Bulldogs State of Origin rep facing the axe as Lachie Galvin set to make immediate switch

Reed Mahoney is reportedly on the nose with Canterbury Bulldogs officials, and could be the odd man out once Lachie Galvin arrives. Galvin is set to make an immediate switch from the Tigers to Bulldogs on a three-and-a-half year deal. The 19-year-old five-eighth rejected a contract extension with the Tigers earlier this season, and the joint-venture has now agreed to allow him to leave the club immediately. Galvin informed the Bulldogs on Sunday that he's rejecting an offer from Parramatta to join the Belmore club. The Bulldogs will pay the Tigers a $165,000 transfer fee, and the move could be finalised this week. "What I understand of the situation right at the moment is that Lachlan Galvin has expressed his desire to play with the Bulldogs," Canterbury general manager Phil Gould said on Channel 9 on Sunday. "We still haven't closed off on a deal yet, and there are still some things that have got to be worked out with the Wests Tigers. I would hope that in the next 48 hours we have far greater clarity." Where Galvin fits into the Bulldogs line-up remains to be seen. Halves Matt Burton and Toby Sexton have led the Dogs to the top of the NRL ladder after 12 rounds, however Burton might be shuffled to fullback or the centres.

Unlikely Match Will Leave Ciraldo Stoked

The Bulldogs are off to their best start to a season in 11 years - but it was far from pretty as they out-lasted a determined Eels side 16-8 on Sunday afternoon. It's the first time Canterbury have started a season with three straight wins since 2014 - and they had to do it without key men Matt Burton and Viliame Kikau. While the Bulldogs struggled for long patches of the game, it's this performance that may well have pleased coach Cameron Ciraldo more than the previous two wins. The Eels came out desperate for some success and really tested the Canterbury defence. They applied plenty of pressure but the Bulldogs held firm for a vital win.

Full Extent Of Dogs Heroics

The Bulldogs have done a superb job to be sitting in fifth spot on the ladder with the finals coming up - and they have managed to get there despite being severely short-staffed. Four players in their top 30 at season's start a few months back have not played a game for the club, putting a severe strain on the rest of the playing group. Zane Tetevano quit after being unable to shake nagging injuries, Karl Oloapu (neck) and Ryan Sutton (knee) are recovering from major surgeries while off-season recruit Daniel Suluka-Fifita has been in the lower grades. So the Dogs have been playing with a squad well under the salary cap of most of their rivals yet have been among the big improvers in 2024. "The playing staff have done a great job for the club," Bulldogs guru Phil Gould told Wide World of Sports. To help fill the void, promising Kurtis Morrin was recently promoted from a development contract to a top 30 position.

Unbelievable stat that proves burton's ability

Matt Burton's booming left boot has the Bulldogs well and truly on track for an unlikely finals berth in 2024. Burton has the biggest kicking game in the NRL and he terrorised the Sharks with a series of massive torpedo punts on Friday night… as well as kicking the winning field goal in golden point. Burton came up with a phenomenal 693 kick metres for the match, constantly forcing the Sharks to bring the ball back from deep inside their own territory. The star utility back has now kicked nearly 5000 metres for the season and his bionic left boot will be a danger weapon for the Bulldogs in the next couple of months… and hopefully the finals. The win over the Sharks was a massive one in a tough, slogging affair and a finals berth now appears Canterbury's to lose.

'Nearly impossible' task after title team decimated

Stephen Crichton, Matt Burton, Api Koroisau, Kurt Capewell, Viliame Kikau, Tyrone May, Spencer Leniu, Brent Naden and Paul Momirovski … that's nine members of the 2021 grand final team that began the Panthers dynasty who have now moved on.Throw in the likes of Daine Laurie, Josh Mansour, Charlie Staines, Jack Cogger, James Tamou, J'maine Hopgood, Sean O'Sullivan, Zane Tetavano, Jaeman Salmon, Tom Jenkins, Jack Hetherington and Robert Jennings who have also been poached by rival clubs and it's remarkable that the Panthers have managed to keep winning, becoming the first team to produce a premiership three-peat in four decades.You win one comp and the salary cap makes it tough to go back-to-back as players want more money - and some move elsewhere.Win two and it's tougher - win three and it's nearly impossible - yet the Panthers have such a great system they will still start the new year as title favourites.The departure of Crichton and Leniu - two men at the heart and soul of the Panthers machine - will hit hard in 2024.The team has only signed three 'back-up' players who add depth but little else, although the livewire Daine Lauire could be a surprise packet in his second coming at the Panthers.The numbers were immaculate as the Panthers swept away the competition to make it three straight titles this season.They had the league's most tackle breaks, best completion rate, most kick metres, most forced dropouts, most kick return metres, conceded least points and least tries and had most try assists.But having their strength and depth sapped year by year as they continue winning, it is getting that little bit tough each time to keep the dream alive.

