180cm, 103kgSecond-row14Papua New Guinea
28Sauaso Sue20/4/1992188cm, 105kgProp116Samoa
29Will Hopoate9/5/1992186cm, 97kgFullback/Centre123Tonga, NSW, City Origin
30Zac Saddler16/6/1999192cm, 111kgProp0Nil

COACH: Dean Pay

 

Additions (players who weren't in 2018 top 30): Dylan Napa (Sydney Roosters), Jack Cogger (Newcastle Knights), Nick Meaney (Newcastle Knights), Christian Crichton (Penrith Panthers), Sauaso Sue (Wests Tigers), Corey Harawira-Naera (Penrith Panthers), Chris Smith (Sydney Roosters), Brandon Wakeham, Jayden Okunbor, Morgan Harper

Losses: David Klemmer (Newcastle Knights), Brett Morris (Sydney Roosters), Josh Morris (Cronulla Sharks), Matt Frawley (Huddersfield Giants), Asipeli Fine (unsigned), Clay Priest (unsigned), Greg Eastwood (Newtown Jets)

Re-signed: Raymond Faitala-Mariner (2020), Lachlan Lewis (2020), Jeremy Marshall-King (2020), Rhyse Martin (2019), Reimis Smith (2020)

Off-contract beyond 2019: Fa'amanu Brown, Danny Fualalo, Morgan Harper, Tui Katoa, Michael Lichaa, Rhyse Martin, John Olive, Francis Tualau

Development players: Jarred Anderson, Tuipulotu Katoa, James Roumanos

#Rhyse Martin

CANTERBURY BULLDOGS' BETTING ODDS

Paying $51 (via TAB as of 20/2/19), the Bulldogs are last in the betting to win the 2019 premiership. If they did shock bookies and lift the Provan-Summons Trophy, it would be the club's first title since 2004.

There isn't much love for Canterbury players in the Dally M Medal market. At a whopping $101, Will Hopoate and Lachlan Lewis are rated the Bulldogs' best chances to take out the honour.

Canterbury are priced at $5 to make the top eight, $15 to finish in the first four and $3.50 to suffer the most losses out of every team.

#Will Hopoate

CANTERBURY BULLDOGS' 2019 DRAW

Games played on

Thursday: 3

Friday: 3

Saturday: 9

Sunday: 8

Monday: 1

 

Teams they play twice

Parramatta Eels, Wests Tigers, Melbourne Storm, St George Illawarra Dragons, South Sydney Rabbitohs, North Queensland Cowboys, Newcastle Knights, Sydney Roosters, Brisbane Broncos

 

RoundDateOpponentVenue
1Saturday 16 March 3:00pmNew Zealand WarriorsMt Smart Stadium
2Sunday 24 March 4:05pmParramatta EelsANZ Stadium
3Sunday 31 March 4:05pmWests TigersCampbelltown Stadium
4Sunday 7 April 4:05pmMelbourne StormAAMI Park
5Sunday 14 April 4:05pmSt George Illawarra DragonsJubilee Oval
6Friday 19 April 4:05pmSouth Sydney RabbitohsANZ Stadium
7Friday 26 April 6:00pmNorth Queensland CowboysANZ Stadium
8Saturday 4 May 5:30pmManly Sea EaglesLottoland
9Saturday 11 May 3:00pmNewcastle KnightsSuncorp Stadium
10Saturday 18 May 3:00pmGold Coast TitansCbus Super Stadium
11Sunday 26 May 2:00pmMelbourne StormBelmore Sports Ground
12Saturday 1 June 7:35pmCanberra RaidersANZ Stadium
13Monday 10 June 4:00pmSt George Illawarra DragonsANZ Stadium
14Sunday 16 June 4:05pmSydney RoostersSydney Cricket Ground
15Sunday 30 June 4:05pmCronulla SharksANZ Stadium
16BYE  –   –
17Friday 12 July 7:55pmNewcastle KnightsMcDonald Jones Stadium
18Thursday 18 July 7:50pmBrisbane BroncosSuncorp Stadium
19Sunday 28 July 2:00pmSydney RoostersANZ Stadium
20Saturday 3 August 5:30pmPenrith PanthersBankwest Stadium
21Saturday 10 August 7:35pmWests TigersANZ Stadium
22Saturday 17 August 7:35pmSouth Sydney RabbitohsANZ Stadium
23Thursday 22 August 7:50pmParramatta EelsBankwest Stadium
24Thursday 29 August 7:50pmNorth Queensland Cowboys1300SMILES Stadium
25Saturday 7 September 5:30pmBrisbane Broncos ANZ Stadium

 

It's a big year for...

Dylan Napa.

After six years at the Sydney Roosters where he was part of two premiership-winning squads, Napa lands at the Bulldogs with huge expectations on him.

The Queensland representative was flanked by stars at the Roosters who shared the load equally. This year, however, he will be Canterbury's chief forward leader in an inexperienced group.

Napa has the opportunity to stamp his authority away from the Bondi club and prove that he's capable of performing at an elite level in a weaker team.

Napa's pre-season was disrupted when his personal videos were leaked, and it remains to be seen whether the drama will have an effect on his form.

The 26-year-old can cement his standing among the premier props in the competition with a strong season.


MEMBERSHIP AND TICKETING

As of 16 February, the Bulldogs had 11,132 members for 2019.

Canterbury finished last season with 19,570 members.

Membership packages can be viewed here.

General tickets for the season are available here.

#bulldogs fans

CANTERBURY ARE DOING THEIR BEST TO SAVE THE NRL OFF-SEASON

Peter is the school captain at Chalmers Road School – an educational centre for students with moderate or severe intellectual disabilities.

If there is one thing Peter loves as much as leading the Chalmers Road student body, it’s the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.

So imagine his surprise when captain Josh Jackson and Adam Elliott – a Ken Stephen Medal nominee - took time out from pre-season training to pick Peter up and drive him to his school graduation.

Troy Whittaker