Sydney Roosters and Canberra Raiders show off their four-legged friends on social media

You’ve seen them on the field and with their wives and girlfriends at the Dally M Awards. But now meet the furry friends of our top footy players, some of whom rival their owners for sheer size and strength. SEE THE PHOTOS

A quick scroll through the Instagram accounts of players from the Sydney Roosters and Canberra Raiders reveals two things: footballers go for dogs rather than cats, and when they choose dogs, they tend to go for powerful-looking breeds. No teacup poodles or chihuahuas for the big men of Rugby League.

The canines crop up in all sorts of posts, from keeping players company during times of recovery or injury, to lazing about on the couch, and even a starring role in wedding day photos.

On the Roosters side, captain Boyd Cordner and enforcer Jared Warea-Hargraves both have varieties of bulldogs, while utility Mitch Aubusson has a staffordshire terrier: both solid, medium-sized dogs known for their companionable nature, and in the case of the staffy, surprising strength.

The Canberra Raiders players show off a wider variety of breeds on their social media accounts. Captain Jarrod Croker has two Cavalier King Charles spaniels, which are at the smaller end of the size spectrum, growing to about 30cm and weighing about 8kg.

Clearly the dogs are well-loved. One of Croker’s posts from mid 2018 shows him convalescing with one of them after the knee injury that ended his season, while in an earlier post he revealed he bought one on a whim.

“Went to the mall today to get the groceries. Come home with little Indi,” Croker posted.

At the other end of the size scale is wing Nick Cotric’s massive Newfoundland, which he refers to as a “big bear”. And no wonder: the breed can grow to over 70cm and tip the scales at 70kg.

Other Raiders who have shown their dogs off on social media include fullback Bailey Simmonson, who has a chocolate brown labrador, Jordan Rapana, who has a husky, and Jack Wighton, who has featured a cattledog, bulldog and German Shepherd.

Croker’s choice of dog may seem a little on the small side, but he’s not the only footy identity who has opted for a smaller canine companion.

Former Rooster Daniel Conn, who sported one of the most fearsome (and heavily inked) rigs in the game, regularly shares the social media spotlight with a diminutive dachshund called El Tanko.

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It’s not clear why football players generally seem to prefer larger breeds, but the phenomenon is not just confined to league players. Soccer superstar Lionel Messi has a massive French Mastiff called Señor Hulk, while Real Madrid skipper Sergio Ramos has two large German Shepherds and a jack russell cross.

According to a study quoted by the site Psychology Today, dog owners generally report higher levels of satisfaction with their canine companions if the dogs are larger, and this is especially true for men.

Other studies suggest larger dogs are more even-tempered and easier to train than smaller breeds.

IS YOUR DOG AN NRL FAN? EMAIL PHOTOS OF YOUR POOCH SUPPORTER HERE.