‘World is their oyster’: How the Bulldogs end their eight-year finals drought

Few believed Canterbury would make the finals in 2024, yet they’re equal eighth with their destiny in their hands. BREAD READ explains why he’s a believer of the NRL’s sleeping giant.

I have to be honest, I had my doubts.

Plenty of them in fact. Tipping I wasn’t alone either. But the Bulldogs have made believers out of me. A few others as well I suspect.

As they head to Accor Stadium on Monday to play their mortal enemies Parramatta, they occupy a share of eighth and have given their fans genuine hope that a finals berth is there for the taking.

It has been eight long years since the ‘Dogs played in the post-season. For a club as big as Canterbury, it’s too long.

It certainly must feel like an eternity to those long-suffering supporters who have watched the club fumble and bumble their way through the recent past; sacking coaches, making poor recruitment decisions and leaving them nothing but frustrated.

The Bulldogs are a chance of finally breaking their finals drought this season. Credit: NRL Images.

There wasn’t much blue sky on their horizon. Yet there is plenty at the moment as they push for a place in the finals. Beat the Eels and the world is their oyster.

They still have both their byes and a series of games against the sides that surround them, including two against the Cowboys and two against the Warriors.

There is no Penrith or Melbourne on their schedule. Of the sides regarded as the competition heavyweights, they face the Sydney Roosters and Sharks once apiece.

Other than that, their draw is kind which leaves them largely in control of their own destiny, not something you could say about the Bulldogs at the midpoint of recent seasons.

It’s the sort of draw that gives rise to optimism that the club is finally lifting itself out of the doldrums. Maybe, just maybe, finals football is in their immediate future under the coaching of Cameron Ciraldo.

Every week and every win is further proof that the Bulldogs have finally pulled the right rein when it comes to the man holding the clipboard. The club has churned through five coaches since they parted ways with Des Hasler at the end of 2017.

Ciraldo arrived with a reputation as a defensive guru and he is beginning to live up to the billing. Only Penrith - his former club - have conceded less points this season.

The other concerns at the start of the season centred around their lack of middles and the absence of a top-shelf half. Yet they have overcome those hurdles and will fancy their chances against the Eels on Monday in a game which should draw a healthy crowd and feature plenty of spite.

Win that, and I reckon the Bulldogs are finals bound. Once they get there, who knows? They are starting to put the pieces in place for a premiership run.

In Stephen Crichton, they have found an inspiring leader. You can’t underestimate the influence he has at the Bulldogs, having been immersed in a winning culture thanks to his experience at Penrith.

Not to forget former Eels hooker Reed Mahoney, who has made a habit out of getting under opponent’s skin this year. He will no doubt relish facing his former club and many of his ex-teammates.

That alone should be worth the admission price at Accor Stadium. Mahoney knows them better than anyone. He is well aware what raises their hackles.

You can bet your bottom dollar he will pull every lever as he attempts to put Mitchell Moses and Clint Gutherson off their games.

Bulldogs agitator Reed Mahoney will relish facing the Eels on Monday. Photo by Scott Gardiner/Getty Images

Moses, who is on the verge of a NSW recall and needs a big performance, won’t back down. Nor will Gutherson. It promises to be spiky and incendiary.

A year ago, Mahoney would have arrived at Accor Stadium fearing the worst.

On Monday, he will turn up confident that the ‘Dogs can continue their rise with a win over his former club. So will the club’s supporters. It’s been nearly a decade but they finally have some hope.

For the ‘Dogs, things are finally looking up.

SLATER’S PRICE TAG CONTINUES TO RISE

Billy Slater is in the sweet spot. That point in your life where everything you touch turns to gold. Where you can do no wrong.

Case in point — the opening State of Origin game. While the rest of the rugby league world wondered how Billy would use Selwyn Cobbo, Slater insisted all along that they had a plan.

Mind you, he didn’t necessarily need one after Reece Walsh was flattened by Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii in the eighth minute. Any plan went out the window. A new one had to come into effect and Slater, as always, pulled the right rein.

Cobbo pulled off his tracksuit, jogged onto the field and played a starring role as the Maroons took charge of the series at Accor Stadium.

Billy had done it again, nailing his selections and his use of the interchange. Contrast that with the Blues and Michael Maguire, who is under rising pressure to put the cleaners through his side in the lead-up to game two in Melbourne.

There has even been talk that he should follow Slater’s lead and pick an outside back on the bench. Slater, with every game in charge of Queensland, seems to be enhancing his reputation and leaving a lasting effect on Origin.

Queensland coach Billy Slater enhances his reputation with every game. Picture: NRL Imagery

Clubs are falling over themselves to reach out. St George Illawarra and Parramatta have both asked the question. Slater hasn’t taken the bait yet and the sense is that he is in no hurry.

Why would he be? His price tag continues to skyrocket and if he wins another Origin series, clubs will be queuing at his door. No asking price will be too high.

Even then, it may not be enough to lure Slater into the NRL. For the moment, he should savour what he is doing at Origin level. At some point, it will no doubt come to an end.

Even Origin’s greatest coaches — Wayne Bennett, Mal Meninga and Phil Gould — have called time on their stints at the helm of their states. Even legends occasionally have time called on them.

Brad Fittler won three of his first four series, was hailed as the revolutionary, and then kicked to kerb when Slater arrived.

Slater will be well aware of his Origin shelf life. He will know when to walk away. NRL clubs will be watching and waiting.