Bulldogs Debate Page

[Hounddog]

Bryenton looks very good. But carving up in that grade happens a lot and often results in nothing. But I’m pretty excited about him too. Just not prepared to expect too much. I can’t wait to watch him in cup in the next couple of years. If he kills them in reserves like he is killing them in the schoolboys he should be first grade material.

I agree on the standard normally that interstate school boys final match is a hjgh standard, but the QLD side was far too good for the NSW side,

But i have also never seen a player be that dominant in any grade of football.

Gus is doing a good job of signing players like Bryenton, becuase every NRL club would have been trying to sign him.

If he doesn't end up playing NRL i will be surprised.

However, Brandon Wakeham was apparently also pretty dominant in that game when his school boy side beat a QLD school boy side with David Filita and a few other big name players.

 

[Hounddog]

I get where Marki is coming from in the halves becuase we haven't had an elite hslfback since Sherwin and we let Thurston go.

Sezer and Wakeham were 2 guys who I thought might make it. I always saw Grub as a 14 and an elite rep level 14.

Sexton wasn't far off being a good option, he just didn't get involved enough and seemed to lack confidence at times.

What i like about Gslvin is he is confident and he does get involved.

 

[Micko]

I agree on the standard normally that interstate school boys final match is a hjgh standard, but the QLD side was far too good for the NSW side,

But i have also never seen a player be that dominant in any grade of football.

Gus is doing a good job of signing players like Bryenton, becuase every NRL club would have been trying to sign him.

If he doesn't end up playing NRL i will be surprised.

However, Brandon Wakeham was apparently also pretty dominant in that game when his school boy side beat a QLD school boy side with David Filita and a few other big name players.

You just can never know. But to not sign a player that plays that well in schoolboys is crazy. Agree Gus signing these guys is awesome.

 

[Micko]

I get where Marki is coming from in the halves becuase we haven't had an elite hslfback since Sherwin and we let Thurston go.

Sezer and Wakeham were 2 guys who I thought might make it. I always saw Grub as a 14 and an elite rep level 14.

Sexton wasn't far off being a good option, he just didn't get involved enough and seemed to lack confidence at times.

What i like about Gslvin is he is confident and he does get involved.

I understand where Marki is coming from. But it annoys me when any of our fans consistently criticises the club for something they supposedly didn’t do.

It annoys me even more when fans who have clearly never played and have less knowledge of the game than a pelican continue to spew forth their uneducated agenda.

We simply can’t sign everybody. And the signings we think are the right ones are rarely even a slim hope of ever happening.

Yes this forum is for talking about the Bulldogs. But we should at least have a level of knowledge needed to contribute.

 

[Hounddog]

The only thing that worries me about 2026 is injures to experinced outside backs at the start of the season, Critter, Montoya, Tuala, Rinakama.
Thar is an opportunity for young guys to push fior an NRL spot, Sua, Cocherane, Dykes, Rauqe, Tia.

 

[Hounddog]

If i can only list a player in two positions this is how i see the 2026 options..
1. Tracey, Dykes, Cocherane, Critter.
2, Kiraz, Tuala, Rauqe, Tracey
3. Xerri, Tuala, Burton, Montoya
4. Critter, Kiraz, Xerri, Sua, Tia
5. Montoya, Rinakama, Sua, Cocherane
6. (Left) Burton, Woods, Dykes, Haywood, Teaupa?
7. (Right) Galvin, O'Sullivan, Woods?, Conti?
8. King, Curran, Hughes, DSF
9. Haywood, Turpin, GCKT, Young, Otukolo?
10. Thompson, Hayes, Hopoi, Todd, Underhill
11. Kiks, Spinks, Preston
12. Preston, Spinks, Readon, Toups
13. Todd, Latu, Curran, Jones, Hayes, Salmon

14. Turpin, GCKT, Otukolo?, Salmon, Young, Tia, Mann, O'Sullivan
15. Mann, Toups, Underhill, Latu, Jones
16. Hughes, DSF, Baker
17. Hopoi, Readon, Zyron, Alatini

Because of my 2 positions per player rule I was running low on options by position 17.

My point is, you can see thst our depth is very good.

? I'm not sure Orukolo is still at the club, Teaupa and Conti are spparently talented, but are young. Some of these players can only play after round 10.

