The Bulldogs side that opens the 2024 season will bear little resemblance to the one that closed the 2023 campaign against the Titans, with as many as six new recruits set to feature in coach Cameron Ciraldo’s 17-man squad.
Marquee signings Stephen Crichton, Josh Curran, Kurt Mann and Drew Hutchison bring big-game experience and a winning culture to the table, while the dynamic former Shark Connor Tracey should also be there for the season opener, provided he can overcome a calf injury in time.
With versatile trio Jaeman Salmon, Blake Taaffe and Jake Turpin also added to the mix, the Bulldogs have greater depth in key positions and that bodes well for a big improvement on last season’s 7-17 return.
Debate is sure to rage during the pre-season as to how best to use Crichton’s extraordinary talents and whether Burton should stay at five-eighth or shift back to centre, where he played two games for the Blues in 2022 and scored a try in Penrith’s 2021 grand final win over Souths.
There’s also healthy competition among the playmakers, with proven performers Hutchison and Mann tussling with Burton and young gun Karl Oloapu for the No. 6 jersey alongside Toby Sexton, who closed out the 2023 season strongly at halfback.
For all their clever recruiting, the Bulldogs still appear light-hearted in the engine room, with Max King set to carry plenty of responsibility up front after averaging 107 run metres and 36 tackles per game last season.
Liam Knight rounded out the year at prop after joining the club in July from Souths, while former Warrior Curran could find himself in the middle given his willingness to put his body on the line in the heavy exchanges.
