Bulldogs legend Josh Reynolds has revealed some players were not willing to work hard and buy into Cameron Ciraldo’s tough new system at Canterbury but the proof is in the pudding.
Ciraldo made 11 changes to his squad from his first year at the helm to the second as he tries to instil changes to the culture and commitment of the proud club.
Reynolds retired last year in a selfless act to bring Toby Sexton to the club, but he knows the standards that Ciraldo has been relentlessly trying to pursue.
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“Last year it was, it’s a brand new system and it’s a hard system,” Reynolds told Darcie McDonald on Fox League’s NRL podcast.
“If you don’t like to work hard, it’s not for you. And this is what happened last year at the Dogs.
“Unfortunately, there were some guys that didn’t like working hard and that’s also fine. But sometimes it’s just not the place for you. The Bulldogs has been built on hard work for years, years and years and years.
“Some people that were at the Bulldogs probably wouldn’t have played many first grade games anywhere else, but because they worked hard, they made careers out of it and Ciraldo understands that. So his systems suits us to a T.
“But it was going to be hard to pick up because you’ve got to work for your mate every time, not just once.”
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Reynolds explained that Ciraldo’s defensive system is based on repeat efforts in a bid to fill holes that may open up due to fatigue and fast ruck speed from the opposition.
“If you’re in the middle, it could be three times a set you have to fill holes, where in other defensive systems, it’s about do your own work, you do your own wrestle and all that type of stuff,” Reynolds said.
“But yeah, I can definitely see it now. I honestly can. And I’m glad he’s stuck to his guns because what’s he going to do? Come in and just because there’s a bit of outside noise, change straight away?
“You’ve got to be true to what you believe in and he believes in the system. And I know everyone in that building does as well.”
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The Bulldogs’ season got off to a rocky start with losses to the Eels 26-8 and the Sharks 25-6 in the opening two rounds.
However, Ciraldo was pleased with the progress the team was making, particularly defensively in those two losses and they finally put a complete performance together in a 32-0 thrashing of the Titans in Round 3.
Reynolds likes what he has seen from the Bulldogs in 2024 and especially in the win over the Titans.
“Very gritty, a very Dogs-like performance and a very Ciro-like performance,” Reynolds said.
“That’s exactly how he wants us to play. In a sense of, do not lose at home – I know that’s one thing he would have been saying because we’ve got a terrible record there.
“I think it’s two from the last 11, which is really bad. So we’ve got to change that quick smart and we did on the weekend.”
Reynolds admits that the Bulldogs have been clunky in attack, but he believes cohesion and points will come if they can show consistency in defence and keep working hard.
“They would have watched video yesterday, gone through a few things they would have liked to work on, probably missed a couple of attacking opportunities, but that’s still fine,” Reynolds said.
“We’re still fine tuning that, we honestly are. You’ve got Hutchison, who’s new, Taaffe, who’s new, Mahoney, Burton – they’re still a new spine and they’re still finding in their feet.
“But our defensive resolve over the first three weeks has been unbelievable, especially on our on-line defence.
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“And this is the thing… everyone’s like, ‘Oh, the dogs are the same old dogs’. And I don’t care what anyone says, we’ve definitely turned the corner.”
Despite hanging up the boots, Reynolds is still looking at the Bulldogs through the lens of a player from last year and so far he likes what he sees in 2024.
“I’ve been a part of it, I’ve been in that team so I know what Ciro wants,” Reynolds said.
“So I watch from that perspective now and I can just see we’re way better than last year – probably because I wasn’t in the middle anymore so that actually helps, the boys don’t have to cover for me… But yeah, I can just see it.
“And I speak to him after games, like we have little chats and I’m just like, ‘it’s coming, isn’t it? It’s building and we’re building.’”
Even in the heavy loss to the Sharks, Reynolds saw a new resolve in the Bulldogs defensive line.
“There’s going to be a stage there where we’re going to be able to… like you look at the Sharks game, we turned away Nicho Hynes multiple times. Not many people can do that, honestly,” Reynolds said.
“We were heading in the right direction.”
One of the catalysts for the changes in defence has been former Panthers second-rower Viliame Kikau who missed most of his first campaign at Belmore due to injury.
“Viliame Kikau… gee, if that’s not leadership I don’t know what is,” Reynolds said.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a back-rower his size… his kick chase, his kick pressure – I’ve never seen it from a back-rower honestly in a game that many times.
“You see it from smaller back-rowers like Josh Jackson, that was normal for him, but his change in speed in those kick chases – I love it. I’m excited.
“I don’t want to put any pressure on the boys because we’ve got a massive game on Good Friday this week. But yeah, there’s some great signs.”
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