 

[Micko]

If i can only list a player in two positions this is how i see the 2026 options..
1. Tracey, Dykes, Cocherane, Critter.
2, Kiraz, Tuala, Rauqe, Tracey
3. Xerri, Tuala, Burton, Montoya
4. Critter, Kiraz, Xerri, Sua, Tia
5. Montoya, Rinakama, Sua, Cocherane
6. (Left) Burton, Woods, Dykes, Haywood, Teaupa?
7. (Right) Galvin, O'Sullivan, Woods?, Conti?
8. King, Curran, Hughes, DSF
9. Haywood, Turpin, GCKT, Young, Otukolo?
10. Thompson, Hayes, Hopoi, Todd, Underhill
11. Kiks, Spinks, Preston
12. Preston, Spinks, Readon, Toups
13. Todd, Latu, Curran, Jones, Hayes, Salmon

14. Turpin, GCKT, Otukolo?, Salmon, Young, Tia, Mann, O'Sullivan
15. Mann, Toups, Underhill, Latu, Jones
16. Hughes, DSF, Baker
17. Hopoi, Readon, Zyron, Alatini

Because of my 2 positions per player rule I was running low on options by position 17.

My point is, you can see thst our depth is very good.

? I'm not sure Orukolo is still at the club, Teaupa and Conti are spparently talented, but are young. Some of these players can only play after round 10.

I honestly don’t understand the hate Salmon gets. His line speed is great. His talk is better. His passing game is close to the best in the club. His scramble defence is the best in the club. He runs good holes and knows when to run it pass. He pushes himself more than most. Constantly strives to be the best. One of the most passionate and will do whatever it takes. I love the kid.

 

[Hounddog]

I honestly don’t understand the hate Salmon gets. His line speed is great. His talk is better. His passing game is close to the best in the club. His scramble defence is the best in the club. He runs good holes and knows when to run it pass. He pushes himself more than most. Constantly strives to be the best. One of the most passionate and will do whatever it takes. I love the kid.

I agree with most of that.

But I also think that he doesn't represent a run threat, and he does give away a few penalties.

I think that Todd, Latu, Curran and Jones represent more run threat and can get through the work in defence. Aside from Todd we might lose a bit in the passing game, but a lock who is a run threat can create more opportunities when he does pass.

IMO Jones, Sua and Latu are the players most likely to surprise fans in 2026.

I see Salmon as similar to Marhoney, fast line speed, good defender, not much cutting edge in attack, and prone to giving away dumb penalties.

I can see why Cirro picks Salmon, becuase he is reliable and a good communicator.

If we want to improve our attack, and be a genuine premiership chance, we need more attacking threat from the starting lock.

We have been short of middles especially a quality starter with size who can play long minutes. Thompson might make all of our players look better including Salmon.

I doubt that Salmon can create opportunities, but i think that he will be good at taking opportunoties.

And i will not be surprised if Jones makes a splash similar to Presto and owns tne starting lock position by the middle of the season.

Gould has nominated Jones as the 2026 player to watch, 2024 was Presto, 2025 was Todd, only injuries prevented Todd from being a regular member of tne 2025 team.

Jones will face stiff competition from Todd and Latu.

I also rate Curran in attack and defence and i think lock might suit him.

 

[Hounddog]

In addition to starting lock, i see bench hooker as the other big opportunity to improve our attack.

We want a bench hooker with a running game, I agree with Marki on this.

GCKT - needs to improve his defence, but we probably signed him for his attack.

Tia - pace and footwork, a half who can also play centre - should be able to handle 14, robust islander half.

Young - specalist hooker, I don't know anything about his running game.

Woods - definately has the pace and footwork, defence might be a challenge, but a good way of easing into NRL.

O'Sullivan an expected half can usually play 14.

Guys like Turpin and Otukolo are more robust good defenders, can play long minutes, and can play bench lock. Mann and Salmon are similar but are less suited to playing hooker.

I prefer an attacking bench hooker, but the bench lock can also be a defensive hooker.

 

[Hounddog]

I have confirmed my suspicion that Woods played on the right in the 2024 U19's SOO game.

I think that he switched to the left when partnering Tia in the Flegg team in 2024 and stayed on the left in reserve grade last year becuase he had built a combination with Spinks in Flegg and becase Sexton was better suited to right.

I hope this means that we can develop Woods as a half with the ability to play right and left sides.

This means that the following combinations are viable:-

• Woods and Galvin (left)
• Woods and Burton (right)
• Woods and Teaupa (right)
• Burton and Galvin
• Teaupa and Galvin

My interest was peaked by watching some footage of Teaupa playing, i was very impressed with his passing, especially for such a young player.

