The time has arrived for the Canterbury Bulldogs to finally turn things around in 2024.
Simply put, the time for excuses is over. The club have signed countless players, and this is fast becoming a roster than now second-year coach Cameron Ciraldo and veteran head of football Phil Gould can say they have built.
That means performances must be expected. Gould was always realistic about what the Bulldogs were going to be able to achieve in 2023 as they continued to rebuild. The club were further impacted by injuries and suspensions, but they have built a roster that has plenty of depth across the board for 2024.
The Belmore-based side have certainly been ridiculed for their utility signing spree, but the club have made plenty of external noise that all of those players have roles, and with continued improvement of some of the other young talent at the club, the Bulldogs simply must find a way into the top eight this year.
Here are the burning questions Canterbury must answer with success in 2024.
2. Can Matt Burton become an elite half?
2024 must be time for Matt Burton to find a new level that so far, he has only shown glimpses of at NRL level.
While the youngster has been well commended for his towering bombs and running game, unfortunately, it's consistency which has lacked from week to week.
The pressure of also trying to guide a struggling team around the park has told on Burton, but he simply must be better on a consistent basis throughout 2024.
It would appear Toby Sexton is most likely to partner him in the halves, which in itself could be trouble. Burton is yet to play alongside an experienced, guiding number seven, and while Sexton has shown plenty, he is another inexperienced halves partner for Burton.
Some have even suggested Burton would add more to the Bulldogs in the centres, where he has played at Origin level, although he has made it clear his preference is to remain at five-eighth.
