Jacob Kiraz opens up on testing road to becoming Canterbury Bulldogs fan favourite

Jacob Kiraz was rocked when he was let go by the Bulldogs, the devout man of faith questioning why God would put him in this position. But a ‘gamble’ by Phil Gould saved his Bulldogs dream.

Jacob Kiraz worshipped Canterbury as a kid but it was the Bulldogs that tested 22-year old’s faith like never before.

Kiraz, a devout Lebanese Maronite who adheres to strict cultural traditions, was faced with an impossible decision – give up on his NRL dream or move out of home before marriage.

Kiraz was 17 years old at the time and unwanted by his local club.

Despite being a local junior that bled blue-and-white, Canterbury development coaches at the time failed to see Kiraz’s great potential and overlooked him for selection in both Harold Matthews (under 17s) and SG Ball (under 19s) squads.

So Kiraz had to leave the kennel, and his family home in Belfield, to chase his NRL dream.

But when North Queensland came knocking with a three-year deal in 2020, it felt like a contradiction of faith and culture instead of an opportunity to live out his dream to be an NRL player.

“It was massive. I’m not going to lie,” Kiraz recalled.

Dianne Kiraz with her son Jacob Kiraz, who has emerged as a cult figure at the Bulldogs. Picture: Richard Dobson

“It was the hardest move for me, especially being from Lebanese heritage. We are not allowed to move out of home until we are married. It was very hard for me.

“I still now live with my parents, until I’m married.

“At the time, I said, ‘Why me? Why do I have to do this?’ I’m very faithful, so I was questioning why God would put me in this position.

“I never made Harold Matts or SG Ball for Bulldogs.

“That’s something I took quite personally when I was young when I never made those squads. The (Cowboys) offered me an NRL contract in my last year.

“It was something I couldn’t deny.”

Kiraz moved to Townsville but would only manage one game for the Cowboys under-20s feeder club, the Townsville Blackhawks, before the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic wrecked havoc with the game’s junior representative competitions in 2020.

After a season at the Cowboys, Kiraz joined Newcastle in 2021 on a development deal however his career failed to progress.

He wanted out of Newcastle but mostly he wanted to return home.

He wanted to be a Bulldog.

Jacob Kiraz has been a lifelong Bulldogs fan

Jacob Kiraz has been a lifelong Bulldogs fan

And just when his dream of following in the footsteps of his Bulldogs heroes Josh Reynolds and fellow Lebanese international Hazem El Masri appeared dead, general manager of football Phil Gould offered Kiraz a lifeline.

Or as Kiraz calls it, a $40,000 train-and-trial ‘gamble’.

“The Bulldogs showed interest and I was like, ‘Wow, this might be good’,” Kiraz said.

“So I left a top 30 spot at the Knights to sign a train-and-trial with the Bulldogs because they didn’t have any spots.

“Gus took a gamble on me and it was the best decision I ever made. It was a fresh start with my junior club, I’m grateful for the opportunity.

“I still pinch myself, that I’m still playing for the club I love.”

Jacob Kiraz (back row, second from right) back in his Cowboys days.

It’s hard to believe Kiraz ever needed a fresh start at Belmore.

Or that his spot in the side for round one was under threat after coach Cameron Ciraldo’s off-season recruitment spree bolstered the club’s outside back stocks with the likes Connor Tracey, Drew Hutichson and Bronson Xerri.

After debuting for his beloved Bulldogs in 2022, Kiraz’s rise to elite status was cemented in 2024, finishing the regular season as the game’s most prolific metre-eater (4104m) in a breakout year.

It has also catapulted him to the same level of adoration El Masri received from Canterbury-Bankstown’s large Lebanese community.

“There are not too many Lebanese players in the NRL, and to play for the Bulldogs fans, it’s amazing,” Kiraz said.

“Hazem was the one that passed me my rookie of the year award, that was amazing.

“Seeing what he’s done for the club. I’m nowhere near that.

“I sometimes forget, I am that much of an impact on the Lebanese community.

“When I have people come up to me saying they don’t go for the Dogs but because they are Lebanese too, they love me. When they say that, it touches my heart.”

Kiraz will play in his first finals match against Manly on Sunday but it could have easily been for the Knights, or even the Cowboys.

Jacob Kiraz has become a fan favourite at the Bulldogs.

So when the St Johns Eagles junior runs out onto a packed Accor Stadium, looking out into a sea of blue and white, Kiraz will take faith in that moment as another part in ‘God’s plan’.

“It’s crazy now I’m back here. Everything happens for a reason. I’m truly grateful for that opportunity from the Cowboys because it’s made me a better player,” Kiraz said.

“I say to young kids all the time, ‘You don’t need to make representative sides. I never made Harold Matthews … It doesn’t mean you won’t make the NRL’.

“It shows anyone can do it, if Lebanese kids keep pushing hard and never give up.

“There are sacrifices involved and I had to take a different path but it’s worked for me. Keep your faith, I would not be here without God, without him, I’m nothing.

“He’s my why, he’s my purpose.”

Originally published as Jacob Kiraz opens up on testing road to becoming Canterbury Bulldogs fan favourite