Flanagan faces career-defining year as Barrett’s big-name recruits mark new era: Bulldogs Best 17
Dean Pay stepped down in July and a week later Trent Barrett was unveiled as the new coach from 2021 through to at least the end of 2023.
Barrett began a clean-out of not only the playing group but the coaching staff too. Veteran forward and a former vice-captain of the club, Aiden Tolman, was among the players who were informed they wouldn’t be re-signed beyond 2020. And as for the coaching staff, well it’s now entirely different to last year with the likes of highly regarded assistant coach David Furner and high performance coach Dan Ferris being recruited to the club.
The changes have even gone beyond the field. Chair Lynne Anderson along with two directors were forced to step down in October and last week CEO Andrew Hill also exited the club.
There may be some unrest away from the field as the club now hunts down it’s next CEO, but on the paddock it’s smooth sailing.
Thanks to some wise roster decisions, the Bulldogs head into the 2021 with the potential to make the finals for the first time since 2016.
But with new faces comes new expectations and the Bulldogs faithful are going to want to see a big improvement on last season where the team finished second last.
THE STRENGTH: New recruits
Sure, a club’s new recruits are always going to strengthen the team but in the Bulldogs’ case, they’ve gone from a bottom two finish to a club that could genuinely push for a top eight spot. That’s due to some seriously impressive recruitment from coach Trent Barrett and the people around him.
The first domino fell when Nick Cotric signed last July. Then came the likes of Kyle Flanagan, Corey Waddell, Jack Hetherington and last but certainly not least, Corey Allan.
Both Cotric and Allan have earned State of Origin debuts and are well on their way to being stars of the future, while Flanagan has huge potential and Waddell and Hetherington will reinvigorate the forward pack.
The key thing here is, in the past the Bulldogs have fielded some players who may not even get a look in at rival clubs. All of these new recruits are genuine first graders, all of them either held a regular NRL spot or continuously challenged for one at their previous clubs.
THE PRESSURE IS ON: Jeremy Marshall-King and Sione Katoa
With a reported $4 million to spend for 2022 due to 15 players coming off contract, Barrett is spoiled with choice and salary cap freedom. He’s already locked in Josh Addo-Carr and Matt Burton to join this year’s recruits so the halves and backline are forming nicely alongside an already competitive forward pack. But the one position that will be at the top of the recruitment list is a hooker.
Marshall-King started 2020 as the club’s first choice hooker with Sione Katoa starting the season off in NSW Cup. Marshall-King showed moments of brilliance but the 25-year-old hasn’t yet proved he can consistently play like that for an entire season.
Later in the year Katoa joined the bench and at one point took over Marshall-King as starting hooker. However, he didn’t do enough either to pledge a case to be considered the club’s long-term rake.
No doubt, Barrett will be in the market for a world class hooker and with Kiwi’s No.9 Brandon Smith on a the hunt for a new club in 2022, you’d expect the Bulldogs have already started pursuing him.
Marshall-King and Katoa are both off-contract after the 2021 season and providing Barrett lands a new hooker, it’s likely the club won’t keep them both. It means they have one season to put it all on the line and prove why they should be kept beyond 2021.
THE RISING STAR: Corey Allan
He’s not exactly a new kid on the block but with the No.1 jersey all but laid out for him, 2021 is shaping up to be Allan’s biggest season yet.
After signing with the Bulldogs, the 22-year-old said he’d like to play fullback — even the Rabbitohs’ head of football, Mark Ellison said it’s Allan’s “best position.” His path to the No.1 jersey was blocked at South Sydney but it isn’t at Canterbury-Bankstown.
While Will Hopoate did a good job at the back, the club has been longing for a specialist fullback and someone who can grow there — that’s exactly what Allan can provide in 2021.
He will be challenged in 2022 though when Josh Addo-Carr arrives. The Foxx has previously expressed interest in trying his hand at fullback so that will keep Allan on his toes and make it even more crucial that he stamps his dominance at the back this season.
THE UNLUCKY ONES: Ofahiki Ogden
What a time for Bulldogs fans. There’s genuine competition for spots with NRL quality players, unfortunately, a chance of missing out. This could be the case for 24-year-old prop Ofahiki Ogden.
He was really solid last year, a standout in all 11 games he played. But with the addition of Jack Hetherington and Adam Elliott returning from injury — potentially shifting Luke Thompson to prop — it’s going to be hard to squeeze Ogden in to the 17.
In saying that, he’ll keep the pressure on the forwards to perform and could very well leapfrog Thompson if the English recruit doesn’t perform in the early rounds, after what we must admit was a bit of a disappointing debut season in 2020 from the Super League sensation.
