The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have continued their recruitment drive with reports suggesting Sydney Roosters utility Drew Hutchison will sign a two-year deal at the club for the 2024 season.
With a mass cleanout expected at the end of the year, the Bulldogs have looked to add depth to their roster and have signed Blake Taaffe, Jaeman Salmon and are reportedly in the market for Newcastle utility Kurt Mann.
Given the poor results in 2023, The Daily Telegraph’s Michael Carayannis has questioned whether the Bulldogs have made the right recruitment decisions.
“Hutchison is a half that can play multiple positions,” Carayannis said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“You look at Jaeman Salmon, Blake Taaffe and potentially Kurt Mann and these are really good squad players.
“They’ll strengthen the squad but none of them are walk-up starters at their current sides.
“If you look at the players that will leave in the (Bulldogs’) top 30, (Hutchison, Salmon and Taaffe) are definitely better than those players.
“They’ll add squad depth to the Bulldogs but do those players catapult them to top eight calculations? Not for mine.
“They are not game changers.”
The biggest acquisition for the Bulldogs in 2024 is Penrith centre Stephen Crichton who will not only bring with him big-game experience but has arguably been in career best form in the 2023 season.
Despite Bulldogs General Manager Phil Gould insisting that Crichton was not signed to the club to play fullback, Carayannis believes the dual-Premiership player must start for the Bulldogs in the number one jersey.
“He has definitely got to spend some time at fullback,” Carayannis insisted.
“Probably during the off-season just to see how he looks.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if they leave him there (because) I’m sure when they signed Crichton, they earmarked him to be their fullback.
“It will be interesting to see how Cameron Ciraldo gets the best out of Crichton.”