Why Canterbury fans are showing the way for rival NRL supporters | Bulldog’s Bite

They are a boisterous mob at Belmore. When Doggies fans jump on board, they are all in, loud and proud. Canterbury’s noisy supporters are as close as we have in rugby league to English soccer fans.

“There is absolutely nothing else like it in the entire world.”

These are the emotional words from diehard Bulldogs fan Ghassan Zoabi describing the amazing celebrations among fans on Burwood Road after each Canterbury win.

Hey Doggies fans, don’t ever change.

Canterbury supporters are exuberant extroverts — and they don’t give a stuff what other fans think about them.

Sometimes condemned but fiercely loyal, Canterbury’s faithful are the most vocal and passionate in rugby league.

Bulldogs fans are as close as we have in rugby league to the infatuated English soccer fans.

They can tread a fine line at times. On Friday, one supporter verbally taunted Souths forward Jai Arrow, who reacted and had to be held back by Rabbitohs officials. It was provocative behaviour but the fan, who clearly angered Arrow, wasn’t evicted.

They are a boisterous mob at Belmore. When Doggies fans jump on board, they are all in, loud and proud.

The post-game celebrations on Burwood Road have become staggering.

Decked out in Bulldogs jumpers, fans gather to chant, dance and beat drums in a colourful display of unrestrained emotion.

The music blares and horns blow – this is raw excitement and the rest of the rugby league world can go to hell. This is what our game should be about.

“It’s an exhilarating feeling to be among all our loyal and dedicated supporters as we unite in our celebrations by beating our drums to the chants of ‘Bulldogs’ and our rendition of the team song performed in a giant huddle together,” Zoabi said.

“So many cars just circle back around, wave their flags and beep their horns to embrace the street crowd’s delirium after another famous blue and white victory. There is absolutely nothing else like it in the entire world.”

Fans from other clubs might think it’s uncool to perform such unreserved public exhibitions – but not the blue and white army.

Canterbury’s faithful are the most vocal and passionate in rugby league. Picture: NRL Photos

When Doggies fans jump on board, they are all in, loud and proud. Picture: Getty Images

I’d go as far as to say some fans at rival NRL clubs look down their noses at Dogs supporters. Maybe it’s time those same fans showed the same public energy as Canterbury supporters.

But the Belmore brigade don’t care – it probably only makes their band of supporters even tighter throughout the multicultural suburbs in Sydney’s west.

And what other club could inspire 65,307 fans to an NRL game? Very few, if any.

“It brought a tear to my eye,” said Bulldogs prop Max King.

Unbeaten after six games for the first time in 87 years, Canterbury will no doubt pull more massive crowds this season around the 30,000 to 40,000 mark.

Nearly 90,000 people have attended the club’s two home games at Accor Stadium this season with a sellout crowd of 17,892 attending a round two game at Belmore.

Coach Cameron Ciraldo was asked in his press conference on Tuesday if Bulldogs fans will be Canterbury’s X-factor this season.

“Yeah, I think so. It’s something deeply unique to our club,” he said.

“I think our club is probably the closest thing to the Premier League or college football in our country.”

Extroverts get their energy being around extroverts and rugby league needs the stimulation that Bulldogs fans bring to the game.

And you can expect the masses to be back on Burwood Road after each win this season. The Dogs are barking – and rugby league is alive.

DOG TREATS

TEN IN BIN ‘TOO LONG’

Calls are increasing for the NRL to consider reintroducing a five-minute sin bin.

Dual international Lote Tuqiri is the latest to urge change.

“Ten minutes is too long in some instances where there is accidental contact with the head,” Tuqiri said.

For the past two years, some clubs have been quietly pushing for a five-minute sin-bin option to be reviewed. Players say the 10-minute sin bin is too difficult to physically overcome in today’s rapid-fire game.

The five-minute sin bin was last used in 1991.

Dolphins star Isaiya Katoa helped cook a full roast pig as part of NRL’s multicultural round.

DOLPHINS PIG OUT

Dolphins star Isaiya Katoa helped cook a full roast pig as part of NRL’s multicultural round.

Katoa, who was brilliant in his side’s big win over Melbourne last Friday night, and his close relatives prepared the pig, which he brought in to share with players and club staff. Katoa was born in New Zealand but is of Tongan and Cook Islands descent.

Meanwhile, Dolphins media manager Trad McLean is among the most helpful and respected officials in the NRL.

On Friday night, he celebrated his 400th game as an NRL club media manager, having previously worked at the Brisbane Broncos.

SHOOSH

Which New Zealand Test star could leave his club before June for a long deal in Super League? And don’t be surprised if a well-known teammate departs for England at the same time.

SPOTTED

Wests Tigers hooker Tallyn Da Silva at Lidcombe Oval watching Lachlan Galvin’s Magpies play Parramatta at midday on Easter Monday before he dashed across town to come off the bench for the Wests Tigers-Eels NRL game.

SPOTTED II

Tigers legend Ben Elias at lunch last week at The Rocks with former Wallaby Nick Farr-Jones and ex-NSW Liberal Party leader Kerry Chikarovski.

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