Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 2025 season review
- Overview
- Highs
- Lows
- 2025 RLB Player of the Year – Jacob Preston
- Reasons to be positive in 2026
- My 2025 prediction – 3rd
- Final 2025 position – 3rd
Overview
2025 was a real mixed bag for the Bulldogs. They flew out of the blocks, winning nine of their first 10 games, and they spent longer on top of the ladder than any other team, before dropping to 3rd.
However, four defeats in their final six games of the regular season saw them limp into the Finals, where they were bowled out in straight sets by Melbourne in week one and the Panthers in week two.
It’s not hard to work out why the drop in form occurred, although it’s a bit harsh to pin it on one player. The Dogs went all out to get Lachlan Galvin released from his Tigers contract mid-season, despite the fact Toby Sexton was playing career-best footy. Galvin’s arrival coincided with a dip in form for the team, and by the time Finals came around it was no surprise to see the Dogs’ year end with a whimper.
Highs
That winning run at the start of the season had the rest of the competiton nervous, and the Bulldogs dreaming of a first Preniership since 2004.
There were back-to-back nillings against the Rabbitohs and the Knights early in the year – part of an incredible defensive effort that saw Canterbury concede 45 fewer points than anyone in the competition.
Individually, there were plenty of stellar seasons too. Max King gets a mention for his career-best form, which saw him go from a run-of-the-mill forward to a State of Origin player, while Jacob Preston’s outstanding campaign ended with a Kangaroos jumper.
Lows
The way the Bulldogs’ season petered out should be a concern for coach Cameron Ciraldo. Granted, a 3rd place finish and the best defence in the NRL look good on paper, but they limped their way towards the Finals and it was no surprise to see them lose both games.
They can take some positives from the Melbourne game, where they were in it ’til the end, but the defeat to the Panthers in week two was bad. Penrith had sealed their progression by half-time as they led 36-8, and despite a rally of sorts from the Dogs in the second half, it was too little too late as they bowed out 46-26.
2025 RLB Player of the Year – Jacob Preston
Preston was Mr Consistency in the Bulldogs’ back-row, and he even finished the year as the team’s top tryscorer with 12. Those performances saw him rewarded with a Kangaroos jumper for the post-season Ashes series, and at 24, there’s still plenty to come from him.
Reasons to be positive in 2026
Despite dropping off in the second half of the year, the Bulldogs made progress in 2025. Their 3rd-placed finish was an improvement on 6th in 2024, and having the best defence in the competition is a great platform to build on. Plus, with a full pre-season under his belt, expect to see a much-improved Lachlan Galvin next year too.
My 2025 prediction – 3rd
Final 2025 position – 3rd
Another prediction gone right! The Bulldogs did what I thought they would in the regular season and continued their progress towards being Premiership contenders. Remarkably, they haven’t won a Finals match since 2015, and that needs to be the next step in their evolution in 2026.
