With no less than 10 new signings joining them for 2024, there is plenty to ponder when it comes to how the Bulldogs might line up next season and what that will mean for Fantasy coaches.
After finishing last year as one of the best performing players in his position, likely fullback Stephen Crichton has retained CTR status and will be a very popular pick, while Bronson Xerri looks good value at under $500k if he can hit top form in his first NRL campaign since 2019.
Also shaping as an underpriced prospect is another recruit, Josh Curran ($501k), who averaged a modest 32 points per game, predominantly off the bench, for the Warriors last year, but should have a much more prominent role as a starter with the Dogs.
NRL Fantasy: Cooking with Curran?
The likes of Reed Mahoney, Matt Burton and Jacob Kiraz showed glimpses of brilliance last year but lacked consistency, while one of 2023's best cash cows, Jacob Preston, is among the highest ranked EDGs this time around and is his side's most expensive player at $704k.
Bulldogs 2024 NRL Fantasy guide
The big gun
Having already highlighted what was an up and down campaign for him last season, Matt Burton still ended up having his second-best Fantasy season to date in terms of season average (46.6 per game). Behind a forward pack which looks stronger in 2024, and with some shiny new toys out wide to set up for line breaks and tries, the 23-year-old should be among the best halves in the next tier below Nathan Cleary and Nicho Hynes. He's nice and cheap at $642k, too.
Burton stars in the seven
The bargain
We don't really know what to expect from Bronson Xerri in his return from a four-year ban, but it's safe to say he's likely to out-perform his $450k price tag in Fantasy pretty early on. With pace to burn Xerri will find plenty of line break opportunities and is likely to emerge as a key attacking weapon for the Dogs before too long. At worst he's a solid bet to make a bit of early cash for you, while at best he's a cut-price keeper at CTR.
Bye round outlook
The Doggies play in both Round 13 and 16 when Fantasy teams will be hit hardest by mass byes, before sitting out Round 19. Their bye schedule will be particularly helpful for overall players given that their leading Fantasy prospects are unlikely to feature in State of Origin. They play in all of the last eight weeks of the regular season, so Bulldogs players look like being solid options for the run home and finals.
2024 full player price list
- Jacob Preston: EDG, $704,000
- Matt Burton: HLF, $642,000
- Max King: MID, $630,000
- Stephen Crichton: CTR, $620,000
- Reed Mahoney: HOK, $580,000
- Connor Tracey: WFB, $558,000
- Jacob Kiraz: WFB, $556,000
- Toby Sexton: HLF, $551,000
- Viliame Kikau: EDG, $513,000
- Josh Curran: MID/EDG, $501,000
- Blake Wilson: WFB, $458,000
- Bronson Xerri: CTR, $450,000
- Hayze Perham: WFB, $450,000
- Josh Addo-Carr: WFB, $444,000
- Kurt Mann: MID, $435,000
- Jackson Topine: EDG, $429,000
- Jake Turpin: HOK, $411,000
- Karl Oloapu: HLF, $408,000
- Drew Hutchison: HLF, $400,000
- Liam Knight: MID, $385,000
- Ryan Sutton: MID, $378,000
- Jeral Skelton: WFB, $350,000
- Blake Taafe: WFB, $330,000
- Jaeman Salmon: EDG, $289,000
- Chris Patolo: EDG, $282,000
- Bailey Biondi-Odo: HLF, $250,000
- Kitione Kautoga: CTR, $250,000
- Samuel Hughes: MID, $250,000
- Jordan Samrani: CTR, $230,000
- Zac Montgomery: MID, $230,000
