Canterbury Bulldogs
Encyclopedia
The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Belmore
, a suburb in the Canterbury-Bankstown
region of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League
(NRL) premiership, as well as New South Wales Rugby League
junior competitions. The club was admitted to the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership
, predecessor of the current NRL competition, in 1935
. They won their first premiership in their 4th year of competition with another soon after, and later went through a very strong period in the 1980s, winning four premierships in that decade. Known briefly in the 1990s as the Sydney Bulldogs, as a result of the Super League war
the club competed in that competition in 1997 before continuing to play every season of the re-unified NRL, winning their most recent premiership in 2004.
led to the creation of the Canterbury-Bankstown Junior Rugby League – the Canterbury club was admitted into the elite New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership. It took the new club, nicknamed "Country Bumpkins" because of their rural recruiting and CB emblem, just three years to win their first premiership in 1938
. The grand final-winning effort was repeated again in 1942
before a 25-year drought set in.
In 1967, having ended the 11-year premiership reign of the great St.George by knocking them out in the final, "The Berries" (as they were known at the time) went down to the South Sydney Rabbitohs
in the grand final. But the return to the top end of the table set the scene for off-field restructuring that laid the foundations for the club to become one of the most consistent achievers in the remaining decades of the 20th century.
In 1978 Canterbury became known as "The Bulldogs". Nicknames such as "Cantabs" "CBs" and "Berries" were seen to be "soft" and the club wanted something to signify determination and grit. A grand final appearance in 1979
, followed by a grand final win in 1980 with a young, enthusiastic and free-running side dubbed "The Entertainers", was the beginning of a golden era that was to produce three more grand final wins in the 1980s: 1984, 1985 and 1988.
In the mid-1990s' Super League war
, the Bulldogs aligned themselves with the Super League competition, playing in the inaugural and only 1997 premiership season
. In 1998 the Bulldogs came close to adding another trophy to the cabinet after battling their way to the Grand Final where they met the Brisbane Broncos
and went down 38–12. On the way to the 1998 Grand Final, the Bulldogs launched two stunning comebacks, first against the Knights in the third week of the finals – down 16–0 in the second half, they fought back to 16-all at fulltime and went on to win in extra time. A week later they trailed Parramatta in the preliminary final by 16 points with just 9 minutes remaining. Three quick tries and a high pressure conversion in the final minutes got them back level at 18-all, and the Bulldogs eventually went on to victory.
Following indifferent form in 1999, 2000 and 2001 which all saw varying levels of success, the club was found to have systematically and deliberately breached the NRL salary cap
in 2002, and was docked all 37 competition points which it had amassed up to that point in the season. This resulted in the club falling from first to last place on the ladder, and at the end of the season the Bulldogs received their first "wooden spoon" (a reference given to the club which finishes last in the competition) in several decades.
The Bulldogs returned to finals contention in 2003, however they fell one step short of yet another Grand Final after going down to the Roosters 28–18 in the Preliminary Final.
The club went through some well-documented off-field dramas in 2004, but managed to maintain their focus on football and were rewarded with the ultimate prize when they held out arch-rivals the Sydney Roosters
in a 16–13 thriller in the Grand Final. The game was the last for the departing captain Steve Price, but he ultimately missed the match due to a leg injury. The victory capped club's 70th anniversary season in style, and was their eighth premiership, ranking them fifth in the all-time premiership tally.
2005
saw the Bulldogs unable to mount a serious defence of their premiership title as injuries and contract negotiations saw the year start and finish on a sour note for the club. Due to the extent of injuries suffered, the team was under-strength for most of the year. This took its toll in the final six weeks of the season, with the club suffering successive heavy losses and missing the finals series. In 2006
, little was expected from the club after a lacklustre 2005 season, but despite some doubt over the strength of their side, the Bulldogs' impressive forward pack helped them to a better than expected result for the year, finishing just a game short of the Grand Final, in which they lost to eventual premiers the Brisbane Broncos
. Inconsistency and a poor finish to the 2007
season meant the Bulldogs were bundled out of the finals in week two.
The failings of the 2007 season paved the way for much of the pain and anguish the club suffered in 2008
. Having already lost Mark O'Meley
to the Roosters, rumblings of discontent from big-name player Willie Mason
eventually resulted in his departure from the club. Further into the off-season the Bulldogs also lost seasoned halfback Brent Sherwin
, and prospects for the 2008 season began to look dim. While their start to the season saw them record a couple of victories, the club's injury toll again took hold, and the departure of star player Sonny Bill Williams
mid-season unannounced to France completely demoralised the club and players, with the result being the Bulldogs' second wooden spoon of the decade.
Another feature of 2008 which was the source of much discontent was the battle for election to the football club board. Many contenders believed that the board of the time was steering the club in the wrong direction, with criticism of then-CEO Malcolm Noad high. New members were elected to the board early in 2008, and a number of months into the season Noad resigned as CEO. His replacement as head of the football club was Todd Greenberg, who remains CEO to this day.
Todd Greenberg's influence took hold during the 2008–09 off-season, and was ultimately realised in 2009
. The replacement of premiership-winning coach Steve Folkes with his assistant Kevin Moore
was met with uncertainty but proved a masterstroke. The purchases of several key players, including former Melbourne and Cronulla playmaker Brett Kimmorley
changed the Bulldogs from a poorly-run and poorly-performing club to one of the best clubs both on and off the field in 2009. The Bulldogs finished 2nd in the regular season (losing the minor premiership to the St George Illawarra Dragons
due to a two point competition loss for an interchange breach against Penrith
in Round 2), and players and officials took out a number of prestigious Dally M awards. 2009 was also the final season for club legend Hazem El Masri, who became the highest all-time pointscorer in Australian rugby league history with a penalty goal in the Bulldogs' Round 1 match against the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles.
From 2010, the Bulldogs returned to the name Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs after the board voted to name it. The Canterbury-Bankstown club celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2010.
(to 'Sydney City Roosters'). The name changed again in 1996, returning to 'Canterbury Bulldogs' with 'Bankstown' omitted, and yet again in 2000, to the geographically indistinct 'Bulldogs'. Bob Hagan, the club boss at the time of the 2000 change, explained that the dropping of the name 'Canterbury' was intended to broaden the appeal of the club outside of its traditional supporter base, so that the club could attract a geographically diverse following like Manchester United or the Chicago Bulls
. Despite the name change, some supporters, as well as many television and radio commentators, continued to refer to the club as 'Canterbury'. In the most recent change, board officials voted in late 2009 for the club to return to 'Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs' from the 2010 season onwards.
