Canterbury Bulldogs 2025 NRL season scouting report: Best 17, every player’s contract status, rookie watch

There’s something special about Canterbury heading into 2025. PAMELA WHALEY breaks down the issues facing the club, the rookies to watch and more in our deep dive into the Bulldogs.

Pamela Whaley

@pamelawhaley

5 min read

December 26, 2024 - 5:00AM

News Sport Network

The Bulldogs are poised to ride a wave of success into 2025.

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Word has it Belmore Road is still rocking.

Not even a frustrating semi-final exit was able to douse Canterbury’s rollicking rise back to the finals last season, awakening their boisterous fanbase from their slumber in the process.

And while they still had a swing and a miss at the likes of Ben Hunt and Ryan Papenhuyzen, it won’t dampen expectations of a harder push at the top four next year.

Pamela Whaley pores over what’s in store for a Bulldogs side that will be bolstered by the inclusions of Marcelo Montoya, Enari Tuala and Sitili Tupouniua in 2025.

Free agency wrap and rating

Canterbury are entering a period of stability with the stars in their roster, with all their major players locked down for the coming seasons including Stephen Crichton, Reed Mahoney, Viliame Kikau and Matt Burton. After much renovation, they’ve now assembled a squad that can push for success, which is what they’re heading towards over the next few years.

If they’re lucky, these are prime conditions to swing open a premiership window if they can nail at least one more key playmaker with the space they have left in the salary cap.

In 2024 they broke a finals drought, finishing in the top eight for the first time since 2016.

It was a remarkable turnaround for the club, who are still without a first-choice halfback and fullback. A handful of versatile players switched between positions in the spine throughout the year, and it’s a problem they will want to solve heading into 2025 and beyond.

The proof is in their recruitment dealings.

They aggressively pursued both Ben Hunt and Ryan Papenhuyzen while both were on the market, eventually missing out to the Broncos and Storm. Either player would have bumped up their premiership credentials exponentially. But they can afford to be patient to find the right fit rather than pouncing on the next available star.

RATING: A

Coach status and safety rating

After taking the club from the bottom of the ladder to an elimination final within the space of a season, Cameron Ciraldo’s coaching credentials have been affirmed.

His first season in charge was a learning period for players while he began to change the club’s losing culture, and in 2024 the fruits of his labour were evident on the field.

The addition of superstar centre Stephen Crichton as captain this year, who quickly became one of the best leaders in the competition, helped set Ciraldo’s standards.

The pair forged their relationship while working together at Penrith, and have now formed a dynamic duo in Belmore.

A three-game losing streak to finish the year was not the ideal way to finish the season, which included a demoralising 44-6 loss to North Queensland in the final round before being bounced out of the finals in week one in a close loss to Manly.

But Ciraldo has breathed life into the Bulldogs after years of misery, and for now appears the answer.

RATING: A

Likely debutant(s)

Teenage halfback Mitch Woods has been touted for big things in the future and will be in line to make his NRL debut in 2025.

The 18-year-old is one of the best young talents in the game after he shunned offers from rival codes to sign a four-year extension with the Dogs at the end of 2023.

It will keep him at the club until the end of 2027, but he has moved into the club’s top 30 for the first time this pre-season and will be pushing for a place in the starting side.

He’s been impressive at junior representative level with the Bulldogs, as well as starring for NSW in the under-19s Origin while still at school earlier this year.

As for club debuts, Marcelo Montoya returns after four years at the Warriors, while Enari Tuala (Knights) and Sitili Tupouniua (Roosters) will slot into the first grade side.

Mitch Woods could take the step up to first grade in 2025. Picture: NRL Photos

Who takes the next step

Connor Tracey has carried a utility tag across his career, which he admits has been to his own detriment at times. After moving across from the Sharks at the start of 2024, he began the season on the bench before shifting to the wing and eventually finding a home at fullback.

The stability suited him, and he should start 2025 as favourite for the No.1 jersey again.

Although the club went hard for Ryan Papenhuyzen, which shows they are still on the hunt for a top class fullback, Tracey has the chance to show what he can do across a season and push his case to hang onto the spot.

A full pre-season with speciality training could take him to another level.

The three burning issues

High expectations

They’ve lost the element of surprise, but this is just the start of a revival for the Bulldogs after years in the premiership wilderness.

Despite the shabby form at the end of the season, the Bulldogs got to experience the community support catch fire just as they did.

There’s a firmly held belief in the club that they can go further in 2025, but they’ll at least need to be as successful if they’re to prove the dark days are actually over.

Now that memberships are booming and excitement is high, it’s too valuable to let slip again.

Vibes are high among Bulldogs fans. Picture: Richard Dobson

The spine

Toby Sexton was handed the keys to the Bulldogs’ attack midway through 2024, but whether he’s the right man for the job remains to be seen.

The club went hard for Ben Hunt, and they have rising star Mitch Woods banging on the door, meaning 2025 will be a crucial one for him.

As for Matt Burton, he’ll be expected to step up again next season as a developing playmaker. His boot is his biggest asset, but fine tuning his game management skills would take the Bulldogs to another level.

Toby Sexton can make the No.7 jersey his own. Picture: Mark Nolan/Getty Images

Compact pack

The Bulldogs used a lack of size up front to a huge advantage for most of the season, but were steamrolled by Manly and North Queensland in key end of season games.

The addition of Sitili Tupouniua to the squad adds more mobility, but they haven’t added any significant size up front. Most successful clubs have one superstar prop on the books, and while Max King and Sam Hughes are excellent players, they’re not yet among the top tier of NRL stars. The pack as a whole will have to work hard enough to prove they don’t need at least one more big bopper.

The Bulldogs are lacking one more big bopper. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Crystal ball

The energy around the Bulldogs and the club’s colourful supporter base was absolutely contagious in 2024, spreading joy throughout the NRL as they were finally given something to cheer about.

The trick is backing that up.

Call it blind optimism, but there’s something special about the Bulldogs heading into 2025. If they can recapture the imagination of fans early, they can ride that wave deep into the finals.