The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have started the 2023 NRL season with a bang, recording a stunning upset victory over the Melbourne Storm in Round 1. The Bulldogs had finished near the bottom of the ladder in each of the past three seasons, but new coach Trent Ciraldo has vowed to end the years of mediocrity and turn the club into a competitive force once again.
In an interview with Fox Sports ahead of the season, Ciraldo expressed his belief that the Bulldogs were capable of making a significant improvement in 2023. “We’ve got a really good group of players here, and we’ve brought in some quality recruits as well,” he said. “I think we’re capable of doing something special this year.”
Ciraldo’s confidence in his team was not misplaced, as they put in a dominant performance against the Storm in Round 1. The Bulldogs were too big and too strong for their inexperienced opponents, and ran out comfortable winners by a scoreline of 24-6.
The victory was built on a rock-solid defensive effort, with the Bulldogs conceding just one try and keeping the Storm scoreless in the second half. The team’s forwards were particularly impressive, with new recruits Jesse Bromwich and Dale Finucane making a big impact in the middle of the park.
But it wasn’t just the Bulldogs’ defense that shone in the game. The team’s attack was also impressive, with playmaker Jake Averillo pulling the strings and setting up several of the team’s tries. The young halfback looks to be a real talent and could be a key player for the Bulldogs this season.
After the game, Ciraldo was understandably pleased with his team’s performance. “I thought we were excellent today,” he said. “We stuck to our game plan and executed really well, and it’s great to see the hard work paying off.”
The Bulldogs will now look to build on their impressive Round 1 victory and continue their push for a finals spot. With a talented roster and a coach who is committed to bringing the best out of his players, the future looks bright for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. Fans of the club will be hoping that this is just the start of a successful season and that the years of mediocrity are finally behind them.
