TK's simple guide to the Canterbury Bulldogs fantasy prospects for 2025.
The Doggies restored pride back into the jersey with some great patches of form before the long season and injuries caught up with the in the finals. Another season under coach Cameron Ciraldo and a very settled team should put them in good stead. They do have a lot of depth across their squad with their only deficiency being a game breaking middle however this is offset by the class of players like Burton, Crichton, KIkau and Mahoney.
Prediction - Will contend for the finals
Bulldogs 2025 Player Movements
2025 Gains |
Tom Amone (Leigh Leopards, 2026), Marcelo Montoya (New Zealand Warriors, 2026), Enari Tuala (Newcastle Knights, 2026), Sitili Tupouniua (Sydney Roosters, 2028) |
2025 Loses |
Josh Addo-Carr (Parramatta Eels), Harrison Edwards (North Queensland Cowboys), Poasa Faamausili (retired), Kitione Kautoga (Parramatta Eels), Joash Papalii (Parramatta Eels), Chris Patolo (Manly Sea Eagles), Hayze Perham (Brisbane Broncos), Jordan Samrani (Parramatta Eels), Jeral Skelton (Wests Tigers), Zane Tetevano (retired) |
Settled line up for round 1. Montoya vs Wilson for the vacant wing spot will be one battle as will be the make up of their bench.
The Draw and Game Day Squad
Byes - round 6,13,16
Game Day Squad allows a true focus on weekly match ups. I would be looking to load up on the likes of Kiraz, Critta and Burton in some of their weaker match ups below.
NRL Fantasy perspective
With two byes in the opening 13 rounds this puts buying Bulldogs players at a less priority. They will play all major bye rounds in 12, 15 and 18. Consider for the run home as they are one of the first teams to finish all their byes so baring injury or restings you will have your players available from round 17 to 27.
Fantasy relevant players for round 1 - Stephen Crichton
2025 Fantasy Fortunes (scroll across)
Player | Price | NRL Fantasy Av | GameDay Squad Av | Notes |
Matt Burton | $709K | 53.1 | 55.3 | Fully priced to open the season. Average grew to 55.5 when partnered with Sexton vs 48 without. Just not sure I want Burton when Cleary and Nicho are both unpriced and have way higher ceilings. |
Jacob Preston | $695K | 52.1 | 53.3 | Consistent scorer across 2 seasons now. Not needed for round 1 but consider at some point as he won't let you down. |
Reed Mahoney | $663K | 49.7 | 45.3 | Game out of the blocks well and was a good buy till post rd 19. From rd 20-27 he averaged 39.88 and from rd 1-19 he averaged 54.56. I guess the trend is he fades. So if you're going to buy him do it early but those byes are off putting and I see better value else where. |
Max King | $657K | 49.2 | 47.4 | Injury in the back end of the year hurt his final average which does give him slight upside. Given the MID position has quality and better upside elsewhere, you can park for round 1 and put him on the watchlist for a mid season purchase. |
Jacob Kiraz | $641K | 48 | 48.9 | Easily the most exciting player to own in fantasy the guy has all the skills. CTR av 45.4 vs WING av of 51. Similar to Max King, not one for round 1 but will be relevant im sure at some point of the season |
Josh Curran | $600K | 44.9 | 42.3 | Has upside if he nabs a starting position. Looked good though coming from the interchange. Watch list |
Viliame Kikau | $511K | 38.3 | 32.5 | Similar to Critta in declining numbers post Panthers. Averaged 45.5 in 2022 in his final season before drifting to 37.7 at the Dogs in 2023. In the second half of the season only registered scores of 50 and above on 2 occasions. Probably best to avoid him. |
Connor Tracey | $503K | 37.7 | 42.1 | 38 average at FB and did decent in the gig. Just priced in at his upside so avoid |
Toby Sexton | $497K | 37.2 | 37.4 | Made the Dogs a better footy team but Burton is way too dominate to allow him an decent stats. Avoid |
