NRL 2023: Bulldogs sign Titans halfback Toby Sexton in immediate transfer deal

Phil Gould’s Bulldogs have pulled off a shock mid-season transfer as coach Cameron Ciraldo seeks an urgent fix for Canterbury’s scrumbase crisis.

Toby Sexton will join the Bulldogs with immediate effect. Picture: NRL Images

Phil Gould’s Bulldogs have poached Titans young gun Toby Sexton as coach Cameron Ciraldo seeks an urgent fix for Canterbury’s scrumbase crisis.

This masthead can reveal Sexton has agreed terms with the Bulldogs just 24 hours after Canterbury were flogged 66-0 by the Knights in one of the most humiliating performances in their 88-year history.

The Titans have agreed to an immediate transfer deal. Sexton left the Gold Coast on Monday night for a 10-hour drive to Sydney and, pending NRL clearance, could be available for Canterbury’s round 19 clash against Souths on Saturday night.

The Bulldogs have deployed Matt Burton at halfback for the past two months but the signing of the out-of-favour Sexton will give struggling Canterbury a bona fide No.7 to ease the strain on their star off-season recruit.

Ciraldo and football boss Gould met with Sexton last week in Sydney. They were impressed with the attitude of the former Australian Schoolboys star, who will join the Bulldogs immediately after being granted permission to negotiate with rival clubs by the Titans.

Toby Sexton will join the Bulldogs with immediate effect. Picture: NRL Images

Sexton’s signing will allow Burton to shift to five-eighth and give Ciraldo a composed game manager as the rookie coach comes under mounting pressure to steer the 15th-placed Bulldogs away from wooden-spoon territory.

Sexton - the Titans’ Chosen One just 12 months ago - has had a stunning fall from grace on the Glitter Strip.

The 22-year-old was regarded as Gold Coast’s next scrumbase superstar and he was rated so highly the Titans dumped their co-captain Jamal Fogarty, offloading him to the Raiders last year to blood Sexton.

But after 19 games in 2022, Sexton was dropped at the back end of last season by then coach Justin Holbrook and has barely been sighted in the NRL since after losing the Titans’ No.7 jumper this year to Tanah Boyd.

Sexton has played just one NRL game this season, setting up the winning try against the Dragons in the dying minutes and outpointing rival halfback Ben Hunt in the Titans’ 20-18 victory.

Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo. Picture: Matt King/Getty

Now the promising shot-caller gets the chance to resurrect not only his NRL career, but kickstart the Bulldogs’ flagging fortunes.

Sexton, who has played 24 games since his NRL debut in 2021, was contracted to the Titans until the end of next year but the Gold Coast have agreed to an early release to revive his career at Belmore.

The Bulldogs are hoping to have Sexton’s subsidised deal registered by the NRL by Tuesday afternoon, which would enable him to be selected at halfback for the Rabbitohs clash.

Last month, Sexton said he had not lost faith in his ability and vowed to fight his way back to the NRL.

“Last year was a pretty tough year, I’ve been through the wringer in a way,” he said.

“I was a little bit disappointed (to be overlooked for the halfback spot this season).

“I want to be back playing NRL, especially after last year.

“All I can control is playing good footy.”

Originally published as NRL 2023: Bulldogs sign Titans halfback Toby Sexton in immediate transfer deal