The initial crest was a 'C-B' in a shield. The adoption of the 'Bulldogs' name and mascot took place in 1978. There have been three main versions of the mascot logo. The first, which featured a snarling bulldog inside a circle, was replaced in 1998 by a more 'cartoonish' logo of a bulldog's head. In 2009, the club announced that the logo would be changing again, and asked members to vote on which of two similar proposed logos would be used from 2010. The rationale for the logo change was to celebrate the club's 75th anniversary in 2010 and to better reflect the club's "true essence and history". http://www.bulldogs.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=15573 Two months later, the new design was unveiled, with the official change of logo taking place in November 2009. http://www.bulldogs.com.au/default.aspx?s=article-display&id=17057 The current logo returns to the standing bulldog of the 1978–1997 logo, although it is no longer snarling. It also references elements of the club's history by incorporating the 'C-B' emblem, the club's year of foundation (1935), and the blue and white 'V' design which has featured on many of the club's jerseys over the years. The change of name from 'Bulldogs' to 'Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs' took place after the new logo was unveiled.
There have been three basic strip designs since the club's inception in the top flight league competition:
This design had blue and white irregular stripes worn with black shorts.
The irregular strip has been used recently in occasional 'heritage' matches (e.g. Heritage round in 2008 vs St George-Illawarra)
White shirt with blue V, blue shorts.
The current "away" strip has blue shorts, but features a blue shirt with white V.
This reverted to the 'V Strip' from 1974 onwards.
. From the following season, the club began to base itself at Belmore Sports Ground
. The club had a long-time affinity with the ground and stayed there continuously until 1994.
In 1995 when the Super League War
began to come about, the club changed its playing name to the "Sydney Bulldogs" in an attempt to broaden its fan base and played matches at Parramatta Stadium
where spectator facilities were of a higher class. This move paid off with the club going on to become premiers that season. However, the club reverted its name to Canterbury for the 1996 season and once again played matches out of Belmore Sports Ground; something that lasted up until the inaugural National Rugby League
season of 1998.
Once the new Stadium Australia had been finished and opened in preparation for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games
, the club began to play matches there between 1999 and 2000. From 2001 to 2005, the club then began to play matches out of the new Sydney Showground at Homebush Bay
, with bigger matches played out of the then-Telstra Stadium from 2003. When fans began to complain about the poor quality of the Showground venue as a rugby league ground
, the club eventually decided to move all future home matches to the Stadium, where the club remains. In 2008, Telstra Stadium became known as ANZ Stadium due to a naming rights change.
The club's training and administration offices remained at Belmore Sports Ground until the beginning of 2008, but were relocated to Sydney Olympic Park during the 2008 season. With the NSW Government committing to upgrading Belmore Sports Ground, the club administration and training has now been returned to the historical ground after a $9 million dollar upgrade.
As the region's traditional local representatives, the Bulldogs predominantly draw on a support base in and around the suburbs of Canterbury
and Bankstown
in south-western Sydney
, although in recent years club administration and home matches have relocated to Sydney Olympic Park
. The Bulldogs are the most supported NRL club in regional NSW - over 25% of Bulldog fans are located in regional NSW, over 25% are located outside of NSW and over 10% are located in QLD The club has one of the highest average attendances in the league: over the 2010 season, it was one of only two clubs to record an average home crowd of more than 20,000.
The multicultural demographics of the suburbs in the club's support base, such as Lakemba
, means the club has a large number of supporters from a range of non-English speaking backgrounds. In recent years the club has become particularly identified in the media with the Lebanese-Australian community, particularly with the club's star goalkicker, Hazem El Masri
, being of a Lebanese background. El Masri retired at the end of the 2009 season.
Notable supporters of the club include; Don Burke
, Doug Walters
, Harry Kewell
, Ian Thorpe
, Joe Hansen (guitarist for Grinspoon
), John Hatzistergos
, Ma'a Nonu
, Mark Waugh
, Steve Waugh
, and Peter Lonard
.
A fierce rivalry exists with the St George Illawarra Dragons
, St George and the Bulldogs having met in the 1979 and 1985 Grand Finals, as well as meeting in the Heritage round annually. Round 10, 2009 saw a controversial finish to the only home-and-away clash between these two sides during that season. Jamal Idris was denied a try which would have won the game for the Bulldogs after they had trailed the entire match. The Bulldogs had made a line break on the halfway line following an offload by Bryson Goodwin, only for the try to be disallowed as the Video Referee incorrectly determined that Greg Eastwood had obstructed Dragons five-eighth Jamie Soward when the line break was made, with the Dragons winning 20–18. In 2010 the Dragons won both matches. In 2011, the Dragons again won both matches meaning the Bulldogs have not beaten St George since 2008.
Another fierce rivalry is with the Parramatta Eels
, which began in the 1980s when the two sides were the strongest in the competition. Canterbury and Parramatta each won four premierships during this decade, and faced one another in two Grand Finals (1984 and 1986) as well as regular play-off matches. This rivalry received renewed impetus during the Super League war when Parramatta recruited four notable Bulldogs players in Jim Dymock
, Jason Smith, Jarrod McCracken
and Dean Pay
. The rivalry between the two clubs is still recognized presently such as it had sparked a non grand final record attendance of 74,549 at ANZ stadium in the 2009 first Preliminary Final in which Parramatta emerged victorious beating the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs have also developed a fierce rivalry with the Sydney Roosters
. The rivalry can be traced to a number of fiery and highly contested matches played between the two teams since the early 2000s. The rivalry was then sparked in the 2002 season when the Bulldogs were stripped of all their competition points as a result of revelations that the club's administrators had rorted the NRL's salary cap restrictions, unbeknownst to the players. The Bulldogs, who had been leading the regular season premiership and looked certain to capture the minor premiership, finished last in the competition despite being firm favourites that year to capture the premiership, which was a devastating outcome for both the club's players and supporters. With the Bulldogs out of contention in the finals series, the Sydney Roosters
went on to defeat the New Zealand Warriors
in the NRL Grand Final to be crowned 2002 NRL premiers. Many Bulldogs supporters, adamant that their team would have captured the title had they not been docked competition points, alleged that the Sydney Roosters
were not the true and worthy premiers. The following season saw the Bulldogs lose to the Roosters
in the 2003 preliminary final in what was considered a grudge match and the moment of truth. The Bulldogs would gain a degree of revenge for this by defeating the Roosters
one year later in the 2004 NRL Grand Final.
Tensions between the club increased significantly when star Bulldogs five-eighth Braith Anasta
announced in 2005 that he would leave the club to join the Roosters
at the beginning of the 2006 season.
