Two-time premiership winner Justin Hodges believes the Canterbury Bulldogs will be exposed in September, declaring they haven’t improved since changing their halfback mid-season.
The Bulldogs began 2025 as one of the NRL’s standout sides, surging to the top of the ladder with an 11-2 record and an early pair of back-to-back shutouts of the Knights and Rabbitohs.
Since then, however, their form has dipped to an even 5-5, mixing heavy defeats with impressive wins.
With finals football just around the corner, Hodges fears the Bulldogs will struggle to match the intensity.
Hodges questions Galvin switch
The turning point came in Round 20 when Toby Sexton was dropped in favour of Lachlan Galvin.
Sexton had guided the side to 12 wins from 16 games at halfback - a 75 per cent win rate.
Since Galvin’s promotion, the Bulldogs have gone four from seven, winning just 57 per cent.
“I think with Sexton, he was steady,” Hodges said on NRL 360.
“He reminded me of Shane Perry with Darren Lockyer in 2006. All he needed to do was his job because he had so many talented players out wide.”
Pressed on whether Canterbury had improved under Galvin, Hodges was blunt.
“No, I don’t think they’ve improved,” he said.
Bulldogs’ mixed bag
The Bulldogs’ second half of the season has been a rollercoaster.
Lowlight losses include a 28-14 defeat to the Tigers and a 32-12 result against the Roosters.
Yet there have also been glimpses of their best - a 42-4 demolition of the Sea Eagles and a narrow 20-14 defeat to Melbourne in Round 25 that nearly went to golden point.
For Hodges, consistency is the key concern.
“At the start of the year they were renowned for their defence,” he said.
“They’ve gone away from that for whatever reason. Finals time’s just really going to catch them out.”
Time to find another gear
The Bulldogs remain one of the NRL’s most improved teams in 2025 under coach Cameron Ciraldo.
But having slipped from premiership favourites to a side battling to rediscover its best form, they face a stern test in September.
Whether Galvin or Sexton is the long-term solution at halfback, the short-term question is clear - can the Bulldogs rediscover the discipline and defensive steel that had them leading the league after 13 rounds?
If they can, they remain a threat.
If not, Hodges and others fear finals football will prove unforgiving.