The Bulldogs have announced extensions for two crucial members of their football operations with Phil Gould and Cameron Ciraldo inking deals to remain in Belmore through 2031.
Since arriving to the club in 2021, Gould has entirely reshaped Canterbury's roster and assembled a staff that has far exceeded expectations to date.
"I'm thrilled that we've locked in Gus and Cameron for the long term," Bulldogs chairman Adam Driussi said.
"Gus has rebuilt our entire football operation while Cam has transformed us into genuine contenders on the field."
The Bulldogs' transformation from bottom dwellers to top-eight staples in the short time that this regime has been in charge is nothing short of a miracle.
To transform their identity in such a dramatic way speaks to the roster building and development strategies that Gould and Ciraldo bring to the table.
However, one of the criticisms that has been thrown Gould's way at previous stops is his inability to convert strong rosters into legitimate title contenders.
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Have the Bulldogs reached their ceiling under the current administration?
Panthers fans may have forgotten the infamous "five-year plan" that Gould laid out upon his arrival to Penrith as they continue revelling in the accomplishments of the past four seasons.
But the 67-year-old has continually received the knock that Ivan Cleary's side only began their historical run once Gould was out of town.
The counter to that argument would be that the rugby league supremo's work developing the junior pathways set the wheels in motion for what would be an eventual dynasty.
After leaving Penrith, Gould joined the Warriors and helped elevate them from mid-table purgatory to threatening the top-four.
So what he's now accomplished at Canterbury leaves no doubt that his methods of transforming a football department are highly effective.
The only question that remains is whether the Gould-Ciraldo tandem can deliver a premiership to Belmore within the term length of their new contracts.
They've hitched their wagon to Lachlan Galvin in a move that's divided the rugby league community.
Scrutiny on the call to drop Toby Sexton in favour of Galvin has only intensified since the Bulldogs' lacklustre run of form over the second half of the season.
Will Gould and Ciraldo end the Bulldogs' title drought, or has the organisation just tied themselves into contracts that will limit their ceiling for the next six seasons?