2025 NRL Team Previews

Canterbury Bulldogs NRL 2025 Team Preview, Predictions & Player Movement

Ryan Tucker

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Last updated: 07 Feb 2025

Ryan Tucker 07 Feb 2025

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Canterbury Bulldogs projected to finish 9th in 2025.
Strong defense from 2024, but offensive struggles remain.
Key player: Matt Burton crucial for orchestrating attack.

Stephen Crichton and Matt Burton of the Bulldogs. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

NRL 2025 Team Previews, Predictions & Player Movement: Canterbury Bulldogs

Where Canterbury Bulldogs finish in 2025: 9th

This placing is one of the harder ones to determine and one that we are least confident in. The Bulldogs defence should propel them to a top 8 spot but without their attack getting significantly better i see them struggling to get the percentage difference to keep them within the 8.

Projected Win total: 11

The Pythagorean model doesn’t have much confidence in this Bulldogs team based on their scoring efforts from previous seasons. Last year the expectation was 15 wins and the team underperformed to that number with 14 wins. This season the model was saying 10 but we have given them an extra win expecting some improvement in attack.

Worth noting is that the number is greatly affected by the woeful scoring season’s of 2023 and 2022.

Best contender for Dally M: Matt Burton

The success of this team will depend on whether Matt Burton will be able to orchestrate the attack. With strike weapons all over the park and a solid defensive unit they will need to increase their scoring output to match the top teams, if Burton delivers he will be racking up the points.

What’s to like

The Bulldogs were one of the best defensive teams in 2024 allowing just the 3rd fewest points to opponents on the season. They now bring in some heavier artillery on the outside edges which will increase that defensive dominance.

The team is loaded with stars that are able to produce plays at any given moment. If coach Ciraldo can engage the individuals and get them working as a team they will be one of the toughest competitors in this league.

What’s NOT to like

Another big off-season with a heap of player movement. This team is going to look up in 5 years and wonder what has happened. Given, the additions and subtractions may be necessary but the effects of having this amount of guys coming in and out is not always positive. Historically it is the settled rosters that perform the best over time.

The Bulldogs struggled to score points last season, they had the 2nd lowest total among top 8 teams and have not made any additions to the team to impact the scoring.

Canterbury Bulldogs Offseason Player Movement

Ins: Tom Amone (Leigh Leopards), Sitili Tupouniua (Sydney Roosters), Marcelo Montoya (NZ Warriors), Enari Tuala (Newcastle Knights)

Outs: Jeral Skelton (Wests Tigers), Joash Papalii (Parramatta Eels), Kitione Kautoga (Parramatta Eels), Jordan Samrani (Parramatta Eels), Chris Patolo (Manly Sea Eagles), Hayze Perham (Brisbane Broncos), Josh Addo-Carr (Parramatta Eels), Liam Knight (released), Zane Tetevano (released), Poasa Faamausili (retired)