Canterbury Bulldogs and Western Clydesdales decide to cut ties

Just two years after inking a deal with the Canterbury Bulldogs that helped seal their Hostplus Cup return the Western Clydesdales have cut ties with the NRL club. Find out why here.

Cooper Howlett scores a try for the Clydesdales in a trial game against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. Picture: Nev Madsen.

The Western Clydesdales are set to cut ties with NRL club Canterbury Bulldogs after two years and have declared they want to link up with one of its rivals.

The Hostplus Cup side linked with the NRL club in March 2022 hoping to unearth another Steve Price or Johnathan Thurston and develop a relationship that would strengthen the futures of both organisations.

Now the clubs have settled on a mutual agreement to part ways after June 30.

“We’re very excited by the opportunity this presents,” Clydesdales general manager Shane Sullivan said.

“With the Bulldogs changing chairman and going through a bit of a restructure this year they’ve naturally been looking at all their programs and relationships.

“After recent discussions both parties (the Bulldogs and Clydesdales) reviewed what we want moving forward and decided we could not meet the needs of the relationship.

“We’re very thankful and appreciative of all the support the Bulldogs have given us, without it we would not be here (in the Hostplus Cup), but now it’s time to move forward.

“Our goal is to strengthen and grow the club through partnerships that align with our vision.”

Sullivan said the Clydesdales have already had discussions with NRL clubs about affiliations in 2025 and beyond.

Tyrone Nean for Bulldogs attempts to stop Luke Rouland from scoring a try for the Clydesdales. Picture: Nev Madsen.

The Clydesdales would love to link with a Queensland NRL club, however they will not take “the first offer on the table”.

“It’s very important to us that we make the right deal,” Sullivan said.

“We have had some early talks with (NRL) clubs.

“We have also met with QRL (officials) and QRL CEO Ben Ikin who will help us during the process as well.

“Linking up with a Queensland club would be fantastic but it’s important we look at all the opportunities, we’re not going to take the first offer on the table.

“We need an affiliation that aligns with our needs going forward.

“One need is a competitive edge.

“When you look at our last two games, the teams we played had a number of NRL players, that’s a competitive advantage we would like while also being able to develop our locals as well.”

It’s not a one way street however with the Clydesdales stating they have a lot to offer any NRL club.

What the Clydesdales have to offer is a direct line to one of Queensland’s strongest grassroots rugby league nurseries.

The Darling Downs and South West Queensland regions have produced some of the NRL’s greatest ever players.

The next generation of stars is equally impressive with seven Clydesdales juniors lining up for Queensland Country earlier this month and four players linking up with NRL clubs in the New South Wales SG Ball and Jersey Flegg competitions this year.

“We’ve had some great success in our junior programs already,” Sullivan said.

“Some very promising players have already come through the pathways we’re establishing and there are more to come.

“That is just a small part of what we have to offer.”