How Canterbury signed the recruits powering a Bulldogs revival

Panned by experts for buying too many “utilities”, Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo has lifted the lid on the recruitment strategy implemented by the club’s brains trust.

Kurt Mann is the face of the Bulldogs stunning revival from contenders for the wooden spoon to first on the NRL ladder in the space of 18 months.

Set to join the celebrated 200 NRL game club against his former team Newcastle at Accor Stadium on Sunday, Mann typifies the cultural blueprint behind the Bulldogs huge roster overhaul under head coach Cameron Ciraldo across the past two seasons.

Panned by experts for buying too many “utilities” Ciraldo has lifted the lid on the recruitment strategy implemented by the club’s brains trust to elevate Canterbury from the doghouse of 15th on the NRL ladder in 2023, to be currently sitting first - their best start to a season in 32-years.

‘Character’ was a key recruiting test for Cameron Ciraldo as he worked to rebuild the Bulldogs roster. Picture: Richard Dobson

“It was all about character first,” Ciraldo said.

“We realised we needed a culture change and it wasn’t about positions or talent, it was about getting the right character in the building to change the mentality behind the football team.

“We knew we needed guys that worked hard and who were connectors of people.

“Also, players that understood what winning looks like, which is why Kurt Mann fit that space so well.

“Having previously spent time at the Storm and Dragons, it was after guiding the Knights at halfback to a 42-6 thrashing of Canterbury in August, 2023, that Mann, 32, found himself sitting opposite Ciraldo and Bulldogs cultural adviser Andrew Ryan inside the Novotel Newcastle.

“I was shocked that he was actually available,” Ciraldo said.

Kurt Mann has been playing his best footy since he came to the Dogs. Picture: Getty Images

“He had been in the under-20s in Newcastle when I was still playing there (2011).

“Newcastle signed him as the next big thing as a halfback, so I had always tracked his career. Gus (Phil Gould) had tried to sign him at Penrith when I was there, but he ended up going to Melbourne.

“So I’ve always watched him from afar and loved the way he played.

“I went and met him after the Knights pumped us up there in my hotel room and I couldn’t be more impressed.

“He just wanted to come and make an impact. We pretty much agreed to sign him on the spot.

“His footy IQ and his character stands out, but he’s also become a real leader at the back-end of his career. He’s a great mentor for the young guys, but also he’s been playing his best footy since he came to the Dogs.

Alongside Mann, the Bulldogs have been unrelenting in their climb to the top of the NRL ladder by reshaping the club with a string of key recruits. This is how the club signed them:

Originally published as How Canterbury signed the recruits powering a Bulldogs revival