Three stats to fix: Bulldogs

Canterbury showed some signs of improvement last season and with another new coach and several big name recruits, there's enough optimism to suggest the finals is a genuine target in 2023.

NRL.com looks at three areas the Bulldogs can improve to help put themselves back into top eight contention in 2023. 

Making yardage

Canterbury were often caught on the back foot last year in the metres department, ranked 15th in 2022 only behind the Warriors to average 1,494 metres per game.

Territory and the ability to get out of your own end are among the keys to winning a premiership and the Bulldogs should have better luck this year with new recruits Viliame Kikau, Ryan Sutton, Franklin Pele and Andrew Davey on board.

Departed forward Paul Vaughan was the club's best in this area last year, averaging 133 metres per game, with the likes of Max King, Luke Thompson and Tevita Pangai jnr needing to go to another level here.

Grand final teams the Panthers and Eels were dominant in the regular season, ranked first and second respectively with more than 8,000 metres more recorded in 24 games. 

Line engaged

The Bulldogs failed to threaten the line in 2022 with an average of 12 runs per game attracting the defensive line.

Their attack in periods looked good, particularly their left edge, but the rest requires work for Cameron Ciraldo.

The additions of Kikau and Reed Mahoney will help but plenty will focus around Matt Burton and Kyle Flanagan.

For Flanagan in particular, he needs to run the ball more and get the right edge into a position where they're not relying on the left channel to come up with points. 

Mahoney should both halves with this and attract defenders around the middle of the ruck to then allow space out wide. 

Tale of two PTB zones

The Bulldogs' defence allowed the most amount of play the balls to opposition inside their own 20 metre zone in 2022, putting the defensive line under most pressure naturally. 

They conceded the most with 733 in the regular season in an area that is affected by many factors including discipline through the middle of the field. 

The side were also stuck in their own 20-metre zone coming out of yardage more than most with 30.5 tackles per game. 

Canterbury's backline is their most undecided aside from Josh Addo-Carr, who churned out the most metres for a Bulldogs outside back last year, so they'll want to get out of their own 20-metre zone as quickly as they can this year.