In a mass exodus of Bulldogs players much like those who had defected to Parramatta
a decade earlier, Anasta
would later be followed to the Roosters
by his former Bulldogs team-mates Nate Myles
in 2007, Mark O'Meley
in 2008 and eventually controversial Bulldogs club icon Willie Mason
also in 2008. Mason's move to the Roosters
after his falling out with the Bulldogs' coach Steve Folkes
and Bulldogs club officials and administrators sparked massive controversy in the Australian rugby league
community, with Bulldogs supporters alleging that Mason had turned his back on the club that had developed him into a State of Origin
and national team
representative only to join the club's most bitter rivals. Mason, as a Rooster
, would return to haunt the Bulldogs when the two teams clashed for the first time on 4 April 2008 since his controversial switch, by scoring two tries
, including the opening try
of the match, against his former club at ANZ Stadium.
holds the NRL record for the most games played for the club, having made 317 appearances in total.
Hazem El Masri also holds records for the most points scored, the most tries scored and the most points scored for the Bulldogs. Since his debut in 1996, he has scored a total of 2,418 points – which is also a competition record for Rugby League in Australia. Former player Daryl Halligan
, who retired with the club in 2000, had previously held the competition record for most points scored with 2,034, which included points scored whilst at his former club the North Sydney Bears
.
The club's largest win occurred in 1995 when they played as the "Sydney Bulldogs." In a match against the newly-formed North Queensland Cowboys
, the Bulldogs won 66–4. In the club's first season in 1935 they were subject to the two heaviest defeats in competition history two weeks in succession. Firstly, they lost to St. George 91–6 and the following week to Eastern Suburbs 87–7. However, despite these big losses, the club was able to secure their first premiership 3 years later in 1938 in the Grand Final
against Eastern Suburbs; at the same time setting the record for becoming the quickest non-foundation club to win a title. This record was not broken until 1999.
In 2002, the club won 17 matches in a row after getting beaten by New Zealand Warriors
; falling just two short of the record set by the Eastern Suburbs team of 1975.
Re-signed
Transfers/leaving
Junior Representative Honours:
Jersey Flegg Premiers : 1963, 1971, 1976, 1979, 1983, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003.
SG Ball Premiers : 1972, 1978, 2009.
Harold Matthews Premiers : 2007, 2009.
Belmore, New South Wales
Belmore is a suburb, of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Belmore is located 15 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Canterbury.-History:...
, a suburb in the Canterbury-Bankstown
Canterbury-Bankstown
Canterbury-Bankstown is a general term used to describe the area located around the Bankstown railway line. The suburbs of the Canterbury-Bankstown region are not specific to the local government areas of City of Canterbury and the City of Bankstown but includes many of them. The Georges River acts...
region of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
(NRL) premiership, as well as New South Wales Rugby League
New South Wales Rugby League
The New South Wales Rugby League is the governing body of rugby league in New South Wales and is a member of the Australian Rugby League. It was formed in Sydney on 8 August 1907 and was known as the New South Wales Rugby Football League until 1984 when forward thinking marketing managers decided...
junior competitions. The club was admitted to the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership
New South Wales Rugby League premiership
The New South Wales Rugby League premiership was the first rugby league football club competition established in Australia. Run by the New South Wales Rugby League from 1908 until 1994, the premiership was the state's and later the country's elite rugby league competition...
, predecessor of the current NRL competition, in 1935
New South Wales Rugby Football League season 1935
The 1935 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the twenty-eighth season of Sydney's top-grade rugby league football club competition, Australia's first...
. They won their first premiership in their 4th year of competition with another soon after, and later went through a very strong period in the 1980s, winning four premierships in that decade. Known briefly in the 1990s as the Sydney Bulldogs, as a result of the Super League war
Super League war
The Super League war is the common name given to the corporate dispute that was fought in and out of court during the mid-1990s between the Rupert Murdoch and News Corporation-backed Super League and the Kerry Packer and Optus Vision-backed Australian Rugby League organisations over broadcasting...
the club competed in that competition in 1997 before continuing to play every season of the re-unified NRL, winning their most recent premiership in 2004.
History
In 1935 – thirteen years after a meeting above "The Ideal Milk Bar" in CampsieCampsie, New South Wales
Campsie is a suburb in south-western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Campsie is located 13 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district, on the southern bank of the Cooks River. Campsie is the commercial and administrative centre of the City of...
led to the creation of the Canterbury-Bankstown Junior Rugby League – the Canterbury club was admitted into the elite New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership. It took the new club, nicknamed "Country Bumpkins" because of their rural recruiting and CB emblem, just three years to win their first premiership in 1938
New South Wales Rugby Football League season 1938
the 1938 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the thirty-first season of Sydney, New South Wales' top-grade rugby league football club competition, Australia's firs...
. The grand final-winning effort was repeated again in 1942
New South Wales Rugby Football League season 1942
The 1942 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the thirty-fifth season of Sydney's top-level rugby league football competition, Australia's first. Eight teams from across the city contested the premiership during the season, which lasted from May until September, culminating in the...
before a 25-year drought set in.
In 1967, having ended the 11-year premiership reign of the great St.George by knocking them out in the final, "The Berries" (as they were known at the time) went down to the South Sydney Rabbitohs
South Sydney Rabbitohs
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital...
in the grand final. But the return to the top end of the table set the scene for off-field restructuring that laid the foundations for the club to become one of the most consistent achievers in the remaining decades of the 20th century.
In 1978 Canterbury became known as "The Bulldogs". Nicknames such as "Cantabs" "CBs" and "Berries" were seen to be "soft" and the club wanted something to signify determination and grit. A grand final appearance in 1979
New South Wales Rugby Football League season 1979
The 1979 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the seventy-second season of Sydney's professional rugby league football competition, Australia's first. Twelve clubs, including six of 1908's foundation teams and another six from around Sydney competed for the J J Giltinan Shield and...
, followed by a grand final win in 1980 with a young, enthusiastic and free-running side dubbed "The Entertainers", was the beginning of a golden era that was to produce three more grand final wins in the 1980s: 1984, 1985 and 1988.
Super League war
The Super League war is the common name given to the corporate dispute that was fought in and out of court during the mid-1990s between the Rupert Murdoch and News Corporation-backed Super League and the Kerry Packer and Optus Vision-backed Australian Rugby League organisations over broadcasting...
, the Bulldogs aligned themselves with the Super League competition, playing in the inaugural and only 1997 premiership season
Super League (Australia) season 1997
The 1997 Super League season was the 90th season of professional rugby league football in Australia and the first and only to be run by the News Limited-controlled Super League organisation...
