Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Jeremy Marshall-King, Nick Meaney, and Adam Elliott were among the players on the roster who went on to achieve success.
To replace that generation of players, Gould brought in major names like Viliame Kikau, Matt Burton, Josh Addo-Carr, and Reed Mahoney.
A new batch of players arrived before the 2024 season, including Bronson Xerri, Connor Tracey, Blake Taaffe, Jaeman Salmon, Josh Curran, Drew Hutchison, Kurt Mann, Jake Turpin, Zane Tetevano, Poasa Faamausili, and Daniel Suluka-Fifita.
Even Trent Barrett, the 2021 coach, was fired and replaced by rugby league coaching’s golden kid, former Panthers assistant Cameron Ciraldo.
Now, with their skilled rookie coach at the helm, the Bulldogs are poised for a season that may make or break the club’s new era.
Foxsports.com.au and rugby league veteran Cooper Cronk talk into the Bulldogs’ major moves, which could cause a seismic upheaval at Belmore.
To begin the 2021 season, the Bulldogs’ spine included Corey Allan, Jake Averillo, Kyle Flanagan, and Sione Katoa.
Averillo was a fan favourite, and many were sad when he left for the Dolphins at the end of the 2023 season.
Meanwhile, Allan and Katoa played fewer than 30 games for the Bulldogs, while Flanagan played 50 before being declared surplus to needs by Gould.
Ciraldo starts the 2024 season with a completely new spine at his disposal, one that may know what it takes to win.
Blake Taaffe, the least experienced of the four players, appeared in the 2021 grand final against the Panthers and performed admirably despite having only played a few games.
Matt Burton won a premiership in the centres during his time at Penrith, and Drew Hutchison was part of the squad when the Roosters won in 2019.
Trent Robinson praised Hutchison for his versatility, giving him 71 games between 2019 and 2023 before his departure.
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