Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 2026 season preview
2025 recap
The Bulldogs had a mixed campaign in 2025. They stormed to the top of the ladder in the opening weeks and spent more time in 1st than any other team in the NRL.
However, they dropped off towards the end of the year, and ultimately finished 3rd before bowing out of the Finals with consecutive defeats in the opening two weeks.
2025 position: 3rd (Eliminated in week two of Finals)
Key signings
Leo Thompson (Newcastle Knights), Kade Dykes (Cronulla Sharks), Sean O’Sullivan (The Dolphins), Fletcher Baker (Brisbane Broncos), Gordon Chan Kum Tong (Manly Sea Eagles)
Key departures
Toby Sexton (Catalans Dragons), Reed Mahoney (North Queensland Cowboys), Kurtis Morrin (Gold Coast Titans), Blake Wilson (Manly Sea Eagles), Drew Hutchison (Released), Blake Taaffe (Castleford Tigers)
Players to watch
Lachlan Galvin will be under huge pressure to deliver for the Dogs this year. The 20-year-old was poached from Wests Tigers midway through 2025, and his arrival coincided with a dip in the Bulldogs’ form. He’s one of the best young players in the game though, and with a full pre-season under his belt at Canterbury, he’s the man they’ll be relying on to take them to the next level.
Prop Leo Thompson is the most notable of the Bulldogs’ new arrivals in 2026. The 25-year-old arrives after 80 NRL appearances for Newcastle Knights, and it’ll be interesting to see who makes way for him to play this year, especially because the Bulldogs had the best defence in the NRL last year by some distance. He’ll miss the first few weeks of the year through injury in any case, but he’ll be chomping at the bit to play when he’s fit again.
Young gun
Mitchell Woods has starred in the Bulldogs’ lower grade sides, and could finally make his NRL debut in 2026. He’s still only 19, so there’s plenty of time ahead of him, but Lachlan Galvin’s arrival midway through 2025 was another obstacle for Woods to overcome, and he’ll be hoping to force his way into the side.
Our prediction – 1st (Premiers)
I just have a feeling about the Bulldogs this year that they can go to that next level. They’ve been putting solid foundations in place for the past few years and continued to steadily grow. A Premiership looks likely in the next few years, and I don’t see why they can’t achieve it this year.