. In 1998 the Bulldogs came close to adding another trophy to the cabinet after battling their way to the Grand Final where they met the Brisbane Broncos
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
and went down 38–12. On the way to the 1998 Grand Final, the Bulldogs launched two stunning comebacks, first against the Knights in the third week of the finals – down 16–0 in the second half, they fought back to 16-all at fulltime and went on to win in extra time. A week later they trailed Parramatta in the preliminary final by 16 points with just 9 minutes remaining. Three quick tries and a high pressure conversion in the final minutes got them back level at 18-all, and the Bulldogs eventually went on to victory.
Following indifferent form in 1999, 2000 and 2001 which all saw varying levels of success, the club was found to have systematically and deliberately breached the NRL salary cap
Salary cap
In professional sports, a salary cap is a cartel agreement between teams that places a limit on the amount of money that can be spent on player salaries. The limit exists as a per-player limit or a total limit for the team's roster, or both...
in 2002, and was docked all 37 competition points which it had amassed up to that point in the season. This resulted in the club falling from first to last place on the ladder, and at the end of the season the Bulldogs received their first "wooden spoon" (a reference given to the club which finishes last in the competition) in several decades.
The Bulldogs returned to finals contention in 2003, however they fell one step short of yet another Grand Final after going down to the Roosters 28–18 in the Preliminary Final.
The club went through some well-documented off-field dramas in 2004, but managed to maintain their focus on football and were rewarded with the ultimate prize when they held out arch-rivals the Sydney Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
in a 16–13 thriller in the Grand Final. The game was the last for the departing captain Steve Price, but he ultimately missed the match due to a leg injury. The victory capped club's 70th anniversary season in style, and was their eighth premiership, ranking them fifth in the all-time premiership tally.
2005
National Rugby League season 2005
The 2005 NRL season was the 98th season of professional rugby league football in Australia and the eighth run by the National Rugby League. The lineup of clubs remained unchanged from the previous year, with fifteen clubs contesting the 2005 Telstra Premiership, which culminated in a grand final...
saw the Bulldogs unable to mount a serious defence of their premiership title as injuries and contract negotiations saw the year start and finish on a sour note for the club. Due to the extent of injuries suffered, the team was under-strength for most of the year. This took its toll in the final six weeks of the season, with the club suffering successive heavy losses and missing the finals series. In 2006
National Rugby League season 2006
The 2006 NRL season was the 99th season of professional rugby league football in Australia and the ninth run by the National Rugby League. The lineup of teams remained unchanged from the previous year, with fifteen clubs competing for the 2006 Telstra Premiership...
, little was expected from the club after a lacklustre 2005 season, but despite some doubt over the strength of their side, the Bulldogs' impressive forward pack helped them to a better than expected result for the year, finishing just a game short of the Grand Final, in which they lost to eventual premiers the Brisbane Broncos
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
. Inconsistency and a poor finish to the 2007
National Rugby League season 2007
The 2007 NRL season was the one hundredth season of professional rugby league football club competition in Australia, and the tenth run by the National Rugby League...
season meant the Bulldogs were bundled out of the finals in week two.
The failings of the 2007 season paved the way for much of the pain and anguish the club suffered in 2008
National Rugby League season 2008
The 2008 NRL season was the 101st season of professional rugby league club competition in Australia, and the eleventh run by the National Rugby League. For the second year, sixteen teams competed for the 2008 Telstra Premiership title. The season commenced with the first matches played on 14 March...
. Having already lost Mark O'Meley
Mark O'Meley
Mark O'Meley is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the European Super League team, Hull, and previously of the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League competition. He also previously played for the North Sydney Bears, the ill fated Northern Eagles and the Bulldogs...
to the Roosters, rumblings of discontent from big-name player Willie Mason
Willie Mason
William Marshall "Willie" Mason is an Australian professional rugby union footballer for Toulon in the Top 14 competition, having previously being a rugby league footballer for Hull KR in the European Super League.Mason signed a 3-year contract with Hull KR in September 2010, pending a successful...
eventually resulted in his departure from the club. Further into the off-season the Bulldogs also lost seasoned halfback Brent Sherwin
Brent Sherwin
Brent Sherwin is an Australian professional rugby league player. Sherwin currently plays in the Illawarra Carlton League which is an indirect feeder league to the St George Illawarra Dragons. His position of choice is at half-back...
, and prospects for the 2008 season began to look dim. While their start to the season saw them record a couple of victories, the club's injury toll again took hold, and the departure of star player Sonny Bill Williams
Sonny Bill Williams
Sonny William 'Sonny Bill' Williams is a New Zealand rugby union player and former rugby league player. He is only the second person to represent New Zealand in rugby union after first playing for the country in rugby league. In rugby union he usually plays as a centre...
mid-season unannounced to France completely demoralised the club and players, with the result being the Bulldogs' second wooden spoon of the decade.
Another feature of 2008 which was the source of much discontent was the battle for election to the football club board. Many contenders believed that the board of the time was steering the club in the wrong direction, with criticism of then-CEO Malcolm Noad high. New members were elected to the board early in 2008, and a number of months into the season Noad resigned as CEO. His replacement as head of the football club was Todd Greenberg, who remains CEO to this day.
Todd Greenberg's influence took hold during the 2008–09 off-season, and was ultimately realised in 2009
National Rugby League season 2009
The 2009 NRL season was the 102nd season of professional rugby league football club competition in Australia, and the twelfth run by the National Rugby League. For the third consecutive year, sixteen teams competed for the 2009 Telstra Premiership title. The season commenced with the first match...
. The replacement of premiership-winning coach Steve Folkes with his assistant Kevin Moore
Kevin Moore
For the blues singer, see Keb' Mo'.Kevin Moore is a keyboardist, vocalist and composer and founder of the Chroma Key music project. He is also a former member of the American progressive metal band Dream Theater, co-founder of the progressive rock supergroup O.S.I. and has composed film soundtracks...
was met with uncertainty but proved a masterstroke. The purchases of several key players, including former Melbourne and Cronulla playmaker Brett Kimmorley
Brett Kimmorley
Brett "Noddy" Kimmorley was an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs of the NRL. He has previously played for five other clubs and has also represented his country and state on several occasions...
changed the Bulldogs from a poorly-run and poorly-performing club to one of the best clubs both on and off the field in 2009. The Bulldogs finished 2nd in the regular season (losing the minor premiership to the St George Illawarra Dragons
St George Illawarra Dragons
The St George Illawarra Dragons is an Australian professional rugby league football club, representing the St. George and Illawarra regions. They have competed in the National Rugby League since 1999 as a joint venture between Sydney's historic St. George Dragons club and 1982 expansion club, the...
due to a two point competition loss for an interchange breach against Penrith
Penrith Panthers
The Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, the top rugby league football competition in Australasia. For the 2012 NRL season they will be coached by Ivan...
in Round 2), and players and officials took out a number of prestigious Dally M awards. 2009 was also the final season for club legend Hazem El Masri, who became the highest all-time pointscorer in Australian rugby league history with a penalty goal in the Bulldogs' Round 1 match against the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles.