IT’S A BIG YEAR FOR: Trent Barrett and Kyle Flanagan
Barrett has made all the right moves since taking over as head coach. He’s recruited extremely well — both players and support staff — and it’s instilled some new-found hope amongst fans. Because he’s laid such a good platform, expectations have formed and because he was continuously credited for transforming the Panthers’ attack, it’s expected he’ll improve the Bulldogs’ dramatically. On top of that, he had a tense exit from his last head coaching role with Manly, which left many pundits and fans believing he just isn’t fit to lead a team. The 2021 season is not only his debut season with the Bulldogs, but it’s also his chance to not only build on the terrific foundation he’s laid at Belmore, while also proving any doubters wrong at the same time.
Flanagan also has a big season ahead. After being chewed up and spat out by the Roosters there’s no doubt his confidence is down. He’s been handed an opportunity to develop as a half without the pressure of making finals at all costs. If he can bounce back from the disappointing end to his time at the Roosters it will do wonders for his confidence as a chief playmaker — and he too gets a chance to prove any doubters wrong.
BULLDOGS’ BEST 17
1. Corey Allan
2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
3. Nick Cotric
4. Will Hopoate
5. Nick Meaney
6. Brandon Wakeham
7. Kyle Flanagan
8. Jack Hetherington
9. Jeremy Marshall-King
10. Luke Thompson
11. Josh Jackson
12. Raymond Faitala-Mariner
13. Adam Elliott
14. Jake Averillo
15. Renouf Atoni
16. Corey Waddell
17. Dylan Napa
2021 squad: Corey Allen (2023), Jake Averillo (2023), Dean Britt (2021), Nick Cotric (2024) Christian Crichton (2021), Adam Elliott (2023), Raymond Faitala-Mariner (2022), Kyle Flanagan (2023), Jack Hetherington (2022), Will Hopoate (2021), Josh Jackson (2023), Sione Katoa (2021), Lachlan Lewis (2021), Jeremy Marshall-King (2021), Nick Meaney (2021), Dylan Napa (2021), Ofahiki Ogden (2021), Jayden Okunbor (2021), Chris Smith (2021), Joe Stimson (2022), Renouf Atoni (To’omaga) (2021), Corey Waddell (2023), Brandon Wakeham (2022), Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (2022) Luke Thompson (2023)
2021 gains: Jack Hetherington (Panthers) Nick Cotric (Raiders), Corey Waddell (Sea Eagles), Kyle Flanagan (Roosters), Corey Allan (Rabbitohs)
2021 losses: Sauaso Sue (Knights), Reimis Smith (Storm), Kerrod Holland (retirement) Kieran Foran (Sea Eagles), Marcelo Montoya (Warriors), Aiden Tolman (Sharks), Jack Cogger (Huddersfield), Tim Lafai, Isaiah Tass (both unsigned)
- January 18, 2021 8:06am
- DARCIE MCDONALD
- Source: FOX SPORTS
Dean Pay stepped down in July and a week later Trent Barrett was unveiled as the new coach from 2021 through to at least the end of 2023.
Barrett began a clean-out of not only the playing group but the coaching staff too. Veteran forward and a former vice-captain of the club, Aiden Tolman, was among the players who were informed they wouldn’t be re-signed beyond 2020. And as for the coaching staff, well it’s now entirely different to last year with the likes of highly regarded assistant coach David Furner and high performance coach Dan Ferris being recruited to the club.
The changes have even gone beyond the field. Chair Lynne Anderson along with two directors were forced to step down in October and last week CEO Andrew Hill also exited the club.
There may be some unrest away from the field as the club now hunts down it’s next CEO, but on the paddock it’s smooth sailing.
Thanks to some wise roster decisions, the Bulldogs head into the 2021 with the potential to make the finals for the first time since 2016.
But with new faces comes new expectations and the Bulldogs faithful are going to want to see a big improvement on last season where the team finished second last.
THE STRENGTH: New recruits
Sure, a club’s new recruits are always going to strengthen the team but in the Bulldogs’ case, they’ve gone from a bottom two finish to a club that could genuinely push for a top eight spot. That’s due to some seriously impressive recruitment from coach Trent Barrett and the people around him.
The first domino fell when Nick Cotric signed last July. Then came the likes of Kyle Flanagan, Corey Waddell, Jack Hetherington and last but certainly not least, Corey Allan.
Both Cotric and Allan have earned State of Origin debuts and are well on their way to being stars of the future, while Flanagan has huge potential and Waddell and Hetherington will reinvigorate the forward pack.
The key thing here is, in the past the Bulldogs have fielded some players who may not even get a look in at rival clubs. All of these new recruits are genuine first graders, all of them either held a regular NRL spot or continuously challenged for one at their previous clubs.
THE PRESSURE IS ON: Jeremy Marshall-King and Sione Katoa
With a reported $4 million to spend for 2022 due to 15 players coming off contract, Barrett is spoiled with choice and salary cap freedom. He’s already locked in Josh Addo-Carr and Matt Burton to join this year’s recruits so the halves and backline are forming nicely alongside an already competitive forward pack. But the one position that will be at the top of the recruitment list is a hooker.
Marshall-King started 2020 as the club’s first choice hooker with Sione Katoa starting the season off in NSW Cup. Marshall-King showed moments of brilliance but the 25-year-old hasn’t yet proved he can consistently play like that for an entire season.
