Anthony Griffin’s verdict: Improving Bulldogs will give finals a shake

Canterbury’s roster has had a major renovation and now the club looks settled and about to build steadily. They face a tough ask to make the eight this year, but they’re not without a shout.

Canterbury has traditionally been known for its tough uncompromising style of play, particularly defensively.

Last season you could start to see glimpses of this re-emerging. The fact they finished ninth in defence and 12th on the NRL ladder backs this up.

These numbers also highlight the importance of the Bulldogs improving their attack, which ranked 13th.

The forward pack is strong and has experience and firepower. The playmakers and outside backs are a mixture of class and inexperience.

Their roster has had a major renovation. Some very big losses will be balanced out by the recruitment of Dylan Napa and Sauaso Sue, two very high-quality players from Penrith in Corey Harawira-Naera and Christian Crichton, and a couple of talented youngsters from Newcastle — Nick Meaney and Jack Cogger.

Perhaps now the proud club is settled and about to build steadily.

Overall, it looks a big ask to make the eight this year, but they should be improving and will give it a shake.

Bulldogs coach Dean Pay. Picture: AAP

THE FORWARDS

Canterbury have a good pack that can get them into a lot of game-winning positions. If the Dogs start the season with the forward pack they finished with, the bench will look something like this: Sue, Harawira-Naera and Raymond Faitala-Mariner; very strong with a lot of impact. The starting pack should see Napa at prop with Aiden Tolman and Josh Jackson on the right edge, Rhyse Martin on the left and Adam Elliott at lock.

There is plenty of upside in a lot of these guys and a couple of good, tough, experienced leaders in Jackson and Tolman. Sue is an experienced NRL interchange forward and Harawira-Naera and Faitala-Mariner are elite. The depth is reasonable also with Danny Fualalo and Ofahiki Ogden capable of contributing.

THE SPINE

Lachlan Lewis is out to build on his impressive start. Picture: Getty Images

Lachlan Lewis had a fantastic debut season. The-22 year-old showed great control with directing the team and his kicking game. He is only nine games into his NRL career, so it’s important for him to have a work hard/start again mindset going into this season.

Kieran Foran will be an asset for him in the halves. Foran is coming off a great off-season preparation and looks set to return to his best.

If Foran can fire and Lewis continues to improve they can form a very good combination. Michael Lichaa should start at hooker after resurrecting his career. His form last year was very solid. A quality dummy-half, he chalked up 100 games in the last round. The other hooking option is Fa’amanu Brown; a good utility player who can play halves and hooker.

The final playmaker position coach Dean Pay needs to finalise is fullback. Meaney was impressive in that role for Newcastle in his debut season and will look to build on his five appearances in 2019. The unknown is how Lewis and Meaney will handle their first full season.

THE OUTSIDE BACKS

William Hopoate is the most experienced back at the Bulldogs. Picture: AAP

Apart from centre Will Hopoate (123 games) there isn’t a player who has played more than 50 NRL games.

Kerrod Holland (46) finished the season well at right centre and built a good combination with Reimis Smith (12 games).

Smith scored seven tries in 11 games and looks a good prospect.

Pay may potentially go for Hopoate to slot into the left centre vacancy left by Josh Morris. He is an experienced professional who has grand final and Origin experience, and at 26 has loads of value.

Marcelo Montoya (34 games) and Crichton (20) may well end up competing to be Hopoate’s wing partner. Bottom line: there is a lack of experience in this group.

ROOKIE TO WATCH

Morgan Harper is a young outside back who could grab an opportunity this season. He started 2018 in Jersey Flegg and progressed to be part of the club’s NSW Cup premiership team.

STAT OF NOTE

The Bulldogs finished 15th in the NRL in linebreaks (2.5 per game) and tries scored (2.7 per game).