From 2010, the Bulldogs returned to the name Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs after the board voted to name it. The Canterbury-Bankstown club celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2010.
Name and emblem
The name and emblem of the club has changed several times over its history. At the club's foundation in 1935, it was known only as 'Canterbury-Bankstown', without an animal mascot. The nicknames 'Berries' and 'C-Bs' (or, derisively, 'Country Bumpkins') were often used informally, 'C-Bs' being used from the outset and 'Berries' coming into use by the mid 1940s. The club had been referred to as the 'Bulldogs' as early as 1977. In 1978, the Bulldog mascot and name was adopted, with the club becoming known as the 'Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs'. This was the name used throughout the team's 1980s glory era. In 1995 the club name was changed to 'Sydney Bulldogs', reflecting a similar change by Eastern SuburbsSydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
(to 'Sydney City Roosters'). The name changed again in 1996, returning to 'Canterbury Bulldogs' with 'Bankstown' omitted, and yet again in 2000, to the geographically indistinct 'Bulldogs'. Bob Hagan, the club boss at the time of the 2000 change, explained that the dropping of the name 'Canterbury' was intended to broaden the appeal of the club outside of its traditional supporter base, so that the club could attract a geographically diverse following like Manchester United or the Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
. Despite the name change, some supporters, as well as many television and radio commentators, continued to refer to the club as 'Canterbury'. In the most recent change, board officials voted in late 2009 for the club to return to 'Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs' from the 2010 season onwards.
The initial crest was a 'C-B' in a shield. The adoption of the 'Bulldogs' name and mascot took place in 1978. There have been three main versions of the mascot logo. The first, which featured a snarling bulldog inside a circle, was replaced in 1998 by a more 'cartoonish' logo of a bulldog's head. In 2009, the club announced that the logo would be changing again, and asked members to vote on which of two similar proposed logos would be used from 2010. The rationale for the logo change was to celebrate the club's 75th anniversary in 2010 and to better reflect the club's "true essence and history". http://www.bulldogs.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=15573 Two months later, the new design was unveiled, with the official change of logo taking place in November 2009. http://www.bulldogs.com.au/default.aspx?s=article-display&id=17057 The current logo returns to the standing bulldog of the 1978–1997 logo, although it is no longer snarling. It also references elements of the club's history by incorporating the 'C-B' emblem, the club's year of foundation (1935), and the blue and white 'V' design which has featured on many of the club's jerseys over the years. The change of name from 'Bulldogs' to 'Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs' took place after the new logo was unveiled.
Colours
The Bulldogs have played in predominantly blue and white strip since the club entered the league in 1935. The only exception to this was during the Second World War, when rationing meant they had to wear a maroon jersey with a blue 'V'.There have been three basic strip designs since the club's inception in the top flight league competition:
- The irregular ("butcher stripes") stripes design which was used from 1935 until at least 1962.
This design had blue and white irregular stripes worn with black shorts.
The irregular strip has been used recently in occasional 'heritage' matches (e.g. Heritage round in 2008 vs St George-Illawarra)
- The 'V Strip' – used between 1966 and 1968, and revived in 1974.
White shirt with blue V, blue shorts.
The current "away" strip has blue shorts, but features a blue shirt with white V.
- From 1969 to 1973, the club adopted a jersey featuring blue and white hoops.
This reverted to the 'V Strip' from 1974 onwards.
Stadium
In their inaugural season, very few home matches were allocated to the Canterbury-Bankstown club. However, when the opportunity arose the club took their matches to either Marrickville or Pratten ParkPratten Park
Pratten Park is a sporting complex in the Sydney suburb of Ashfield featuring an oval playing field large enough to play cricket, a lawn bowling club and a tennis club. The Park is best known as the original home of the Western Suburbs Magpies rugby league team, who played there for around half a...
. From the following season, the club began to base itself at Belmore Sports Ground
Belmore Sports Ground
Belmore Sports Ground, formerly known as Belmore Oval, is a multi-purpose stadium in Belmore, New South Wales, Australia. The park covers and from 1951 has contained the Belmore Bowling Recreation Club green. It is close to Belmore railway station....
. The club had a long-time affinity with the ground and stayed there continuously until 1994.
In 1995 when the Super League War
Super League war
The Super League war is the common name given to the corporate dispute that was fought in and out of court during the mid-1990s between the Rupert Murdoch and News Corporation-backed Super League and the Kerry Packer and Optus Vision-backed Australian Rugby League organisations over broadcasting...
began to come about, the club changed its playing name to the "Sydney Bulldogs" in an attempt to broaden its fan base and played matches at Parramatta Stadium
Parramatta Stadium
Parramatta Stadium is a sports stadium situated in Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia.The stadium is used primarily as the home ground of Australian National Rugby League club the Parramatta Eels...
where spectator facilities were of a higher class. This move paid off with the club going on to become premiers that season. However, the club reverted its name to Canterbury for the 1996 season and once again played matches out of Belmore Sports Ground; something that lasted up until the inaugural National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
season of 1998.
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
, the club began to play matches there between 1999 and 2000. From 2001 to 2005, the club then began to play matches out of the new Sydney Showground at Homebush Bay
Homebush Bay, New South Wales
Homebush Bay was the former name of a suburb of western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia that took in the suburbs of Sydney Olympic Park, Wentworth Point and part of the neighbouring suburb of Lidcombe. Homebush Bay is located 16 kilometres west of the Sydney central business...
, with bigger matches played out of the then-Telstra Stadium from 2003. When fans began to complain about the poor quality of the Showground venue as a rugby league ground
Rugby league playing field
The rugby league playing field, also referred to as a pitch or paddock, is the playing surface for the sport of rugby league football and is surfaced exclusively with grass....
, the club eventually decided to move all future home matches to the Stadium, where the club remains. In 2008, Telstra Stadium became known as ANZ Stadium due to a naming rights change.
The club's training and administration offices remained at Belmore Sports Ground until the beginning of 2008, but were relocated to Sydney Olympic Park during the 2008 season. With the NSW Government committing to upgrading Belmore Sports Ground, the club administration and training has now been returned to the historical ground after a $9 million dollar upgrade.
