Canterbury coach Cameron Ciraldo has backed halfback Toby Sexton as a long-term playmaking option after the Bulldogs’ surprising decision to publicly rule themselves out of the race to sign Daly Cherry-Evans.
Canterbury had been expected to be among the front-runners to land the champion Manly playmaker, only for Bulldogs general manager Phil Gould to reveal on Thursday night that they would not be tabling an offer.
That leaves Canterbury with no established halfback under contract for next season. Going by the theory that possession is nine-tenths of the law, that would suggest the ball is in Sexton’s court.
The 24-year-old has played 27 top-grade games for the Bulldogs since joining them from Gold Coast midway through the 2023 season, including their three successive wins to kick off this campaign.
Asked on Friday if he was hoping to retain Sexton, Ciraldo replied: “Oh, of course. I love coaching these guys, the whole squad.
“Things change over time, and people move here and there, but Toby’s been a big addition to our team since he got down here, probably 18 months ago.
Cameron Ciraldo has steered the Bulldogs to wins in their first three games this season.Credit: James Brickwood
“He’s a really popular member of our squad, and we love having him here … we leave that to ‘Gus’ [Gould] and the managers, and Toby concentrates on footy, and I’ll concentrate on preparing the team.”
As well as Sexton, Ciraldo said, “We’ve got some young developing halves on their way up, so we’re going to stick to our plan”.
He said the Bulldogs did not spend long debating whether to make a play for Cherry-Evans.
“I saw the news on Monday night, and we didn’t think too much of it,” he said. “Gus squashed it yesterday. So it hasn’t been a talking point here. We’re preparing for a really exciting game tomorrow.”
Toby Sexton is off contract at the end of this season.Credit: Getty
That game is their clash with Cronulla at Sharks Stadium on Saturday, which represents something of a homecoming for Shire-based Ciraldo, as well as Bulldogs players Connor Tracey, Bronson Xerri and Jaeman Salmon, all of whom came up through Cronulla’s junior system.
“I love going down there,” Ciraldo said of his former home ground. “It’s funny, I drop the kids to school and have to drive past. It’s been a bit awkward this week, trying to make sure it doesn’t look like I’m spying.
“I love going there. I’ve been going there and playing there since I was 11 years old. It’s always special. Family’s always around.
“But it’s only special when you win. That’s all we’re focused on tomorrow night. We’re just preparing for that and making sure we have a good performance, and hopefully come away with two points.”
The Bulldogs will have to overcome two longstanding hoodoos if they are to continue their unbeaten run: they haven’t won on Cronulla’s home turf since 2011, returning empty-handed after their past five visits, nor have they won four straight matches to open any season for 32 years.
“That’s a pretty cool stat, but it means nothing if we don’t win this weekend,” Ciraldo said of his team’s hopes of emulating their 1993 counterparts.
“We’re not worried about what we’ve done the first three weeks. It’s all about preparing for this game … we’re excited to start the year well, but you don’t win comps in March.”
It shapes as an intriguing clash between two teams who are expected to again feature in the play-offs but are still trying to establish themselves as genuine premiership contenders.
“We’re under no illusions,” Ciraldo said. “It’s going to be a really hard game. Cronulla are a really good team. “They’ve added some strike with Adam Fonua-Blake this year, so they’re going to be a top-four team again. After this weekend, we’ll really know where we’re at.”