Bulldogs' Brisbane hoodoo continues

Gus Gould has plenty of pull in the NRL - and maybe he needs to lobby to move Magic Round away from Suncorp Stadium in 2024.His Bulldogs have now lost 12 straight games at the home of football in Brisbane and the arena has become something akin to a graveyard for the boys from Belmore.The injury-hit Dogs actually played pretty well against an in-form Raiders outfit, but clearly their Suncorp hoodoo was too much to overcome.

Matt Burton ready to take full control as Bulldogs No.7

Cameron Ciraldo claims Matt Burton is now ready to take full ownership of Canterbury's attack after handing him the No.7 jersey for the first time against Cronulla.Burton will move into the halfback role on Saturday night, in a jersey swap that puts the No.6 on Kyle Flanagan's back.Ciraldo is well aware he could have given Burton more responsibility without swapping numbers, but wanted to make his intentions clear after talking with Burton in recent weeks about taking on more responsibility."We want Matt to step up and take ownership of the team," the Bulldogs coach said."I feel like he is ready for that. A while back he probably wasn't ready for that. But he has really grown into the leadership role, he is one of our on-field captains."The change of jersey is a little bit symbolic as well with where we can go with our footy."The move will also take some pressure off Flanagan, also allowing him to focus more on his edge and smaller areas of his game.But it is with Burton the biggest change will come.Traditionally known as a five-eighth in his early years at Penrith, Ciraldo worked with him in both the No.6 jersey and at left centre while at the Panthers.He then played five-eighth exclusively since his arrival at Canterbury last year with the 23-year-old's skill best exhibited in the Bulldogs' last win, where he took charge late and kicked the golden-point field goal."It's what the team needs right now from Matt, but he has also matured over the past two years from when I last saw him at Penrith," Ciraldo said.

Star Bulldogs half signs monster extension

Matt Burton will remain a Bulldog after signing a five-year deal to stay at Belmore.Burton enjoyed a breakout year in 2022, which included earning his first Blues jersey, capping a successful debut season with the club following a move from Penrith."I'm grateful to be a part of this club," Burton said in a statement released by the club."We've got the new coach (Cameron Ciraldo) in now and I'm really excited to work with him again. He's a great coach and I'm looking forward to taking my game to the next level with his guidance."We've got new players in and from my teammates, all the staff, our members and fans, I couldn't picture myself anywhere else. The club is on the up and I'm keen to be a part of this next chapter for the Bulldogs."Burton's long-term commitment is a massive boost to the Bulldogs, who are hoping the likes of he, Josh Addo-Carr and the incoming Viliame Kikau can transform the club's on-field fortunes in the coming years."As a club, we have been building towards a vision of success and stability, and the long-term signing of someone as talented as Matt reinforces the direction that we are headed in," Bulldogs chairman John Khoury said in a statement."We believe that we have been taking huge strides forward as a club and this multi-year agreement with Matt means that he will remain to be a big part of the Bulldog's future," club CEO Aaron Warburton added.

Star Dog's emphatic answer as new deal looms

Bulldogs supporters have a reason to rejoice after prized playmaker Matt Burton made it clear that his preferred club for the long term was Canterbury.Burton's incredible rise to State of Origin and Kangaroos honours has set him up for a considerable upgrade on his $500,000-a-year contract, with a four-year deal in the works.When speaking to 9News before flying out with Australia for the World Cup, Burton said he "100 per cent" wanted to remain at the Bulldogs for the long run."There's obviously a lot of great juniors coming through and everything that's happened this year with the club and for next year ... it's looking up," Burton added.Trent Barrett's mid-season axing and Burton's phenomenal Bulldogs form, which exceeded his pay packet, had the five-eighth ready to test the market come November 1.But the securing of Cameron Ciraldo as coach, who Burton played under at the Panthers, the looming arrivals of Viliame Kikau and Reed Mahoney, and the progress made under interim coach Mick Potter, seem to have convinced the 22-year-old to remain in blue and white.Burton is a member of the 24-man Kangaroos squad set to fly to England for the World Cup, which he struggles to believe."Even driving here this morning, and when I got the phone call, I was just thinking in my head," Burton said."I couldn't really believe it, I couldn't put it into words."

Bulldogs' $3 million bid to retain gun revealed

The Bulldogs have reportedly tabled a "massive offer" in their bid to retain gun playmaker Matt Burton, but Canterbury supremo Phil Gould uttered just two words when pressed for his confirmation.Canterbury has presented Burton a four-year deal worth $3 million-plus, according to Danny Weidler on Nine's 100% Footy.The 22-year-old is contracted to the Bulldogs until the end of 2023 and has a player option for 2024.Gould remained tight-lipped in his seat on the 100% Footy panel, only saying the words "commercial confidentiality"."I think that Matt Burton is in a position where he wants to stay at the Bulldogs," Weidler said."He likes the direction the club is heading, particularly with Cameron Ciraldo being appointed and the top dog being in charge, as well, Phil Gould."