Supporters
The Bulldogs Army is the core support group for the Bulldogs, with the section they sit within known as 'The Kennel'. To be sitting in this section, supporters must become a member of the club itself and register any large flags and/or banners which are brought to the game. At all away games the Bulldogs Army locates themselves in the general admission section. The main aim of the Bulldogs Army is to show support and passion for the Bulldogs.As the region's traditional local representatives, the Bulldogs predominantly draw on a support base in and around the suburbs of Canterbury
Canterbury, New South Wales
-Commercial area:Canterbury has a mixture of residential, commercial and industrial developments. Commercial developments are mostly situated on Canterbury Road and surrounding streets...
and Bankstown
Bankstown, New South Wales
Bankstown is a suburb of south-western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Bankstown is located 20 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre of the local government area of the City of Bankstown.-History:Prior to European...
in south-western Sydney
South-western Sydney
South-western Sydney is a general term which is used to describe the metropolitan area in south-west Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is part of the Greater Western Sydney area....
, although in recent years club administration and home matches have relocated to Sydney Olympic Park
Sydney Olympic Park
Sydney Olympic Park is a suburb in western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Sydney Olympic Park is located 16 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Auburn Council....
. The Bulldogs are the most supported NRL club in regional NSW - over 25% of Bulldog fans are located in regional NSW, over 25% are located outside of NSW and over 10% are located in QLD The club has one of the highest average attendances in the league: over the 2010 season, it was one of only two clubs to record an average home crowd of more than 20,000.
The multicultural demographics of the suburbs in the club's support base, such as Lakemba
Lakemba, New South Wales
Lakemba is a suburb in south-western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Lakemba is located 15 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Canterbury....
, means the club has a large number of supporters from a range of non-English speaking backgrounds. In recent years the club has become particularly identified in the media with the Lebanese-Australian community, particularly with the club's star goalkicker, Hazem El Masri
Hazem El Masri
Hazem El Masri is a Lebanese-Australian retired professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. An Australia and Lebanon international, and New South Wales State of Origin representative winger, he played his entire club football career with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs with...
, being of a Lebanese background. El Masri retired at the end of the 2009 season.
Notable supporters of the club include; Don Burke
Don Burke
Donald William "Don" Burke OAM is an Australian television personality and author. He is best known as the long time host of Burke's Backyard, a lifestyle program which ran for 17 years from 1987 to late 2004 on the Nine Network. It has returned several times over recent years with a number of...
, Doug Walters
Doug Walters
Kevin Douglas Walters MBE in Dungog New South Wales, known as Doug Walters, is a former Australian cricketer. He was known as an attacking batsman, and also as a typical ocker.-First-class career:...
, Harry Kewell
Harry Kewell
Harold "Harry" Kewell is an Australian professional football midfielder who plays for Melbourne Victory in the A-League. Internationally he has received 55 caps, and scored 16 goals, while playing for the Australian national team...
, Ian Thorpe
Ian Thorpe
Ian James Thorpe OAM , nicknamed the Thorpedo and Thorpey, is an Australian swimmer who specialises in freestyle, but also competes in backstroke and the individual medley. He has won five Olympic gold medals, the most won by any Australian, and with three gold and two silver medals, was the most...
, Joe Hansen (guitarist for Grinspoon
Grinspoon
Grinspoon are an Australian rock band from Lismore, New South Wales formed in 1995 and fronted by Phil Jamieson on vocals and guitar with Pat Davern on guitar, Joe Hansen on bass guitar and Kristian Hopes on drums. Also in 1995, they won the Triple J-sponsored Unearthed competition for Lismore,...
), John Hatzistergos
John Hatzistergos
John Hatzistergos is a former Australian politician who was a Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council representing the Australian Labor Party between 1999 and 2011...
, Ma'a Nonu
Ma'a Nonu
Ma'a Allan Nonu is a professional Samoan rugby union player from New Zealand. Nonu plays for the Wellington Lions in the ITM Cup and the New Zealand All Blacks...
, Mark Waugh
Mark Waugh
Mark Edward Waugh AM is a former Australian cricketer, who represented Australia in Test matches from early 1991 to late 2002, and made his One-Day International debut in 1988. Waugh is regarded as one of the most elegant and gifted stroke makers to ever play the game. His nickname is "Junior" as...
, Steve Waugh
Steve Waugh
Stephen Rodger "Steve" Waugh, AO is a former Australian cricketer and fraternal twin of cricketer Mark Waugh. A right-handed batsman, he was also a successful medium-pace bowler...
, and Peter Lonard
Peter Lonard
Peter Lawrence Lonard is an Australian professional golfer who plays mainly on the U.S. based PGA Tour. He credits fellow Australian Greg Norman as his inspiration....
.
Rivalries
The Bulldogs and their fans have built up rivalries with other clubs:A fierce rivalry exists with the St George Illawarra Dragons
St George Illawarra Dragons
The St George Illawarra Dragons is an Australian professional rugby league football club, representing the St. George and Illawarra regions. They have competed in the National Rugby League since 1999 as a joint venture between Sydney's historic St. George Dragons club and 1982 expansion club, the...
, St George and the Bulldogs having met in the 1979 and 1985 Grand Finals, as well as meeting in the Heritage round annually. Round 10, 2009 saw a controversial finish to the only home-and-away clash between these two sides during that season. Jamal Idris was denied a try which would have won the game for the Bulldogs after they had trailed the entire match. The Bulldogs had made a line break on the halfway line following an offload by Bryson Goodwin, only for the try to be disallowed as the Video Referee incorrectly determined that Greg Eastwood had obstructed Dragons five-eighth Jamie Soward when the line break was made, with the Dragons winning 20–18. In 2010 the Dragons won both matches. In 2011, the Dragons again won both matches meaning the Bulldogs have not beaten St George since 2008.
Another fierce rivalry is with the Parramatta Eels
Parramatta Eels
The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...
, which began in the 1980s when the two sides were the strongest in the competition. Canterbury and Parramatta each won four premierships during this decade, and faced one another in two Grand Finals (1984 and 1986) as well as regular play-off matches. This rivalry received renewed impetus during the Super League war when Parramatta recruited four notable Bulldogs players in Jim Dymock
Jim Dymock
Jim Dymock is an Australian former professional rugby league international of Tongan heritage who played for the Western Suburbs Magpies, Canterbury Bulldogs, Parramatta Eels and London Broncos...
, Jason Smith, Jarrod McCracken
Jarrod McCracken
Jarrod McCracken is a New Zealand former rugby league footballer of the 1990s. He is a former captain of the New Zealand national rugby league team and is the son of New Zealand rugby league international, Ken McCracken...
and Dean Pay
Dean Pay
Dean Pay is an Australian former professional rugby league player for the Canterbury Bulldogs, Parramatta Eels, New South Wales and for the Australian national side....
