Defensively, the transformation under Cameron Ciraldo has been remarkable. Canterbury have rediscovered that old Bulldogs trait of making teams earn absolutely everything. They scramble, compete and work for one another.
Coming in to 2026, hope was at an all-time high. Only for it to fade away by the midway point.
While there have been plenty of great defensive signs in 2026, when they get the football it’s dire straits.
And sometimes, it feels like we’re watching a completely different team.
The frustrating part is that Canterbury’s attack has improved. Many fans forget how awful things were. In 2022 they scored just 383 points. That rose to 438 in 2023, then 551 in 2024 and 578 in 2025. At one stage last season they were averaging 25.4 points per game - the fifth-best in the NRL.
So it would be unfair to say the Bulldogs simply cannot attack.
The bigger issue, particularly when watching them now, is how hard they seem to work for their points.
Canterbury have built a roster perfectly suited to Ciraldo’s philosophy. They have workers everywhere. Max King, Leo Thompson, Viliame Kikau, Jacob Preston and company will run, tackle and compete all afternoon. The outside backs are willing to start sets and Stephen Crichton remains an elite footballer.
But how many genuine attacking players are there?
Players who can create something when the structure breaks down? Players who see an opportunity before everyone else does? Players who make a defensive line nervous simply because they have the football?
That is where I think Canterbury are lacking. Particularly a game breaking fullback. I love Connor Tracey, who is another extremely hard working player. But he has zero x-factor.
Matt Burton possesses one of the biggest boots in rugby league and can be devastating when running the football, but asking him to manufacture the majority of Canterbury’s attack never seemed the best use of his skillset. Now he’s at centre, rarely kicking the ball.
Sure, they’ve had some big wins this season over the Panthers, Storm and Tigers, not to mention a very controlled win over one of the premiership favourites the Warriors. But there is also a broader structural problem.
Too often the Bulldogs can march downfield reasonably well, arrive inside the opposition 20 and suddenly look short of ideas. There’s plenty of effort, plenty of shape and plenty of movement — but not always enough deception or creativity.
That distinction matters.
Canterbury don’t necessarily need to become Penrith or Warriors and start throwing the football around from everywhere. Their defence is their identity and should remain that way.
They simply need more attacking layers around it.
That means developing Lachlan Galvin into the organising, creative half they desperately need him to become. It means finding more ways to get Crichton running rather than constantly organising. It means creating opportunities for Burton and Canterbury’s outside backs before the defence is set, rather than expecting them to beat three defenders from a standing start.
And recruitment needs to reflect that.
For several years Canterbury understandably recruited competitors. They needed to change a losing culture and Ciraldo has unquestionably achieved that.
The next evolution should be adding footballers who complement those workers — particularly forwards comfortable passing before the line and spine players capable of creating around the ruck.
Because I don’t believe Canterbury needs a complete overhaul. In fact, that’s what makes their attacking struggles so frustrating.
The hard part has already been done. The culture has changed. The defence is established. The effort is unquestionable.
Now they need to add some imagination. Great defence can get you into September.
But eventually, particularly against the best sides in the competition, somebody has to find a way across the tryline.
As it stands, they’ve added Connor Votano (Knights), Jesse McLean (Panthers) and Freddy Lussick (Panthers). They also have several young players on the cusp of first grade.
They may need to add more strike. And right now, that remains the biggest question hanging over this Bulldogs side. They will spend the offseason mulling over how to take their attack up a few notches while maintaining that elite defensive level.
Matt Attard is a freelance rugby league writer, disability support worker and host of the Pack Mentality podcast. A lifelong Bulldogs supporter, he is passionate about telling the stories behind the game, from grassroots to the NRL, while championing mental health and the people who make rugby league special. You can read all of his content here and contact him on LinkedIn.
