How the Bulldogs’ Moneyball strategy built their unbeaten start to the NRL season

The Bulldogs have built their unbeaten start to the NRL season with a cut-price forward pack, led by three bargain buys that collectively earn as much as Broncos superstar Payne Haas.

They are Phil Gould’s ‘Discount Dogs’ that bite harder than their designer NRL rivals.

Canterbury has built its unbeaten start to the NRL Premiership on a cut-price forward pack that refuses to take a backwards step.

The Bulldogs will be chasing a seventh straight win when they clash with the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday night.

Leading the charge will be middle forwards Max King, Josh Curran and Jaeman Salmon, who are on a combined salary equal to that of Brisbane’s $1.1 million superstar Payne Haas.

Throw damaging backrowers Viliame Kikau and Jacob Preston into the mix, along with tenacious hooker Reed Mahoney, and you have a rabid pack that’s set the tone for the ‘Dogs of War’ in 2025.

Front rower Max King is on just $500k a season at the Bulldogs, less than half of Payne Haas’ salary. Picture: NRL Imagery

Broncos prop and Queensland Origin star Pat Carrigan said he had been impressed by Canterbury’s relentless pack.

“They are a small, mobile, fit pack,” he said.

“The thing I notice the most is they are really playing together and enjoying their footy.

“They are the benchmark in the competition at the moment and the forward pack and the good things they are doing is coming off the back of that.

“The way they are playing together and combining, you can see it in their brand of footy.

“We will have a good test this week, it’s exciting and I’m looking forward to it.”

Since taking charge of a Canterbury club in crisis in late 2022, coach Cameron Ciraldo has made hard work his number one priority at Belmore.

He has recruited character over talent with football chief ‘Gus’ Gould and assembled a team of toilers that hasn’t conceded a point in its past two games.

Using a ‘Moneyball’ like strategy, Phil Gould and assembled a team of toilers that hasn’t conceded a point in its past two games. Picture: NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

Ciraldo said the Bulldogs targeted a cultural overhaul driven by hardworking players.

“We definitely had to make some changes to the roster and it was all about recruiting the type of character that we needed to change our culture,” he said.

“I suppose that led to people questioning why we signed so many utilities, but it was never about the utilities, it was to help change our mindset around work ethic and connection.

“Hard work is number one. The work ethic, the culture around working hard in our environment.

“The quality we were looking for was people that wanted to work hard and two, people that were good connectors and understood the value of teamwork and working together for a common goal.

“I can’t wrap the guys enough that have come in, as well as the guys that have been here on the journey for the last three years.”

Josh Curran ($400k) and Jaeman Salmon ($300k) have been great bargain buys for the Bulldogs. Picture: Getty Images

Brisbane’s pack has come under criticism this year for being too reliant on Kangaroos duo Haas and Carrigan but Ciraldo is wary of the firepower the Broncos possess.

“They’ve obviously got a lot of power in their forward pack and some really good players who we’ve really admired for a long time,” he said.

“Those guys are elite level players, they are so strong, Origin and Test forwards so it’s not going to be an easy job.

“But our pack has shown they play as a pack and they work hard for each other and they have done a good job over the last 12 months.

“We know it’s going to be a tough task, but we’ll go up there and play our style of footy and give it a red hot crack.”

Patrick Carrigan and Payne Haas, Brisbane Broncos training, Red Hill. Picture: Liam Kidston

The Bulldogs’ hot start to the season has seen the likes of Preston and King bolt into the NSW Origin selection discussion while Mahoney is on the cusp of a Maroons debut.

Ciraldo said his players deserved the recognition and wouldn’t fail in the game’s toughest arena.

Defence force Dogs. Art by Boo Bailey

“The way Max has been playing all year, he definitely needs to be in that conversation,” he said.

“I know he wouldn’t let anyone down.

“He is doing the tough parts of the game really well. He’s got an engine built for the Origin environment.

“If he’s not in the conversation, there (must) be some pretty good players ahead of him.

“Presto has taken his game to another level this year. It’s his third season in the NRL and he has become more and more comfortable every game.

“He won’t let you down.”

Originally published as How the Bulldogs’ Moneyball strategy built their unbeaten start to the NRL season