2008 Bulldogs RLFC season

The 2008 Bulldogs RLFC season was the 74th in the club's history. They competed in the NRL's 2008 Telstra Premiership, finishing in last place.

Season summary

High-profile player departures and political infighting during the 2007-2008 off-season had led to predictions that the Bulldogs would have a difficult 2008, predictions which were borne out across the season. The club languished towards the bottom of the ladder throughout the year, suffering heavy losses against many teams, the most notable being a 46-0 loss to the Melbourne Storm, a 58-18 loss to the Canberra Raiders and a 56-4 loss against the Wests Tigers, breaking records. The key problems for the Bulldogs were poor defence and continuing injury problems, with usually 10 first grade players injured at a time, including season ending injuries to key players Luke Patten and Willie Tonga. After the club's 58-18 thrashing at the hands of the Raiders in Round 15, coach Steve Folkes admitted that the Bulldogs were "at the bottom of a fairly big hole with no way out of it in the short term".[1] Folkes' men would only win one more game in the entire season, and finished 2008 with the wooden spoon in what was Folkes' final year with the club. It was the Bulldogs' first deliberate wooden spoon since 1964, discounting 2002 when it breached the salary cap.

On the field the Bulldogs suffered a season of unrelenting disappointment, leading to just five wins for the entire season. Other than the record-breaking losses already mentioned above, the Bulldogs suffered its first loss against St. George Illawarra since 2003, and lost twice against the Sydney Roosters, Parramatta Eels (in the first meeting the Bulldogs had a 20-0 halftime lead but somehow lost 28-20), Penrith Panthers and Canberra Raiders throughout the course of the season. The loss to the Roosters in particular was made bittersweet notably because Willie Mason and Mark O'Meley were playing against the Bulldogs for the first time. The Bulldogs however did win two of their opening three matches against the South Sydney Rabbitohs and Wests Tigers, raising optimism amongst fans. The other three wins were against those that would make the finals: the Dragons in round six, the Sharks in round 11 and the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium in round 18. No more wins would follow for the season. The Bulldogs' highest score for the season in a single match was 34 when it lost for the second time to Canberra, 52-34. Their highest in a winning match was 32, when it defeated the Wests Tigers in round 3, by 32-12. Further souring the Bulldogs' season of shame, Sonny Bill Williams left the club without warning late in July to pursue a career in rugby union (read more below).

The team also faced off-field turbulence. Throughout May and June, there was heavy media coverage of star player Sonny Bill Williams' discontent with Bulldogs management and with his contract arrangements, and of his rumoured desire to leave the club to play rugby union or in the Super League. After confirming that he would play out the remaining 4 years of his contract, Williams left the country without warning in late July to join French rugby union club RC Toulon, in what many rugby league fans regarded as an enormous betrayal. The Bulldogs commenced legal action against Williams for breach of contract, and eventually received substantial compensation for the walkout.

Match results

ANZ Stadium is a home ground of five NRL teams (the Bulldogs as well as South Sydney Rabbitohs, Wests Tigers, St George Illawarra Dragons and Parramatta Eels), and therefore the Bulldogs are not officially classified as the home team at every match they play there. ANZ Stadium matches at which the Bulldogs are classified as the home team are highlighted in bold.

RoundOpponentResultBulldogsOpponentDateVenueCrowdPosition
Trial Match
St George Illawarra Dragons
Loss
30
40
23 FebruaryWIN Stadium
Trial Match
Penrith Panthers
Win
36
18
2 MarchANZ Stadium
1
Parramatta Eels
Loss
20
28
15 MarchANZ Stadium25,065
10th
2
South Sydney Rabbitohs
Win
25
12
21 MarchANZ Stadium21,839
8th
3
Wests Tigers
Win
32
12
30 MarchANZ Stadium21,456
2nd
4
Sydney Roosters
Loss
20
40
4 AprilANZ Stadium36,526
8th
5
New Zealand Warriors
Loss
16
36
13 AprilMt Smart Stadium15,912
11th
6
St George Illawarra Dragons
Win
30
18
19 AprilANZ Stadium14,764
7
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Loss
22
30
26 AprilBrookvale Oval15,229
8
Bye
9
Penrith Panthers
Loss
4
30
10 MayANZ Stadium10,257
14th
10
Gold Coast Titans
Loss
20
24
16 MaySkilled Park22,676
14th
11
Cronulla Sharks
Win
30
22
26 MayANZ Stadium
9,289
13th
12
Melbourne Storm
Loss
0
46
31 MayOlympic Park Stadium
12,251
14th
13
Newcastle Knights
Loss
12
22
7 JuneANZ Stadium
9,565
14th
14
Bye
15
Canberra Raiders
Loss
18
58
21 JuneANZ Stadium
9,845
16
Sydney Roosters
Loss
14
24
27 JuneSydney Football Stadium9,271
17
South Sydney Rabbitohs
Loss
30
34
7 JulyANZ Stadium15,562
15th
18
Brisbane Broncos
Win
26
18
13 JulySuncorp Stadium37,683
15th
19
New Zealand Warriors
Loss
22
40
19 JulyANZ Stadium12,973
15th
20
St George Illawarra Dragons
Loss
0
30
25 JulyANZ Stadium7,802
15th
21
Wests Tigers
Loss
4
56
3 AugustANZ Stadium
15th
22
North Queensland Cowboys
Loss
12
36
9 AugustSuncorp Stadium8,549
15th
23
Penrith Panthers
Loss
16
52
16 AugustCUA Stadium7,841
15th
24
Parramatta Eels
Loss
12
26
23 AugustANZ Stadium27,564
15th
25
Brisbane Broncos
Loss
22
36
31 AugustANZ Stadium7,685
16th
26
Canberra Raiders
Loss
34
52
7 SeptemberCanberra Stadium
16th

