The glaring problem with Gus' Bulldogs rebuild

The Bulldogs finished 2021 with their tails good and genuinely betwixt their legs, collecting the woody spoon for the archetypal clip since 2008 and winning conscionable 3 games.

Yet the ambiance astatine Belmore is 1 of immense optimism for adjacent twelvemonth - the lone mode to spell is up and the nine has already made immoderate elephantine strides successful that direction.

They person signed six prime players and if they each settee successful and fire, the Bulldogs could situation for a top-eight spot successful 2022.

Most of all, they person brought successful one of the astir respected minds successful the NRL, Phil Gould, to hole what has go a breached messiness successful caller years.

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Phil Gould has a large task up of him to crook the Bulldogs around. (Getty)

The 1 concern, however, remains the cardinal halfback spot.

The nine signed classy fractional Matt Burton from Penrith to play fig six but who plays alongside him is the large question.

The much-maligned Kyle Flanagan doesn't look the reply - helium was dropped 3 times during the play and Trent Barrett did the youngster's assurance nary favours with the yo-yo enactment policy.

Matt Burton (Getty)

Jake Averillo is the different alternate but helium is inactive learning his trade successful the challenging playmaking role.

The cardinal hooking presumption is different country of interest but if Jeremy Marshall-King tin enactment acceptable - helium managed conscionable 9 games this twelvemonth - helium could beryllium a stop-gap solution for a twelvemonth oregon two.

Off-field subject has besides been an contented successful caller seasons but Gould should guarantee the Dogs support their minds connected shot and enactment retired of trouble.

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Best player: Luke Thompson led the mode up beforehand - yet the Bulldogs' salalry headdress is specified a messiness for a portion they were considering selling him disconnected astatine 1 stage.

Biggest disappointment: Nic Cotric - paying immense wealth for an extracurricular backmost is ever a large gamble and the erstwhile Raider had a disappointing play marred by wounded - helium bagged conscionable 3 tries successful 14 games.

Key signing: If Burton tin re-produce his Penrith signifier with a acold weaker squad astir him, the Bulldogs are successful for a good play successful 2022.

Gains: Josh Addo-Carr (Storm), Matt Burton (Panthers), Matt Dufty (Dragons), Paul Vaughan (Dragons), Brent Naden (Panthers), Tevita Pangai Jnr (Broncos/Panthers)

Losses: Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (Warriors), Nick Meaney (Storm), Will Hopoate (St Helens), Renouf Atoni (Roosters), Lachlan Lewis (released), Dean Britt (released), Sione Katoa (released), Dylan Napa (released), Chris Smith (released), Brad Deitz (released).

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