Later in the year Katoa joined the bench and at one point took over Marshall-King as starting hooker. However, he didn’t do enough either to pledge a case to be considered the club’s long-term rake.
No doubt, Barrett will be in the market for a world class hooker and with Kiwi’s No.9 Brandon Smith on a the hunt for a new club in 2022, you’d expect the Bulldogs have already started pursuing him.
Marshall-King and Katoa are both off-contract after the 2021 season and providing Barrett lands a new hooker, it’s likely the club won’t keep them both. It means they have one season to put it all on the line and prove why they should be kept beyond 2021.
THE RISING STAR: Corey Allan
He’s not exactly a new kid on the block but with the No.1 jersey all but laid out for him, 2021 is shaping up to be Allan’s biggest season yet.
After signing with the Bulldogs, the 22-year-old said he’d like to play fullback — even the Rabbitohs’ head of football, Mark Ellison said it’s Allan’s “best position.” His path to the No.1 jersey was blocked at South Sydney but it isn’t at Canterbury-Bankstown.
While Will Hopoate did a good job at the back, the club has been longing for a specialist fullback and someone who can grow there — that’s exactly what Allan can provide in 2021.
He will be challenged in 2022 though when Josh Addo-Carr arrives. The Foxx has previously expressed interest in trying his hand at fullback so that will keep Allan on his toes and make it even more crucial that he stamps his dominance at the back this season.
THE UNLUCKY ONES: Ofahiki Ogden
What a time for Bulldogs fans. There’s genuine competition for spots with NRL quality players, unfortunately, a chance of missing out. This could be the case for 24-year-old prop Ofahiki Ogden.
He was really solid last year, a standout in all 11 games he played. But with the addition of Jack Hetherington and Adam Elliott returning from injury — potentially shifting Luke Thompson to prop — it’s going to be hard to squeeze Ogden in to the 17.
In saying that, he’ll keep the pressure on the forwards to perform and could very well leapfrog Thompson if the English recruit doesn’t perform in the early rounds, after what we must admit was a bit of a disappointing debut season in 2020 from the Super League sensation.
IT’S A BIG YEAR FOR: Trent Barrett and Kyle Flanagan
Barrett has made all the right moves since taking over as head coach. He’s recruited extremely well — both players and support staff — and it’s instilled some new-found hope amongst fans. Because he’s laid such a good platform, expectations have formed and because he was continuously credited for transforming the Panthers’ attack, it’s expected he’ll improve the Bulldogs’ dramatically. On top of that, he had a tense exit from his last head coaching role with Manly, which left many pundits and fans believing he just isn’t fit to lead a team. The 2021 season is not only his debut season with the Bulldogs, but it’s also his chance to not only build on the terrific foundation he’s laid at Belmore, while also proving any doubters wrong at the same time.
Flanagan also has a big season ahead. After being chewed up and spat out by the Roosters there’s no doubt his confidence is down. He’s been handed an opportunity to develop as a half without the pressure of making finals at all costs. If he can bounce back from the disappointing end to his time at the Roosters it will do wonders for his confidence as a chief playmaker — and he too gets a chance to prove any doubters wrong.
BULLDOGS’ BEST 17
1. Corey Allan
2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
3. Nick Cotric
4. Will Hopoate
5. Nick Meaney
6. Brandon Wakeham
7. Kyle Flanagan
8. Jack Hetherington
9. Jeremy Marshall-King
10. Luke Thompson
11. Josh Jackson
12. Raymond Faitala-Mariner
13. Adam Elliott
14. Jake Averillo
15. Renouf Atoni
16. Corey Waddell
17. Dylan Napa
2021 squad: Corey Allen (2023), Jake Averillo (2023), Dean Britt (2021), Nick Cotric (2024) Christian Crichton (2021), Adam Elliott (2023), Raymond Faitala-Mariner (2022), Kyle Flanagan (2023), Jack Hetherington (2022), Will Hopoate (2021), Josh Jackson (2023), Sione Katoa (2021), Lachlan Lewis (2021), Jeremy Marshall-King (2021), Nick Meaney (2021), Dylan Napa (2021), Ofahiki Ogden (2021), Jayden Okunbor (2021), Chris Smith (2021), Joe Stimson (2022), Renouf Atoni (To’omaga) (2021), Corey Waddell (2023), Brandon Wakeham (2022), Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (2022) Luke Thompson (2023)
2021 gains: Jack Hetherington (Panthers) Nick Cotric (Raiders), Corey Waddell (Sea Eagles), Kyle Flanagan (Roosters), Corey Allan (Rabbitohs)
2021 losses: Sauaso Sue (Knights), Reimis Smith (Storm), Kerrod Holland (retirement) Kieran Foran (Sea Eagles), Marcelo Montoya (Warriors), Aiden Tolman (Sharks), Jack Cogger (Huddersfield), Tim Lafai, Isaiah Tass (both unsigned)