Season ladder
Team Pld W D L B PF PA PD Pts
1 Melbourne 2417072584282+30238
2 Manly-Warringah 2417072645355+29038
3 Cronulla 2417072451384+6738
4 Sydney Roosters 2415092511446+6534
5 Brisbane 2414192560452+10833
6 Canberra 24130112640527+11330
7 St. George Illawarra 24130112489378+11130
8 New Zealand 24130112502567-6530
9 Newcastle 24120122516486+3028
10 Wests Tigers 24110132528560-3226
11 Parramatta 24110132501547-4626
12 Penrith 24101132504611-10725
13 Gold Coast 24100142476586-11024
14 South Sydney 2480162453666-21320
15 North Queensland 2450192474638-16414
16 Bulldogs 2450192433782-34914

Scorers

For NRL first-grade matches only.

PlayerTriesGoalsField GoalsPointsPlayed
Hazem El Masri644011218
Heka Nanai8003215
Tim Winitana8003219
Daniel Holdsworth4512717
Matthew Utai600249
Luke Patten400167
Andrew Ryan4001621
Willie Tonga300127
Arana Taumata300125
Brent Crisp130102
Ben Roberts200818
Reni Maitua200814
Corey Hughes200819
Cameron Phelps10043
Nick Youngquest10044
Andrew Emelio10042
Daryl Millard100412
Lee Te Maari100420
Danny Williams10048
Ben Barba10044
Fred Briggs00009
TOTAL64521333

Stats to the end of Round 23, NRL, 2008

Squad
Fullbacks Wingers Centres Five-Eighths Half-Backs Second Rowers Props Hookers Locks
Luke PattenHazem El MasriWillie TongaDaniel HoldsworthBen RobertsAndrew RyanJarrad HickeyCorey HughesReni Maitua
Brent CrispHeka NanaiTim WinitanaJoe WilliamsAaron GroomBrad MorrinKane ClealMichael SullivanLee Te Maari
Nick YoungquestMatthew UtaiDaryl MillardBen BarbaNick KouparitsasDanny Williams
Gary WarburtonChris Armit
Justin Tsoulos

Bold Players have played International or State any year

Player movements

Gains 2009
NameSigned FromContract Details
Joe WilliamsPenrith PanthersJoined Mid 2008
Nick YoungquestWests TigersJoined Mid 2008
Josh MorrisSt. George Illawarra Dragons3 Years
Brett KimmorleyCronulla Sharks2 Years
Ben HannantBrisbane Broncos3 Years
Michael EnnisBrisbane Broncos3 Years
David StaggBrisbane Broncos3 Years
Greg EastwoodBrisbane Broncos1 Year
Michael HodgsonGold Coast Titans2 Years

Losses 2009
NameSigned WithContract Details
Cameron PhelpsWigan WarriorsLeft Mid 2008
Willie TongaNorth Queensland Cowboys4 Years
Corey HughesCronulla Sharks1 Year
Sonny Bill WilliamsRC Toulon2 Years

Off Contract at end of 2009
NameContract Details

Off Contract at end of 2010
NameContract Details

Off Contract at end of 2011
NameContract Details
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gollark: However, this is also just a picture of a laser, which I have seem lots of.
gollark: I haven't seen any lasers in person except random cheap laser pointers.
gollark: This is blue, yes. What of it?

See also

References
  1. Proszenko, Adrian (22 June 2008). "Dogs belted by Raiders". League HQ. Archived from the original on 23 July 2008. Retrieved 22 June 2008.
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