The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are entering a critical period for their NRLW program. While the club can take comfort in having kept the bulk of its young, talented core intact for next season, a storm is brewing just over the horizon — and it hits on November 1. With no player currently contracted beyond the end of 2026, the Bulldogs could face a roster crisis that threatens to derail the long-term vision the club has worked so hard to build.
This is the price of success in the rapidly evolving NRLW landscape. The Bulldogs’ debut season turned heads for their grit, unity, and star power — a mix that quickly made them one of the competition’s most promising sides. However, the modern women’s game moves fast. With rival clubs circling and player salaries on the rise, Canterbury’s inability to secure early extensions could leave them exposed when the player market officially opens.
At the centre of the Bulldogs’ concerns are key figures like Jesse Southwell, Ellie Johnston, and Hollie-Mae Dodd, whose performances have placed them among the most sought-after players in the NRLW. Each has played an integral role in giving the Bulldogs their identity — Southwell’s game management and poise, Johnston’s forward leadership, and Dodd’s versatility and raw energy. If one of them hits the open market without a firm offer on the table, rival clubs will waste no time in presenting lucrative long-term deals.
The NRLW’s current structure adds another layer of complexity. Unlike the men’s competition, where multi-year contracts are commonplace, many women’s players are still tied to shorter deals, leaving clubs to renegotiate almost annually. For a side like the Bulldogs, still establishing its culture and cohesion, the potential for mass departures could unravel years of careful recruitment and development work.
Off the field, Bulldogs officials insist they’re not panicking. Sources within the club suggest that negotiations with several players are ongoing and that an internal plan is in motion to lock in the team’s spine before the market opens. But the danger lies not only in losing players — it’s in losing control of the narrative. Once November 1 arrives, agents and rival clubs gain the power to dictate terms, and loyalty often takes a back seat to opportunity.
The Bulldogs’ future may ultimately depend on how attractive their environment remains. They’ve built a reputation for player welfare and development, and their investment in high-performance facilities rivals some NRL teams. Yet, when contracts are up and the chance for pay rises or premiership contention elsewhere emerges, that stability can quickly waver.
If Canterbury wants to avoid becoming the next cautionary tale of the NRLW’s expansion era, it must act fast. Signing their stars to long-term extensions before the November 1 deadline isn’t just about retention — it’s about sending a message of intent to the rest of the league.
Because if they don’t, the Bulldogs’ promising NRLW core — the one that has given the club its first real taste of sustained success — could soon be scattered across rival teams. And once that door opens, it’s nearly impossible to close.
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