. The rivalry between the two clubs is still recognized presently such as it had sparked a non grand final record attendance of 74,549 at ANZ stadium in the 2009 first Preliminary Final in which Parramatta emerged victorious beating the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs have also developed a fierce rivalry with the Sydney Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
. The rivalry can be traced to a number of fiery and highly contested matches played between the two teams since the early 2000s. The rivalry was then sparked in the 2002 season when the Bulldogs were stripped of all their competition points as a result of revelations that the club's administrators had rorted the NRL's salary cap restrictions, unbeknownst to the players. The Bulldogs, who had been leading the regular season premiership and looked certain to capture the minor premiership, finished last in the competition despite being firm favourites that year to capture the premiership, which was a devastating outcome for both the club's players and supporters. With the Bulldogs out of contention in the finals series, the Sydney Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
went on to defeat the New Zealand Warriors
New Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia...
in the NRL Grand Final to be crowned 2002 NRL premiers. Many Bulldogs supporters, adamant that their team would have captured the title had they not been docked competition points, alleged that the Sydney Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
were not the true and worthy premiers. The following season saw the Bulldogs lose to the Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
in the 2003 preliminary final in what was considered a grudge match and the moment of truth. The Bulldogs would gain a degree of revenge for this by defeating the Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
one year later in the 2004 NRL Grand Final.
Tensions between the club increased significantly when star Bulldogs five-eighth Braith Anasta
Braith Anasta
Braith Anasta is a Greek-Australian professional rugby league footballer who captains the Sydney Roosters of the National Rugby League...
announced in 2005 that he would leave the club to join the Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
at the beginning of the 2006 season.
In a mass exodus of Bulldogs players much like those who had defected to Parramatta
Parramatta Eels
The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...
a decade earlier, Anasta
Braith Anasta
Braith Anasta is a Greek-Australian professional rugby league footballer who captains the Sydney Roosters of the National Rugby League...
would later be followed to the Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
by his former Bulldogs team-mates Nate Myles
Nate Myles
Nate Myles is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Sydney Roosters of the NRL. A Queensland State of Origin and Australian international representative forward, he previously played for the Bulldogs club...
in 2007, Mark O'Meley
Mark O'Meley
Mark O'Meley is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the European Super League team, Hull, and previously of the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League competition. He also previously played for the North Sydney Bears, the ill fated Northern Eagles and the Bulldogs...
in 2008 and eventually controversial Bulldogs club icon Willie Mason
Willie Mason
William Marshall "Willie" Mason is an Australian professional rugby union footballer for Toulon in the Top 14 competition, having previously being a rugby league footballer for Hull KR in the European Super League.Mason signed a 3-year contract with Hull KR in September 2010, pending a successful...
also in 2008. Mason's move to the Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
after his falling out with the Bulldogs' coach Steve Folkes
Steve Folkes
Steve Folkes is a former Australian rugby league test footballer and former coach of the Bulldogs in the National Rugby League...
and Bulldogs club officials and administrators sparked massive controversy in the Australian rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
community, with Bulldogs supporters alleging that Mason had turned his back on the club that had developed him into a State of Origin
Rugby League State of Origin
State of Origin is an annual best of three series of rugby league football matches contested by the Maroons and the Blues, who represent the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales respectively...
and national team
Australian national rugby league team
The Australian national rugby league team have represented Australia in senior men's rugby league football competition since the establishment of the game in Australia in 1908. Administered by the Australian Rugby League, the Kangaroos' are ranked number one in the RLIF World Rankings...
representative only to join the club's most bitter rivals. Mason, as a Rooster
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
, would return to haunt the Bulldogs when the two teams clashed for the first time on 4 April 2008 since his controversial switch, by scoring two tries
Try
A try is the major way of scoring points in rugby league and rugby union football. A try is scored by grounding the ball in the opposition's in-goal area...
, including the opening try
Try
A try is the major way of scoring points in rugby league and rugby union football. A try is scored by grounding the ball in the opposition's in-goal area...
of the match, against his former club at ANZ Stadium.
Statistics and records
Hazem El MasriHazem El Masri
Hazem El Masri is a Lebanese-Australian retired professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. An Australia and Lebanon international, and New South Wales State of Origin representative winger, he played his entire club football career with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs with...
holds the NRL record for the most games played for the club, having made 317 appearances in total.
Hazem El Masri also holds records for the most points scored, the most tries scored and the most points scored for the Bulldogs. Since his debut in 1996, he has scored a total of 2,418 points – which is also a competition record for Rugby League in Australia. Former player Daryl Halligan
Daryl Halligan
Daryl Halligan is a rugby league football commentator and former professional player. A New Zealand international winger, he was the pre-eminent goal-kicker of his era, retiring as the highest point scorer in Australian premiership history...
, who retired with the club in 2000, had previously held the competition record for most points scored with 2,034, which included points scored whilst at his former club the North Sydney Bears
North Sydney Bears
The North Sydney Bears are an Australian rugby league football club based in North Sydney, New South Wales. They currently compete in the New South Wales Cup, having exited the National Rugby League following the 1999 NRL season after 92 years of top-grade competition. The Bears are based on...
.
The club's largest win occurred in 1995 when they played as the "Sydney Bulldogs." In a match against the newly-formed North Queensland Cowboys
North Queensland Cowboys
The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
, the Bulldogs won 66–4. In the club's first season in 1935 they were subject to the two heaviest defeats in competition history two weeks in succession. Firstly, they lost to St. George 91–6 and the following week to Eastern Suburbs 87–7. However, despite these big losses, the club was able to secure their first premiership 3 years later in 1938 in the Grand Final
Grand Final
Grand Final is a predominantly Australian sport term used to describe a match that decides a league champion.It originated in Victoria and South Australia and has become specifically significant Australian culture...
against Eastern Suburbs; at the same time setting the record for becoming the quickest non-foundation club to win a title. This record was not broken until 1999.
In 2002, the club won 17 matches in a row after getting beaten by New Zealand Warriors
New Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia...
; falling just two short of the record set by the Eastern Suburbs team of 1975.
2011 Squad
*Flags mean countries that players represent.2012 Signings/transfers
Signings- Des HaslerDes HaslerDes Hasler is an Australian former professional rugby league player and current head coach of the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. He played in 309 matches in a first-grade career spanning 16 seasons. Most of his career was spent with the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, with whom he won two premierships...
