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With versatile trio Jaeman Salmon, Blake Taaffe and Jake Turpin also added to the mix, the Bulldogs have greater depth in key positions and that bodes well for a big improvement on last season’s 7-17 return.

Debate is sure to rage during the pre-season as to how best to use Crichton’s extraordinary talents and whether Burton should stay at five-eighth or shift back to centre, where he played two games for the Blues in 2022 and scored a try in Penrith’s 2021 grand final win over Souths.

There’s also healthy competition among the playmakers with proven performers Hutchison and Mann tussling with Burton and young gun Karl Oloapu for the No.6 jersey alongside Toby Sexton, who closed out the 2023 season strongly at halfback.

For all their clever recruiting the Bulldogs still appear light on in the engine room, with Max King set to carry plenty of responsibility up front after averaging 107 run metres and 36 tackles per game last season.

Liam Knight rounded out the year at prop after joining the club in July from Souths while former Warrior Curran could find himself in the middle given his willingness to put his body on the line in the heavy exchanges.