Bulldogs life member Jamie Feeney surprise candidate for NRLW coaching gig

Early 2000s cult hero Jamie Feeney has interviewed with the Bulldogs as the club narrows down their options for an NRLW head coach.

Canterbury life member and ex-NRL star Jamie Feeney is among the candidates to take over as inaugural NRLW coach as the club narrows down the search among a massive list of hopefuls.

It’s understood the former Bulldogs and Storm forward has interviewed with the club as part of their search for a replacement head coach after the sudden departure of Blake Cavallaro back in January.

Feeney made his NRL debut with the Bulldogs back in 1999 before going on to play six seasons with the club and ending his playing career with a two-year stint with Melbourne.

He was announced as a Bulldogs life member back in 2019, and has since coached NRLW sides for the Roosters and Titans as well as various other pathways and coaching jobs within the women’s game.

Jamie Feeney played for the Bulldogs in their 2024 grand final win.

Feeney’s extensive experience in women’s rugby league and history with the Bulldogs has caught the eye of general manager Phil Gould, but the net has been cast wide in their search for the right person to take on the important job.

The development comes at just in time to ease growing frustrations within the playing group over the seemingly stalled recruitment process with just two months until the NRLW pre-season begins.

It’s an important decision for Gould and the Bulldogs, who join the newly expanded NRLW competition for the first time in 2025.

It’s thought they could recruit from within but are also exploring the possibility of a female head coach for 2025 amid a mountain of interest in the job.

It’s understood they were overwhelmed with the response from hopeful applicants with up to 90 submissions handed in for the role from all across the game after Cavallaro’s departure, including former Dragons coach Jamie Soward.

Feeney is a Bulldogs life member.

However, the list has been whittled down by Gould, who put the search on hold until after he returned from the NRL season opener in Las Vegas at the start of this month.

The longer they wait the more stress it could place on the current squad, with spots still left to fill in the playing roster as a May 12 deadline quickly approaches.

Clubs are required to have 24 players signed by the start of the pre-season, but only 22 of those need to be a top 24 player.

The second deadline is June 23.

The Bulldogs are due to kick off their season against Newcastle at Accor Stadium on July 4.

Frustrations bubbling as Bulldogs search for NRLW coach

Frustration is beginning to stir within Canterbury’s playing group with the club yet to announce an NRLW head coach two months out from the start of their inaugural season.

The Bulldogs parted ways with head coach Blake Cavallaro back in January after it was revealed by this masthead he had an undeclared romance with a female colleague.

However, it’s been almost two months since his sudden departure, and with the NRLW pre-season to kick off in May, players are still in the dark about the recruitment process and how close they are to finding his replacement.

Bulldogs general manager Phil Gould is believed to be spearheading the process but is keeping his cards close to his chest as he narrows down a massive list of applicants.

Bulldogs general manager Phil Gould has been inundated with coaching resumes. Picture: Julian Andrews

It’s an important decision for Gould and the Bulldogs, who join the newly expanded NRLW competition for the first time in 2025, although there is a thought they could recruit from within.

Interest in the job is not an issue.

The Bulldogs are understood to have been overwhelmed with the response from hopeful applicants with up to 90 submissions handed in for the role from all across the game after Cavallaro’s departure, including former Dragons coach Jamie Soward.

However, the list was whittled down by Gould, who then put the search on hold until after he returned from the NRL season opener in Las Vegas at the start of this month.

Blake Cavallaro was appointed as the Bulldogs' inaugural NRLW coach, but was forced to resign. Picture: Bulldogs

However, the playing group is still waiting on an update.

The longer they wait the more stress it could place on the current squad, with spots still left to fill in the playing roster with a May 12 deadline quickly approaching.

Clubs are required to have 24 players signed by the start of the pre-season, but only 22 of those need to be a top 24 player.

The second deadline is a week before round 1, on June 23.

The Bulldogs are due to kick off their season against Newcastle at Accor Stadium on July 4.

Originally published as Bulldogs life member Jamie Feeney surprise candidate for NRLW coaching gig