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles - Head Coach - Noel ClealNoel ClealNoel Harvey "Crusher" Cleal is an Australian former rugby league footballer who also had a successful coaching career...
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles - Recruitment Manager - James GrahamJames Graham-British noblemen:*James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose , Scottish nobleman and soldier*James Graham, 2nd Marquess of Montrose *James Graham, 3rd Marquess of Montrose...
ESL - St HelensSt Helens-Places:Australia* St Helens, Tasmania** St Helens Airport** St Helens Important Bird Area* St Helens Island, TasmaniaUnited Kingdom* St Helens, Merseyside, England** Metropolitan Borough of St Helens** St Helens Central railway station... - James Gavet - Vulcans NSW Cup
- Luke MacDougallLuke MacDougallLuke MacDougall is an Australian professional rugby league footballer in the National Rugby League competition, currently playing for the Canterbury Bulldogs. He previously played for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, South Sydney Rabbitohs, St. George Illawarra Dragons, Newcastle Knights and...
- Melbourne StormMelbourne StormThe Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
Re-signed
- David StaggDavid StaggDavid Stagg is an Australian professional rugby league player for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs of the National Rugby League. A Queensland State of Origin representative utility forward, he previously played for the Brisbane Broncos, with whom he won the 2006 NRL Premiership...
till 2012 - Jake Foster till 2013
- Corey PayneCorey PayneCorey Payne is an Australian professional rugby league player in the National Rugby League competition. Payne plays for the Bulldogs and previously played for St George Illawarra Dragons and Wests Tigers. Payne primarily plays at lock.Payne made his NRL debut in the first game of the 2005 season,...
till 2013 - Josh MorrisJosh MorrisJosh Morris is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the National Rugby League competition. A New South Wales State of Origin representative backline player, Josh is the twin brother of Brett Morris who plays first grade for his previous club...
till 2014 - Michael EnnisMichael EnnisMichael Ennis is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs of the National Rugby League. A New South Wales State of Origin representative hooker, he previously played for the Brisbane Broncos, St George Illawarra Dragons and the Newcastle Knights...
till 2014 - Ben BarbaBen BarbaBen Barba was born in Darwin, Northern Territory, is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs of the National Rugby League and is a utility back....
till 2015 - Steve TurnerSteve TurnerSteve Turner may refer to:In professional sports:* Steve Turner , Australian rugby league footballer with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs* Steve Turner , American tennis pro who played in the 1971 US Open - Men's Singles...
till 2012 - Bryson GoodwinBryson GoodwinBryson Goodwin is a New Zealand-Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs of the National Rugby League. He previously played for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks...
till 2012 - Tim BrowneTim BrowneTim Browne is a rugby league player for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the NRL. His Primary position is Second Row Forward but has played Front Row before. He capped off the year by playing a starring role in the Bulldogs second straight NSW Cup Premiership, adding to the Queensland Cup...
till 2013 - Joel RomeloJoel RomeloJoel Romelo is an Australian rugby league player for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the NRL. His primary position is hooker. Originally from Darwin, he is of Aboriginal and Italian heritage....
till 2012 - Michael LettMichael LettMichael Lett is an Australian professional rugby league player with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. His position of choice is in the centres.-Career:...
till 2012
Transfers/leaving
- Jarred Hickey - Mid-Season - Wakefield Wildcats ESLESLESL is a common abbreviation for English as a Second Language, see English language learning and teaching.ESL may also refer to:-Companies:...
- Jamal IdrisJamal IdrisJamal Dasuki Idris is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Gold Coast Titans of the National Rugby League. He previously played for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. A New South Wales State Of Origin representative, he has also played for the Indigenous Australian...
- Gold Coast TitansGold Coast TitansGold Coast Titans are an Australian professional rugby league football club, based in the Gold Coast, Queensland. The club competes in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership. It is the newest of the sixteen clubs in the league, having commenced its... - Ben RobertsBen RobertsBenjamin Roberts is a British professional poker player based in London.-Poker career:Roberts began playing poker in the mid 1970s, and claims to have won every year....
- Parramatta EelsParramatta EelsThe Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League... - Michael HodgsonMichael HodgsonMichael Hodgson is a professional rugby league player for the Canterbury Bulldogs in the Australian National Rugby League competition. He primarily plays in the second row and previously played for the Parramatta Eels and the Canberra Raiders.While attending St...
- Retired - Gary WarburtonGary WarburtonGary Warburton is an Australian rugby league footballer for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the National Rugby League.He primarily plays in the second-row.-External links:*...
- Celtic Crusaders, ESL - Andrew RyanAndrew RyanAndrew Ryan is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs of the National Rugby League. He has also represented Australia and New South Wales and previously played for the Parramatta Eels...
- Retired - Chris ArmitChris ArmitChris Armit is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs of the National Rugby League. He has also previously played for the Parramatta Eels...
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Honours
- New South Wales Rugby LeagueNew South Wales Rugby League premiershipThe New South Wales Rugby League premiership was the first rugby league football club competition established in Australia. Run by the New South Wales Rugby League from 1908 until 1994, the premiership was the state's and later the country's elite rugby league competition...
, Australian Rugby LeagueAustralian Rugby LeagueThe Australian Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in Australia. It is made up of state bodies, including the New South Wales Rugby League and the Queensland Rugby League...
and National Rugby LeagueNational Rugby LeagueThe National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
premiers: 8
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- 1938, 1942, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1995, 2004
- New South Wales Rugby LeagueNew South Wales Rugby League premiershipThe New South Wales Rugby League premiership was the first rugby league football club competition established in Australia. Run by the New South Wales Rugby League from 1908 until 1994, the premiership was the state's and later the country's elite rugby league competition...
, Australian Rugby LeagueAustralian Rugby LeagueThe Australian Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in Australia. It is made up of state bodies, including the New South Wales Rugby League and the Queensland Rugby League...
and National Rugby LeagueNational Rugby LeagueThe National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
runners-up: 8
- New South Wales Rugby League
- 1940, 1947, 1967, 1974, 1979, 1986, 1994, 1998
- New South Wales Rugby League, Australian Rugby League and National Rugby League minor premierships: 6
- 1938, 1942, 1947, 1984, 1993, 1994
- New South Wales Rugby League Club Championships: 6
- 1938, 1939, 1993, 1994, 2009, 2010
- Pre-Season Cup titles: 2
- 1962, 1970
- Inter-City titles: 1
- 1939
- 1938, 1942, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1995, 2004
Junior Representative Honours:
Jersey Flegg Premiers : 1963, 1971, 1976, 1979, 1983, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003.
SG Ball Premiers : 1972, 1978, 2009.
Harold Matthews Premiers : 2007, 2009.