Plenty of milestones to thrill Dogs’ fans in 2020

Each year, the rugby league season delivers some impressive achievements and last year was no different for a number of Bulldogs players.
This was highlighted by Aiden Tolman playing his 250th NRL match, as well as becoming the 12th player in Canterbury’s history to play 200 or more first grade games for the club.
Bulldogs fans also saw Jayden Okunbor, Brandon Wakeham and Morgan Harper make their NRL debuts, while seven new recruits made their club debuts throughout the season.
In addition, Reimis Smith, Marcelo Montoya, Bronson Garlick and Michael Lichaa all played their 100th club game.
The new decade could see a host of players reach important milestones and achievements in their NRL careers.
Kieran Foran (199) only needs one more game to reach 200 NRL games, while Josh Jackson (181) is on track to reach the milestone against the Newcastle Knights in round 20 at Bankwest Stadium.
Jackson’s achievement will also coincide with him becoming the 13th player in the club’s history to play 200 or more NRL games for Canterbury.
Tongan International Will Hopoate (147) and Queensland representative Dylan Napa (142) are closing in on 150 NRL games, while Sauaso Sue’s (127) milestone will be determined by his recovery from an ACL injury.
Forward Adam Elliott requires 25 games to reach 100 NRL games after making his debut for the Bulldogs in 2016, while Will Hopoate is 13 games away from playing 100 NRL matches for the Dogs.
The 2019 Coaches Award winner Jeremy Marshall-King (46) and local junior Marcelo Montoya (45) are both looking at playing their 50th NRL matches for the Bulldogs during the season.
New recruits Dean Britt, Joe Stimson and Sione Katoa will be looking to join the list of 800 players who have debuted before them, while rookies Jake Averillo and Iasiah Tass will be part of a new breed hoping to make their NRL debuts.
Meanwhile, Katoa (47), the club’s top try scorer in 2019, Reimis Smith (35), half Jack Cogger and speedster Nick Meaney (27) are all looking to register their 50th NRL matches in the upcoming campaign.
Coach Dean Pay, currently sitting on 47 games, will bring up his 50th NRL game as coach against the Wests Tigers in Round Three as he heads into his third season in charge at the Bulldogs.
With 42 tries next to their names, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Will Hopoate require eight four-pointers each to record 50 NRL tries. Hopoate added five tries to his name in 2019, while Watene-Zelezniak grabbed two.
The club has eight out of its 12 home matches in family friendly timeslots, so it’s certainly shaping as a great season for Bulldogs members and fans to watch their side in 2020 and one that will see plenty of records and milestones fall throughout.