Dogs build war chest
CANTERBURY’S incoming coach is set to be handed a $6m war chest on November 1 as the Bulldogs hit the NRL open market armed with the financial artillery capable of quickly turning them into premiership contenders.
The Bulldogs have eight players on contract beyond next season and only a handful of those are on marquee money – Viliame Kikau, Reed Mahoney, Ryan Sutton and Tevita Pangai Jr.
There is every chance Pangai Jr might be gone by 2024, given rumours are already swirling that the club would not stand in his way should he find a home elsewhere.
The salary cap is expected to be at least $10m next season and even more in 2024, meaning the Bulldogs will be capable of signing some of the biggest names in the game when November 1 arrives.
Interim coach Mick Potter has already put the existing squad on notice as he prepares to take charge of his first game on Friday night when the Bulldogs travel to Leichhardt Oval to play the Wests Tigers.
“I think everyone plays for their future every single week,” Potter said. “You are only as good as your last game. I think accountability is paramount in NRL. It doesn’t matter what you are going to do or have done a year ago, it matters what your last game was like.”
On that front, Bulldogs players are in trouble.
Their last performance against Newcastle was among their worst of the season and pre-empted the departure of coach Trent Barrett, who stood down on Sunday night after winning five games in the past two seasons.
The good news is their cap management should give them opportunities to make rapid strides.
After years of salary cap difficulties, the Bulldogs kicked off the rebuild on Barrett’s watch with the signing of Josh Addo-carr, Corey Allan, Jack Hetherington, Pangai Jr and Matt Burton – who has an option in his contract and is expected to test his value on the open market.
Kikau, Mahoney, Sutton, Max King, Jacob Kiraz and Aaron Schoupp are contracted for 2024 and beyond.
It leaves Canterbury in position to attack the market with murderous intent on November 1. Not even the Dolphins will be able to match the financial clout of the Bulldogs.