Canterbury have pulled off another timely recruitment win, securing the early arrival of highly rated forward Finau Latu from the Dragons ahead of the June 30 deadline.
The 19-year-old was already signed to the Bulldogs on a three-year deal beginning in 2026, but the club has fast-tracked his move to Belmore with immediate effect, adding depth to their premiership push while also taking over his rehabilitation from a back injury.\
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Dragons fume over handling of exit
Latu’s departure hasn’t gone down well at his former club, with Dragons coach Shane Flanagan slamming the process in April.
“I wanted to keep him, and I’m not happy about the negotiation side of it,” Flanagan said.
“The way that it was handled by his management was handled poorly, really poorly. We’ve brought that young bloke up the last three or four years, and we wanted to keep him and never got an opportunity to.”
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The Dragons confirmed the release on Friday: “Latu has already signed with the Bulldogs for 2026 but will now join the club early. He is currently sidelined with a back injury, and the move will allow his new club to take over his rehab process.”
Latu’s junior résumé includes titles in the Harold Matthews and SG Ball competitions, selection in the 2023 Australian Schoolboys, and stints in both the Jersey Flegg and NSW Cup teams.
Bulldogs General Manager Phil Gould said the club was delighted to beat off strong competition to secure the powerhouse lock. “He will have some exceptional mentors, including Max King, Viliame Kikau and Kurt Mann… and we believe that he can develop into a great player for the Bulldogs,” Gould said.