The 2019 season is not far away and every new campaign brings with it new players and rookies to keep an eye on.
With a new look roster at the Bulldogs in 2019 and plenty of spots up for grabs, here are five young guns who are definitely worth keeping an eye on over the course of the season.
BRANDON WAKEHAM:
Wakeham, a local junior from Chester Hill, is a graduate of the club's Harold Matthews, SG Ball and Youth High Performance teams and was named SG Ball Player of the Season in 2017.
The talented half spent the 2018 season with the club's Jersey Flegg side and played two matches with the Intrust Super Premiership team.
The 19-year old played seventeen games with the under 20s and came up with 17 try assists, 21 line break assists, an average of 60.9 running metres and 190.4 kicking metres per game, as well as a goal kicking percentage of 76.1%.
The halfback signed a two-year contract extension at the beginning of the 2018 season, keeping him at the Bulldogs until the end of 2020.
TUI KATOA:
Tui Katoa, a local junior from the Chester Hill Hornets club is the brother of Cronulla Sharks winger Sione.
Katoa, a talented outside back with great speed and balance, was a member of the club's inaugural High-Performance Youth Program and spent the 2018 season with the Jersey Flegg and Intrust Super Premiership teams.
From his nine appearances in the Jersey Flegg, the 21-year old had 39 tackle breaks, six-line breaks, scored six tries and averaged 146.3 running metres per game.
Katoa is currently a development player at the club and can only play in the NRL, without exemption permission, after June 30th.
JAMES ROUMANOS:
James Roumanos is a player on the club's development list and has joined the Bulldogs from the Cronulla Sharks until the end of 2021.
He was a member of the Sharks Jersey Flegg team that claimed the Premiership last season with a win over the Penrith Panthers.
A strong ball runner with a great work ethic and plays big minutes, James has a connection with the club being the grandson of former Canterbury player, Kevin Brown.
MORGAN HARPER:
Harper was named as one of the club's development players, but following an impressive pre-season, the talented outside back has been rewarded with a Top 30 contract.
The 21-year old has been contracted to the club for five years and was also a member of the club's High Performance Youth Program in New Zealand.
An exciting outside back, Morgan began the 2018 season with the club's Jersey Flegg side, before finishing with the successful reserve grade team who claimed both the Intrust Super Premiership and National State Championship.
Harper managed 15 games for the ISP in 2018 and along the way he managed 59 tackle breaks, 13 offloads and averaged 112.2 running metres per game.
JAYDEN OKUNBOR:
Okunbor is yet to play an NRL game, but has long been earmarked as a player of promise.
A local junior from the Milperra Colts, he has been selected in the NRL top 30 for the first time.
Schooled at Picnic Point High School, Okunbor has graduated through the ranks of the Bulldogs, including graduating from the club's High-Performance youth program, before playing his first full year as an under 20s player in season 2016.
Standing at 196cm and weighing 108kg, he crossed the try-line on eight occasions from his 25 appearances for the club's 2018 ISP side and averaged 109.9m per game.