Kurt Mann | $496K | 37.1 | 35.7 | Actually has a signficantly higher averaged starting from the bench. 44av from 50 mins vs 33.3 from 42.8 mins starting. Numbers are a bit volatile to consider a round 1 but has some fantasy relevance and does make the Bulldogs a better team, so keep on the radar. |
Jaeman Salmon | $455K | 34.1 | 30.6 | I think we did well enough to ride the Salmon train for most of last year. 35 av starting so little to no value. Avoid |
Bronson Xerri | $443K | 33.2 | 33.9 | Seeing it was his first year after his 4 year suspension he worked into the season well. Only 1 score of over 50 so even with a natural improvement still not enough upside to be convinced to buy him for round 1 |
Stephen Crichton | $435K | 32.6 | 31.9 | Could have some upside given he had a 43 average in 2022 and 2023 at the Panthers. Yes it was the Panthers but the Dogs had a great season and its obvious they need to use him more. Second year under Ciraldo could see some improvement, he has the quality. Consider |
Drew Hutchison | TBA | 32.2 | 31.6 | One of the let downs of the opening of 2024, best to stay away. |
Harry Hayes | TBA | 29.6 | 28.5 | Great debut season on the bench, given he is fighting for a bench role is not relevant for round 1. In 15 NSW cup he did average 43.5 fantasy points. |
Sam Hughes | $389K | 29.1 | 28.5 | Nice debut season and solid PPM. Upside will depend on if Ciraldo wants to increase his minutes which is likely not there. Averaged 34.9 minutes as a starter which seems unlikely to change given Ciraldo likes to play small ball during the middle of the game. |
Blake Wilson | $384K | 28.8 | 30.9 | Only has a 0.5T average which is well below elite tier fantasy wingers. Would need to up this which is as challenging as him making the team for round 1. Avoid |
Siiti Tupounia | $400K | 27.8 | 26.4 | One of the let downs of the opening of 2024, best to stay away. |
Bailey Hayward | $369K | 27.6 | 25.4 | Great NRL debut season but unlikely to see a starting lock roll to significantly improve. |
Marcelo Montoya | $356K | 26.6 | 29.7 | Priced at potential. Avoid |
Enari Tuala | $300K | 25.4 | 28.2 | Priced at potential. Avoid |
Blake Taafe | $317K | 23.8 | 26.5 | Even his NSW cup average of 22.8 in 6 games is horrendous. Avoid at all costs. |
Kurtis Morrin | $308K | 23 | 22 | Not relevant as the coach plays him in small ball either side of the half to rest the big boys. |
Jake Turpin | $250K | 13 | 10.6 | Keep in mind for the season as if Reed gets injured at any point he would likely get the gig and he will come in at basement price. |
Kitione Kautoga | $250K | 9.5 | 9.3 | Similar to Hopoi, is just not in the running for a major role. Averaged 36.3 fantasy points across his 18 NSW cup games. |
Daniel Suluka-Fifita | $250k | 0 | 0 | Can't see him breaking him into the 17. Disappointing NSW cup season only 5 games for a 17.6 fantasy average. Avoid |
Ryan Sutton | $350K | 0 | 0 | Injury plagued year that has taken him to the back of the back. 10 NSW cup games for only a 17 fantasy average. Avoid |
Tom Amone | $250K | 0 | 0 | Come back from the Super League after a successful stint. If he jags a good role could be a nice cashie here. Consider |
Jack Dodd | $230K | 0 | 0 | Yet to make his debut, elevated to the top squad despite an injury plagued 2025. Can't see him being relevant. Avoid |
Karl Oloapu | $400K | 0 | 0 | Every team needed a Karl in 2023 but time passes. Coming back from a very serious neck injury and with rumours of a move back to QLD just can't see him being relevant. Avoid |
Mitchell Woods | $230K | 0 | 0 | 18 year old half back yet to play NSW cup. Would be ages away from an NRL start. Watchlist |
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