How the 21st century babies will revitalise Canterbury Bulldogs
Liam O'Loughlin18 hours ago
Canterbury have made plenty of moves this off-season - but it's the 21st century babies that are going to have the biggest influence on the side in 2022.
While some astute signings in Matt Dufty and Josh Addo-Carr will add some much-needed speed and try-scoring ability to the Bulldogs, the two main voices in the side were only born at the start of this century.
Matt Burton and Jake Averillo look set to partner in the halves to start the season, and with both young men not born until the year 2000, will be shouldering plenty of responsibility at a very young age.
Burton has come across from Penrith, where he won a comp last season in the centres, and will now be the club's key playmaker long-term
“For me, the hardest thing was probably going from that centre role back into the halves," Burton told Sporting News.
“There’s obviously going to be a lot of pressure around it, but we want to build that culture here and get everyone together. Nobody wants to be sitting on the bottom of the ladder, so we will do everything we can to work hard and push up near the top-eight.
“Jake is obviously the number-one choice there. He’s worked on his game and he’s trying to improve to get better each week.
"I thought he was really good in the trials – there were stages there we could have been better, but that’s where we’ve got to learn and take things out of it.
“We’ll probably complement each other. We need to be working both sides of the field, you can’t really get stuck on one side.
"We want to be a threat on both sides of the field, we just have to keep working on it and nailing it at training."
Burton is regarded as one of the best young playmakers in the game and there will be a weight of expectation on him at his new club.
And one man who knows all about pressure and expectation is Dufty, who came through the lower grades at the Dragons and was always highly-touted from a young age.
The 26-year-old gave a timely reminder to Bulldogs fans about the age of their halves, as he enters a new phase of his career as a senior member of the squad.
“Everyone forgets how young those boys are," Dufty told Sporting News.
"Burto was born in 2000, Jake was born in 2000. They are so young and everyone has to give them time, they are still learning and getting better every week.
"Everyone knows how good Burto can be and I think he’s got a little bit more pressure this year being one of our biggest signings, so I’m looking forward to seeing how he develops.
“Me and Jezza (Jeremy Marshall-King) are 26 and 27 – it is different but it’s something I am enjoying.
"I am enjoying being one of the leaders of the team."
Dufty will wear the No.1 jumper and has been working on his combinations with both halves during the pre-season, as well as some talented young outside backs.
One of those players is Aaron Schoupp, who had a breakout rookie campaign and will now enter his second year as a top-grader in 2022.
“We train pretty hard every day and Schouppy is so young and still learning," Dufty said.
"He is so young, I told him that combinations don’t form overnight and we are coming along slowly.
"He’s learning how I take off and how I like to pass and how he’s got to get his timing right and stuff like that.
“In the centres, we have got nothing guaranteed. Schoupp is coming off a good year, Nado (Brent Naden) has got something to prove, Burnsy (Braidon Burns) has got something to prove – they are all training really well and I couldn’t tell you who is going to play there in round 1.
"At the moment, they have all got a shot and it will come down to Baz’s decision and this last week at training. Everyone is keen to rip in for round 1."
Despite only being 20 years of age, Schoupp is already feeling comfortable within his own skin around the Bulldogs squad and is taking on a new challenge this pre-season.
Having spent the past two years in the system, Schoupp wants to be a player that guys like Paul Alamoti can lean on as they find their feet.
“I felt comfortable, obviously coming back from my surgery in the off-season...I didn’t feel like I’ve missed a beat, my fitness and stuff has been good and going into the season feeling really good," Schoupp told Sporting News.
“I was pretty stoked (last year) – it was big for me and my family to be able to make my NRL debut. The team didn’t go really well, but every game I just tried to control what I can control – strong carries, making my tackles in defence.
"I think I had a couple of good games at the back end of the season which will help me leading into this year.
“I feel like I have a bit more of a voice this year. I’m speaking my mind a lot more and helping talk around training and helping the young boys.
"The boys coming into first grade, I know what it’s like – when I did my first pre-season I was shy and quiet, so I just try to be one of those people that help the younger boys."
Schoupp is expected to start the season in the centres and will be looking to lock down a permanent spot under Trent Barrett.
And the guidance of new recruit Addo-Carr is something that he will be looking to utilise at every turn.
“There’s a big difference in the vibe around the club, there’s a big difference in the energy and Josh Addo-Carr leads that," he said.
"What you see on the field is what you get off the field as well – he is loud from the morning right up until when we finish.
"He is trying to drive that culture that he had in Melbourne – the best teams are the best communicators, so that is something we have taken away from him.
“I’ve leaned on him a little bit and asked him for some tips and tricks that he has learned down in Melbourne. He’s helped with making me a better player and not making things hard for myself as well.
"He’s helped me with how to be a professional footballer day-in and day-out.
“Competition is healthy within a team; everyone wants to keep each other on their toes. If Baz believes in me to do the job, I am confident I can do it.
“My goal is to play every game, every week and become a consistent first grader. I don’t want to be the person to come in and then go back to Cup.
"I want to be consistent in first grade and be a dominant presence on the field all the time."
Canterbury will take on North Queensland in the first round of the season.
