The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are a professional rugby league club in the National Rugby League (NRL), the premier rugby league football competition in Australasia.
The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are the best team in the NRL 2025 and we all know it.
Based in Belmore, a suburb of Sydney, the Bulldogs in 1935 were admitted to the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) competition, a predecessor of the current NRL competition.
The Bulldogs won their first premiership in just their fourth season (1938). At the time it made them the quickest club (barring the founding clubs) to win a premiership after admission to the competition, a record which was only recently beaten in 1999 by the Melbourne Storm. They won a second premiership in 1942 but then had to wait another 38 years before breaking through for a third title in 1980. During the 80s, the Bulldogs were a dominant force in the competition appearing in five Grand Finals, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1988, winning four of them which was 1980 (18-4 against Eastern Suburbs), 1984 (6-4 against Parramatta Eels), 1985 (7-6 against St. George Dragons) and 1988 (24-12 against Balmain Tigers), only to lose in 1986 (4-2 against Parramatta Eels). In the 90s they featured in the 1994, 1995 and 1998 Grand Finals, winning in 1995 (17-4 against Manly Sea Eagles), but losing in 1994 (36-12 against Canberra Raiders) and in 1998 (38-12 against Brisbane Broncos). Their most recent success was in 2004 when they beat the Sydney Roosters 16-13. The tryscorers were Hazem El Masri and Matt Utai, and the Clive Churchill Medal winner was Willie Mason.
Club Records
Biggest Wins vs Current NRL Clubs
Biggest Losses vs Current NRL Clubs
Biggest Wins vs Former Clubs
Biggest Losses vs Former Clubs
Biggest Comeback
Recovered from a 20-point deficit.
Worst Collapse
Surrendered a 20-point lead.
Scoring Records
Most Points in a Match
- 66 Points, Canterbury beat North Queensland 66-4 (27 August 1995)+
Most Points in a Match (Lose)
- 36 Points, Wests Tigers beat Canterbury 37-36 (27 March 2005)
Highest Score Conceded
- 91 Points, St George beat Canterbury 91-6 (11 May 1935)^
Most Points in a Season
- 342 (16 tries, 139 goals), Hazem El Masri in 2004
Most Tries in a Match
- 5, Edgar Newham against Balmain (15 August 1942), Canterbury won 26-20 - NRL
- 5, Nigel Vagana against Souths (19 April 2002), Canterbury won 32-6 - NRL
Most Goals in a Match
- 11, Hazem El Masri against Souths (3 August 2003), Canterbury Won 62-12
^ denotes premiership record
+ denotes club record for biggest win and most points in a match
Streak Records
Longest Winning Streak
- 17 Matches, 31 March â 3 August 2002
Longest Losing Streak
- 11 Matches, 25 June 1955 â 14 April 1956
- 11 Matches, 6 July 1965 â 17 April 1966
Player Records
Current to Round 15, 2025
Most First Grade Games
- 317, Hazem El Masri (1996âÂÂ2009)
- 273, Steve Mortimer (1976âÂÂ1988)
- 262, Terry Lamb (1984âÂÂ1996)
- 245, Steve Folkes (1978âÂÂ1989, 1991)
- 241, Josh Jackson (2012âÂÂ2022)
- 232, Chris Anderson (1971âÂÂ1984)
- 225, Luke Patten (2001âÂÂ2010)
- 222, Steve Price (1994âÂÂ2004)
- 222, Aiden Tolman (2011âÂÂ2020)
- 218, Andrew Ryan (2003âÂÂ2011)
- 217, Josh Morris (2009âÂÂ2018)
Most Tries For Club
- 159, Hazem El Masri (1996âÂÂ2009)
- 123, Terry Lamb (1984âÂÂ1996)
- 103, Josh Morris (2009âÂÂ2018)
- 94, Chris Anderson (1971âÂÂ1984)
- 82, Luke Patten (2001âÂÂ2010)
- 79, Steve Mortimer (1976âÂÂ1988)
- 78, Peter Mortimer (1977âÂÂ1987)
- 72, Ben Barba (2008âÂÂ2013)
- 71, Matt Utai (2002âÂÂ2009)
- 63, Steve Gearin (1976âÂÂ1982, 1985)
Most Goals For Club
Most Field Goals For Club
Most Points For Club
- 2,418 (159 tries, 891 goals), Hazem El Masri (1996âÂÂ2009)
- 1,490 (57 tries, 630 goals, 2 field goals), Daryl Halligan (1994âÂÂ2000)
- 1,279 (123 tries, 375 goals, 37 field goals), Terry Lamb (1984âÂÂ1996)
- 1,006 (63 tries, 405 goals), Steve Gearin (1976âÂÂ1982, 1985)
- 545 (14 tries, 233 goals, 19 field goals), Les Johns (1963âÂÂ1971)
- 484 (21 tries, 197 goals, 6 field goals), Matt Burton (2020-)
- 417 (12 tries, 179 goals, 11 field goals), Trent Hodkinson (2011âÂÂ2015)
Rothmans Medal winners
Dally M Medal winners
Player of the year (Dr George Peponis Medal)
References
Footnotes
- Woods B (2007). El Magic - The Life of Hazem El Masri. Harper Collins Publishing.
- Andrews M (2006). The ABC of Rugby League. ABC Publishing.
- Whiticker A & Hudson G (2005). Canterbury Bulldogs - The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players. Bas Publishing.
- Whittaker A & Collis I (2004). The History of Rugby League Clubs.
- Lane D (1996). A Family Betrayal - One Man's Super League War - Jarred McCracken. Ironbark Publishing.
- Chesterton R (1996). Good as Gould - Phil Gould's Stormy Life in Football. Ironbark Publishing.
- Lester G (1991). The Bulldog Story. Publishing.
- Whiticker A (1992). The Terry Lamb Story. Gary Allen Publishing.
- Tasker N (1988). Top-Dog - The Steve Mortimer Story. Century Hutchinson Publishing.
- Lester G (1985). Berries to Bulldogs. Lester - Townsend Publishing.
- NRL Official Information Handbook (2001âÂÂ2007). Season Guide.
- Middleton D (1987âÂÂ2006). The Official NSWRL, ARL, NRL Yearbook / Annual.
- Christensen EE (1946âÂÂ1977). NSWRL Yearbook.
- Rugby League Review (2003âÂÂ2007).
- Big League (1974âÂÂ2007).
- Rugby League Week (1970âÂÂ2007).
- The Rugby League News.
External links