Club legend Terry Lamb says new coach Cameron Ciraldo has what it takes to steer the Bulldogs again to the finals for the primary time since 2016, however isn’t certain whether or not Eels halfback Mitch Moses will be a part of them in 2024.
Ciraldo’s arrival at Belmore was considered one of league’s worst-kept secrets and techniques this 12 months, however the former Panthers assistant hasn’t shied away from immersing himself within the Bulldogs’ proud historical past.
The rookie coach has taken time to be taught in regards to the membership’s glory years and the gamers that helped get them there, along with his final deal with returning the Bulldogs to the highest of the desk with a squad that’s beginning to look aggressive.
The Bulldogs have missed the finals for the previous six years, however they’ve recruited massive names like Viliame Kikau, Reed Mahoney and Ryan Sutton, whereas fan favorite Josh Reynolds has returned on a practice and trial deal.
“I don’t like saying where we’re going to come in the competition, but I’d like to say we’re going to be in the top eight next year,” Lamb advised the NCA NewsWire.
“We should be confident with the players we’ve got coming over.”
Ciraldo’s relationship with Kikau goes again to their time collectively in Penrith, and it’s why he flew to Fiji to be with Kikau to assist him at his father’s funeral.
It’s that form of care that has Lamb assured Ciraldo could be the person to make the Bulldogs a power once more.
“He wants to be close to the players, and that’s being as close as you can,” he mentioned.
“What it is is a tremendous show of respect. He’s known Kikau for a while, and Kikau paid us the respect by coming to the club with Ciraldo, so it shows that he’s a tremendous person and a great family man.
“He’s a great man. He went into the club and straightaway wanted to learn who we are, who we had at the club years ago and the success we had through the ’80s and ’90s.
“He knows everything about the Bulldogs who have played the game over the years and he just loves who we are.”
While the Bulldogs’ roster appears significantly better for 2023, the membership has been linked with Eels halfback Mitch Moses to accomplice five-eighth Matt Burton in 2024 and past.
“I wish I could tell you some good news, but we don’t know what’s going on,” Lamb mentioned.
“We can only play the players that we’ve got right now, and that includes having Josh Reynolds back at the club. I know that he’s going to do a fantastic job for us.”
While the Bulldogs are rebuilding on the sphere, there’s nothing new about their dedication to assist the group, with gamers from the prolonged NRL squad and the Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership facet spending time on the Exodus Foundation in Ashfield on Monday.
Players donated a truck’s value of meals and frolicked with the homeless in a much-needed present of assist within the days main into Christmas.
“It means a lot to the people who are in trouble. All we can do is help, and I know that they appreciate it,” Lamb mentioned.
“The players we have here today are young at the moment – I’ve been doing it for 40 years so I know what’s happening on the streets – but they probably haven’t seen stuff like this before.
“They’ve got to understand what they need to do for the community, so this is a good teaching moment for them.”