The Bulldogs showed promising signs in the opening minutes of their new era under Cameron Ciraldo in Sunday’s trial against the Raiders.
With Ciraldo at the helm and a stack of new faces in the pack, the future is looking bright for the 2021 wooden spooners.
There’s higher expectations and the team lived up to them early as Kyle Flanagan threw a cutout pass to send Jayden Okunbor over in the corner.
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Four minutes later marquee signing Reed Mahoney showed his class as he set up fellow new recruit Ryan Sutton — who was up against his former club — over for a try.
Mahoney played a role in the next try too, throwing a cutout pass to Okunbor, who batted the ball back inside to young gun centre Paul Alamoti, who scored.
But perhaps the most exciting moment for Dogs fand was seeing favourite son Josh Reynolds back in a blue and white jersey for the first time since his 2017 exit.
The 33-year-old was busy early and played a hand in the opening try.
A number of the Raiders’ marquee players featured in the All Stars clash on Saturday, meaning coach Ricky Stuart called on his next generation of talent to make up most of the squad.
Brad Schneider wore the No.7 jersey and scored the Raiders’ first try after his grubber hit the post and bounced up perfectly for him to plant down.
The Bulldogs responded through new signing Jacob Preston, who scored off a ball from giant prop Franklin Pele.
NRL veteran Jarrod Croker made his long-awaited return from a shoulder injury in the centres, while New recruit Danny Levi was given the nod to start at hooker with Zac Woolford on the bench.
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