The Bulldogs face some big challenges this season

MATTHEW JOHNS SCOUTING REPORT: There’s nothing Canterbury and their coach Des Hasler love more than being written off. Des will therefore love what I’m about to write.

THERE’S nothing Canterbury and their coach Des Hasler love more than being written off. Dessie loves “flying under the radar”. It’s his mantra. Des will therefore love what I’m about to write. The Bulldogs face some big challenges this season.

Firstly, their first-choice halves combination of Josh Reynolds and Moses Mbye play with enormous energy but lack finesse.

The Bulldogs are underdogs in 2016.

To be fair to Mbye, he’s still a young player and could very well come out this year showing serious development as a ball player. He’ll need to because it’s what the Dogs require from him.

Josh Reynolds will continue to be the livewire he always is, a ball of fury, driving the opposition, and at times his teammates, crazy with that relentless energy.

But it’s Mbye who will be under pressure to be more than just a good runner of the football. He needs to run this football team. The Dogs are very different from other sides in that most of their creativity is generated from forwards like Sam Kasiano and James Graham.

At times too much is asked of the Englishman Graham, leading the hit-ups, making more than 30 tackles and then being asked to be clever with the football — it takes a toll.

The likes of Mbye and young dummy-half Michael Lichaa need to really contribute as far as creativity is concerned. The reduction in interchange will be a challenge for the big Bulldogs pack as well, although I’ve never seen a Hasler football team not fit and hard and ready for a season.

How much they miss Trent Hodkinson will depend on Mbye’s form. Big Frank Pritchard is a loss, as is young dummy-half dynamo Damien Cook.

The Dogs released centre Tim Lafai but pick up Will Hopoate who, I expect, under old coach Hasler, will return to top form. One to keep an eye on is young outside back Kerrod Holland.

David Klemmer will look to make a big impact in 2016.

BEST 13

1 Brett Morris 2 Curtis Rona 3 Josh Morris 4 Will Hopoate 5 Sam Perrett 6 Josh Reynolds 7 Moses Mbye 8 James Graham 9 Michael Lichaa 10 Aiden Tolman 11 Josh Jackson 12 Tony Williams 13 Greg Eastwood. Interchange: 14 David Klemmer 15 Sam Kasiano 16 Tim Browne 17 Shaun Lane.

INS

Brad Abbey (New Zealand Warriors), Kerrod Holland (Newcastle Knights), Craig Garvey (St George Illawarra Dragons), Will Hopoate (Parramatta Eels)

OUTS

Trent Hodkinson (Knights), Frank Pritchard (Hull FC), Corey Thompson (Widnes Vikings), Jacob Loko (released), Damien Cook (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Herman Ese’ese (Brisbane feeder Souths Logan), Levi Dodd (Illawarra Cutters), Tim Lafai (St George Illawarra Dragons)

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Originally published as The Bulldogs face some big challenges this season