The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are a professional rugby league club in the National Rugby League (NRL), the premier rugby league football competition in Australasia.
Based in Belmore, a suburb of Sydney, the Bulldogs in 1935 were admitted to the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) competition, a predecessor of the current NRL competition.
The Bulldogs won their first premiership in just their fourth season (1938). At the time it made them the quickest club (barring the founding clubs) to win a premiership after admission to the competition, a record which was only recently beaten in 1999 by the Melbourne Storm. They won a second premiership in 1942 but then had to wait another 38 years before breaking through for a third title in 1980. During the 80s, the Bulldogs were a dominant force in the competition appearing in five Grand Finals, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1988, winning four of them which was 1980 (18-4 against Eastern Suburbs), 1984 (6-4 against Parramatta Eels), 1985 (7-6 against St. George Dragons) and 1988 (24-12 against Balmain Tigers), only to lose in 1986 (4-2 against Parramatta Eels). In the 90s they featured in the 1994, 1995 and 1998 Grand Finals, winning in 1995 (17-4 against Manly Sea Eagles), but losing in 1994 (36-12 against Canberra Raiders) and in 1998 (38-12 against Brisbane Broncos). Their most recent success was in 2004 when they beat the Sydney Roosters 16-13. The tryscorers were Hazem El Masri and Matt Utai, and the Clive Churchill Medal winner was Willie Mason.
Club Records
editBiggest Wins vs Current NRL Clubs
editMargin | Score | Opposition | Venue | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
62 | 66–4 | North Queensland Cowboys | Belmore Sports Ground | 27 August 1995 |
50 | 62–12 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | Sydney Football Stadium | 3 August 2003 |
48 | 52–4 | Canberra Raiders | Telstra Stadium | 12 August 2007 |
46 | 50–4 | Melbourne Storm | Sydney Showground | 10 August 2003 |
46 | 52–6 | Newcastle Knights | Telstra Stadium | 27 August 2004 |
46 | 60–14 | Sydney Roosters | ANZ Stadium | 28 March 2010 |
44 | 54–10 | New Zealand Warriors | Ericsson Stadium | 5 September 2004 |
38 | 42–4 | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | ANZ Stadium | 17 March 2014 |
38 | 38–0 | St. George Illawarra Dragons | UOW Jubilee Oval | 26 August 2018 |
38 | 38–0 | Wests Tigers | Moreton Daily Stadium | 5 September 2021 |
36 | 42–6 | Parramatta Eels | Belmore Sports Ground | 12 April 1993 |
36 | 40–4 | Brisbane Broncos | Suncorp Stadium | 11 July 2003 |
32 | 56–24 | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | Brookvale Oval | 17 August 2003 |
32 | 32-0 | Belmore Sports Ground | 23 March 2024 | |
26 | 40–14 40–14 46–20 |
Penrith Panthers | Penrith Stadium Sydney Showground Telstra Stadium |
13 April 1980 8 July 2001 30 July 2004 |
Biggest Losses vs Current NRL Clubs
editMargin | Score | Opposition | Venue | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
80 | 7–87 | Eastern Suburbs | Sydney Sports Ground | 18 May 1935 |
66 | 0–66 | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | Bankwest Stadium | 3 July 2021 |
66 | 0–66 | Newcastle Knights | Accor Stadium | 2 July 2023 |
52 | 4–56 | Parramatta Eels | Parramatta Stadium | 12 August 2005 |
52 | 2–54 4–56 |
Wests Tigers | Telstra Stadium ANZ Stadium |
19 August 2005 3 August 2008 |
46 | 0–46 | Melbourne Storm | Olympic Park | 31 May 2008 |
42 | 10–52 | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | Sydney Football Stadium | 16 September 2001 |
