Bulldogs team of the decade: Mixed era for Dogs of War
Two grand finals, zero premierships and salary cap mismanagement defined Canterbury in recent years. We’ve named the Bulldogs team of the decade for the proud Belmore club.
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It’s been a decade of mixed emotions for the proud Canterbury-Bankstown club that ultimately failed to deliver a first premiership since 2004.
The club reached two grand finals in 2012 and 2014 but fell at the hands of Melbourne and South Sydney.
The latter end of the decade was cruelled by salary cap mismanagement that significantly limited the potential of the playing roster.
We’ve put together the Bulldogs’ team of the decade.
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1. Ben Barba
The electrifying fullback’s time at the Bulldogs resurfaces fond memories for supporters having scored 70 tries in 89 games between 2010 and 2013. His spectacular Dally M Medal winning year in 2012 will go down as one of the great individual NRL seasons. Barba’s enterprising style of football breathed life into the sport in a period where a robotic, lifeless brand of football driven by monotonous blockrunners began to irritate fans.
2. Brett Morris
The ultra-consistent try-scoring freak crossed 34 times in 68 appearances for the club from 2015-2018. Had it not been for the salary cap debacle of recent years he and twin brother Josh may have finished their careers at Belmore.
3. Tim Lafai
Lafai very narrowly edges out Jamal Idris at centre primarily due to his more sustained success. Idris’ stunning 2009 Dally M Rookie of the Year season also doesn’t come into calculations. The fleet-footed Lafai was an exceptional talent in his days at the Dogs, proving one of the most difficult centres to mark at his peak.
4. Josh Morris
Outside of perhaps only Jamie Lyon, you could argue Morris was the decade’s most consistent centre. The 2012 Dally M Centre of the Year scored 103 tries in 217 games for the club with all bar 21 games coming from 2010 onwards. Despite the impressive conversion rate, it was his stunning defensive resilience that characterised his game.
5. Sam Perrett
Perrett played in the 2012 grand final on the wing then made the hugely successful transition to fullback following the departure of Ben Barba, culminating in another decider in 2014. Perrett scored 48 tries in 108 games and failed to miss the finals during his five-year stint with the club. Honourable mentions to Curtis Rona and Steve Turner.
6. Josh Reynolds
The livewire five-eighth captivated the Belmore faithful from 2011-2017, playing in two grand finals and helping NSW to a drought-breaking Origin victory in 2014. His never-say-die attitude was synonymous with Canterbury’s ‘Dogs of War’ mentality every time he represented the proud club.
7. Trent Hodkinson
Hodkinson’s cool demeanour steered Canterbury through a highly successful period. His game management and classy kicking game perfectly complemented Reynolds’ high octane style of play. While injury cruelled his 2012 season, Hodkinson led the club to the 2014 decider in the same year he scored the Origin match-winner for NSW.
8. David Klemmer
The enforcer won the NYC Player of the Year award in 2012 giving fans plenty of hope for the future. He delivered in droves, becoming a stalwart of a star-studded pack for the next six years before leaving for Newcastle.
9. Michael Ennis
The competitive nature of Ennis “The Menace” drove his highly successful stint at the Bulldogs. In a major blow for the 2014 grand finalists, Ennis missed the decider after injuring his foot in the preliminary final win over Penrith in what would be his final game for the club.
10. James Graham
The Englishman will go down as one of the great signings in the club’s history. His mere on-field presence was enough to lift an entire side every week. Des Hasler’s stunning innovation to convert his props into ball players – led by Graham – played a major role in the club’s success.
11. Josh Jackson
The one-club man has notched 181 games for Canterbury since debuting in 2012. He was named club captain at the beginning of 2018. Despite tough recent years for Canterbury, Jackson has typified the hard edge of the club and has valiantly led a squad decimated by salary cap mismanagement.
12. Frank Pritchard
Frank the Tank was gifted with an engine, size and most importantly creative assets. His late offload and ball-playing ability were what separated him from the game’s premier forwards at his best.
13. Greg Eastwood
Eastwood was one of the NRL’s true enforcers. The lock forward amassed 177 games at Belmore, with all bar 23 coming since the start of the decade. Eastwood started at lock in the 2012 and 2014 grand finals.
14. Aidan Tolman
Since joining from Melbourne in 2011 Tolman’s durability has been quite stunning for a front-rower. Across his nine year stint he’s failed to play in less than 21 games in a season just once (16 in 2018). Tolman’s motor and consistency has proven invaluable across the decade, in particular the tough recent years.
15. Sam Kasiano
While he wasn’t the most consistent forward the club has produced, Kasiano was a wrecking ball at his peak. The monster prop played 139 games for the club, claiming the Dally M Prop of the Year award in 2012.
16. Dale Finucane
Blessed with a stellar pack from 2012-14, Finucane was forced to bide his time off the bench early in his career. His defensive presence in the middle of the park was integral in the club’s success during his three-year stint.
17. Will Hopoate
The final spot could have gone to 2014 grand final hooker Moses Mbye, club favourite David Stagg or Idris, but it’s Hopoate who earns the utility role. Hopoate has constantly proven a class act across multiple positions after joining the club at a time when the squad was cruelled by cap mismanagement.