Let’s delve into the numbers behind Canterbury’s recent resurgence, as they paint quite a picture.
Currently, the Bulldogs are sixth on the NRL ladder. This may seem modest to some, but it’s their highest position at this point in the season in eight years.
It’s also been eight years since their last finals appearance, the second-longest current drought in the top-eight after the Tigers. In that time, they never placed higher than 11th and even finished last, marking their lowest point in decades.
Such struggles were once unimaginable for Canterbury. The only other prolonged finals absence in their 90-year history was from 1948 to 1959.
Spending so much time away from the top-eight is unusual for the Bulldogs, who have been a consistent powerhouse since adopting their current mascot in the late 1970s.
While Cameron Ciraldo’s team may not yet be contenders for the premiership, the signs are very promising.
The State of Origin period can disrupt club competitions, but if Canterbury can upset the Roosters in Gosford on Saturday, it will be a significant boost. With captain Stephen Crichton on Blues duty and star players Viliame Kikau, Josh Addo-Carr, and Jacob Preston out due to injuries, they will be the underdogs, but their recent form is encouraging.
The Bulldogs have won six of their last eight games, including a three-game winning streak capped by an unexpected victory over Parramatta on the King’s Birthday Holiday.
“Whatever adversity comes our way, we’re walking towards it,” said star outside back Jacob Kiraz. “Last year was Cirro’s first year, and we were all learning the system, which was tough, but this year we have it all under our belts.”