42 | 0–42 | Penrith Panthers | ANZ Stadium | 26 September 2020 |
40 | 18–58 | Canberra Raiders | ANZ Stadium | 21 June 2008 |
38 | 0–38 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | Stadium Australia | 2 April 2021 |
36 | 12–48 0–36 |
North Queensland Cowboys | Carrara Stadium 1300SMILES Stadium |
27 May 2005 21 July 2016 |
36 | 4–40 | St. George Illawarra Dragons | Netstrata Jubilee Stadium | 14 April 2019 |
34 | 6–40 | New Zealand Warriors | Mt. Smart Stadium | 16 March 2019 |
31 | 10–41 | Brisbane Broncos | Suncorp Stadium | 8 August 2014 |
28 | 6–34 | Gold Coast Titans | Suncorp Stadium | 2 August 2021 |
Biggest Wins vs Former Clubs
editMargin | Score | Opposition | Venue | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
52 | 52–0 | Western Suburbs Magpies | Lidcombe Oval | 2 June 1985 |
46 | 56–10 | Gold Coast Chargers | Belmore Sports Ground | 19 April 1998 |
44 | 50–6 | North Sydney Bears | North Sydney Oval | 18 May 1975 |
42 | 42–0 | Western Reds | Parramatta Stadium | 9 April 1995 |
41 | 41–0 | University | Belmore Sports Ground | 1 August 1936 |
39 | 52–13 | Balmain Tigers | Leichhardt Oval | 20 April 1981 |
32 | 38–6 | Newtown Jets | Belmore Sports Ground | 12 August 1979 |
26 | 26–0 | St. George Dragons | Belmore Sports Ground | 5 August 1988 |
26 | 30–4 | Adelaide Rams | Belmore Sports Ground | 3 May 1998 |
25 | 25–0 | Illawarra Steelers | Belmore Sports Ground | 1 June 1986 |
20 | 38–18 42–22 |
Northern Eagles | Sydney Showground Sydney Showground |
10 March 2001 6 July 2002 |
12 | 48–36 | Hunter Mariners | Belmore Sports Ground | 12 May 1997 |
7 | 25–18 | South Queensland Crushers | Suncorp Stadium | 20 August 1995 |
Biggest Losses vs Former Clubs
editMargin | Score | Opposition | Venue | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
85 | 6–91 | St. George | Earl Park | 11 May 1935 |
54 | 11–65 | Western Suburbs | Pratten Park | 31 August 1935 |
43 | 2–45 | North Sydney | Belmore Sports Ground | 17 April 1954 |
40 | 9–49 | Newtown | Marrickville Oval | 27 July 1935 |
40 | 4–44 | Illawarra Steelers | Wollongong Showground | 31 March 1991 |
39 | 5–44 | Balmain | Leichhardt Oval | 4 May 1935 |
28 | 6–34 | Perth Reds | Perth Oval | 23 March 1997 |
8 | 22–30 | Northern Eagles | Brookvale Oval | 2 July 2000 |
2 | 20–22 | Adelaide Rams | Adelaide Oval | 27 March 1998 |
– | – | Gold Coast Chargers | – | – |
– | – | Hunter Mariners | – | – |
– | – | South Queensland Crushers | – | – |
– | – | University | – | – |
Biggest Comeback
editRecovered from a 20-point deficit.
- Trailed Northern Eagles 20-0 after 23 minutes to win 32-30 at NorthPower Stadium on 24 June 2001.[1]
Worst Collapse
editSurrendered a 20-point lead.
- Led Parramatta Eels 20-0 after 45 minutes to lose 28-20 at ANZ Stadium on 15 March 2008.
Scoring Records
editMost Points in a Match
- 66 Points, Canterbury beat North Queensland 66-4 (27 August 1995)+
Most Points in a Match (Lose)
- 36 Points, Wests Tigers beat Canterbury 37-36 (27 March 2005)
Highest Score Conceded
- 91 Points, St George beat Canterbury 91-6 (11 May 1935)^
Most Points in a Season
- 342 (16 tries, 139 goals), Hazem El Masri in 2004
Most Tries in a Match
- 5, Edgar Newham against Balmain (15 August 1942), Canterbury won 26-20 - NRL
- 5, Nigel Vagana against Souths (19 April 2002), Canterbury won 32-6 - NRL
Most Goals in a Match
- 11, Hazem El Masri against Souths (3 August 2003), Canterbury Won 62-12
^ denotes premiership record
+ denotes club record for biggest win and most points in a match
Streak Records
editLongest Winning Streak
- 17 Matches, 31 March – 3 August 2002
Longest Losing Streak