I think all 5 halves combinations above are good enough to win a comp and while Woods or Burton would always be plan A, it is good to know that plans B and C could get the job done.

I now hope that Teaupa, Young, Tia, Jones, Spinks and Cocherane all play in the first trial. I would like to see what the young dudes can do.

 

[Hounddog]

Woods plsyed right edge half in the 2024 and 2025 U19 SOO matches and he kicks well on the right can pass both sides of the field.

So we could play him off the bench and move Galvin to lock when he comes on.

 

[Micko]

Woods plsyed right edge half in the 2024 and 2025 U19 SOO matches and he kicks well on the right can pass both sides of the field.

So we could play him off the bench and move Galvin to lock when he comes on.

I would like to see Burton trialled at lock not Galvin. When Woods comes on.

 

[Hounddog]

I would like to see Burton trialled at lock not Galvin. When Woods comes on.

EIther way would work, Galvin has more edge playmaking ability.

Galvin is very fit and will be quite big when fully grown.

I now think that Woods must be close to ready for the NRL and that he will make a difference.

 

[Hounddog]

I don't think we were far off in 2025, defence and fitness were great.

Attack came up a bit short on a few occasions and we occasionally lacked some size and depth.

We had a lot of forwards unavailable though injury and suspension at one stage and a flood of late injuries to outside backs.

Finishing top 2 gives us the best chance, our crowd would be a big factor.

I hope that a bit more size and depth will make a difference and that we can settle on a long term spine.

 

[Micko]

I don't think we were far off in 2025, defence and fitness were great.

Attack came up a bit short on a few occasions and we occasionally lacked some size and depth.

We had a lot of forwards unavailable though injury and suspension at one stage and a flood of late injuries to outside backs.

Finishing top 2 gives us the best chance, our crowd would be a big factor.

I hope that a bit more size and depth will make a difference and that we can settle on a long term spine.

We have to finish top two to win it with the team we have.

 

[Hounddog]

We have to finish top two to win it with the team we have.

Top 2 gives any team the best chance.

We need to keep improving, i think that we will imorove this season.

No gsme or season is easy, i expect the Dragons to be fired up round 1.

Vegas is a one off big gane recently we do well in that kind of game.

A narrow field doesn't suit us, be fitness, execution qnd energy will count.

We will see in the trials which young guys are pushing for an NRL spot.

Having a pack of forwards that can match the opposition and a quaility settled spine is what i hope to achieve this season. Coaching, fitness and desire can do the rest.

 

[Hounddog]

We have a tougher draw in 2026 and no easy games in the first 10 rounds. But I think that the 2026 side is better than the 2025 side.

 

[Marki]

No he is not. Stop talking shit. He was instructed to attempt to change momentum and run whenever possible. Most interchange hookers do this.

Nope.
It wasnt instructions. Its his instinct.

Instructions do shit all if the player hasnt got the ability to play that way.

He is a running hooker. Full stop.

 

[Marki]

I understand where Marki is coming from. But it annoys me when any of our fans consistently criticises the club for something they supposedly didn’t do.

It annoys me even more when fans who have clearly never played and have less knowledge of the game than a pelican continue to spew forth their uneducated agenda.

We simply can’t sign everybody. And the signings we think are the right ones are rarely even a slim hope of ever happening.

Yes this forum is for talking about the Bulldogs. But we should at least have a level of knowledge needed to contribute.

21 years without a premiership suggests our formula has been wrong (or we have been tremendously unfortunate).

I don't think we have been unfortunate. We deserved to make (and win) in 2012 but i thought we were lucky to make the GF in 2014.

We have flip-flopped since.

Yes we are on a more steady path now but we are still failing to acknowledge or act on the undisputed fact that you need a strong soine to win a comp.

Its great that we are signing young schoolboys on potential but they arent going to win you a premiership anytime soon.

If you miss your window having filled other positions with premiership-type players, but lacking in the key spine, what have you achieved?

There's no second prize.

 

[Marki]

I honestly don’t understand the hate Salmon gets. His line speed is great. His talk is better. His passing game is close to the best in the club. His scramble defence is the best in the club. He runs good holes and knows when to run it pass. He pushes himself more than most. Constantly strives to be the best. One of the most passionate and will do whatever it takes. I love the kid.

I also dont dislike him and see his value.

I just dont know if my like for him aligns with a premiership team. Of course, he won premierships at Penrith, but they had a gun spine.

I think in a team with gun creative halves, his job is higher valued. I believe in our team, when the spine is not firing, everyone looks to blame the guys that arent taking over.

The root issue is the spine.