- 11 Matches, 25 June 1955 – 14 April 1956
- 11 Matches, 6 July 1965 – 17 April 1966
Player Records
editCurrent to Round 25, 2022
Most First Grade Games
edit- 317, Hazem El Masri (1996–2009)
- 273, Steve Mortimer (1976–1988)
- 262, Terry Lamb (1984–1996)
- 245, Steve Folkes (1978–1989, 1991)
- 241, Josh Jackson (2012–2022)
- 232, Chris Anderson (1971–1984)
- 225, Luke Patten (2001–2010)
- 222, Steve Price (1994–2004)
- 222, Aiden Tolman (2011–2020)
- 218, Andrew Ryan (2003–2011)
Most Tries For Club
edit- 159, Hazem El Masri (1996–2009)
- 123, Terry Lamb (1984–1996)
- 103, Josh Morris (2009–2018)
- 94, Chris Anderson (1971–1984)
- 82, Luke Patten (2001–2010)
- 79, Steve Mortimer (1976–1988)
- 78, Peter Mortimer (1977–1987)
- 72, Ben Barba (2008–2013)
- 71, Matt Utai (2002–2009)
- 63, Steve Gearin (1976–1982, 1985)
Most Goals For Club
edit- 891, Hazem El Masri (1996–2009)
- 630, Daryl Halligan (1994–2000)
- 405, Steve Gearin (1976–1982, 1985)
- 375, Terry Lamb (1984–1996)
- 233, Les Johns (1963–1971)
Most Field Goals For Club
edit- 37, Terry Lamb (1984–1996)
- 19, Les Johns (1963–1971)
- 11, Trent Hodkinson (2011–2015)
- 10, Ron Raper (1966–1972)
- 10, Braith Anasta (2000–2005)
Most Points For Club
edit- 2,418 (159 tries, 891 goals), Hazem El Masri (1996–2009)
- 1,490 (57 tries, 630 goals, 2 field goals), Daryl Halligan (1994–2000)
- 1,279 (123 tries, 375 goals, 37 field goals), Terry Lamb (1984–1996)
- 1,006 (63 tries, 405 goals), Steve Gearin (1976–1982, 1985)
- 545 (14 tries, 233 goals, 19 field goals), Les Johns (1963–1971)
- 417 (12 tries, 179 goals, 11 field goals), Trent Hodkinson (2011–2015)
Rothmans Medal winners
edit- Greg Brentnall (1982)
- Terry Lamb (1984)
- Ewan McGrady (1991)
Dally M Medal winners
edit- Ben Barba (2012)
Player of the year (Dr George Peponis Medal)
editYear | Player |
---|---|
2024 | Viliame Kikau |
2023 | Jacob Preston |
2022 | Jeremy Marshall-King |
2021 | Josh Jackson |
2020 | Kieran Foran |
2019 | Will Hopoate |
2018 | David Klemmer |
2017 | Josh Jackson |
2016 | David Klemmer |
2015 | Brett Morris & Aiden Tolman |
2014 | James Graham & Sam Perrett |
2013 | James Graham |
References
edit- ^ "Northern Eagles v Bulldogs | Round 17, 2001 | Full Match Replay | NRL Throwback". YouTube. 12 April 2023.
Footnotes
edit- Woods B (2007). El Magic - The Life of Hazem El Masri. Harper Collins Publishing. ISBN 0-7322-8402-3
- Andrews M (2006). The ABC of Rugby League. ABC Publishing. ISBN 0-7333-1946-7
- Whiticker A & Hudson G (2005). Canterbury Bulldogs - The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players. Bas Publishing. ISBN 1-920910-50-6
- Whittaker A & Collis I (2004). The History of Rugby League Clubs. ISBN 978-1-74110-470-7
- Lane D (1996). A Family Betrayal - One Man's Super League War - Jarred McCracken. Ironbark Publishing. ISBN 0-330-35839-1
- Chesterton R (1996). Good as Gould - Phil Gould's Stormy Life in Football. Ironbark Publishing. ISBN 0-330-35873-1
- Lester G (1991). The Bulldog Story. Playright Publishing. ISBN 0-646-04447-8
- Whiticker A (1992). The Terry Lamb Story. Gary Allen Publishing. ISBN 1-875169-14-8
- Tasker N (1988). Top-Dog - The Steve Mortimer Story. Century Hutchinson Publishing. ISBN 0-09-169231-8
- Lester G (1985). Berries to Bulldogs. Lester - Townsend Publishing. ISBN 0-949853-06-2
- NRL Official Information Handbook (2001–2007). Season Guide.
- Middleton D (1987–2006). The Official NSWRL, ARL, NRL Yearbook / Annual.
- Christensen EE (1946–1977). NSWRL Yearbook.
- Rugby League Review (2003–2007).
- Big League (1974–2007).
- Rugby League Week (1970–2007).
- The Rugby League News.