The Rollercoaster Continues: 2005-2014 /

Coming off an emphatic Premiership win, plenty of change occurred during this period.

Few could predict that the Club's seventh decade would include a wooden spoon, a Minor Premiership and two Grand Final appearances, but that's exactly what it delivered. 

• 2005 - A Fall From Grace
• 2006 - Missed Opportunities
• 2007 - The Ring of Champions
• 2008 - The Shock of The Century
• 2009 - From Brisbane to Belmore
• 2010 - New Look Bulldogs
• 2011 - Stars on the Rise
• 2012 - The Des Hasler Effect
• 2013 - Distracted 'Dogs 
• 2014 - A Run Like No Other

2005 - A Fall From Grace

Although no notable players made their way to Belmore following an emphatic title winning season, the Bulldogs entered a new era without inspirational Captain Steve Price.

His replacement in the decider, Johnathan Thurston, made his way up north while the likes of Jamie Feeney, Dennis Scott, Ben Harris (after two matches), Hutch Maiava and Glen Hughes were other notable absentees. 

A disappointing trip to the north of England to contest their first World Club Challenge ended in a high-scoring 39-32 defeat at the hands of English champions Leeds. 

Still, there was plenty of reason to believe the Bulldogs could climb to the summit again - Andrew Ryan took the reins of the captaincy as he did in the previous year's Grand Final, while a thumping 46-28 win in Round 1 set the Premiership defence off on a strong note. 

However, after a four-match streak of losses, the side found themselves in the unfamiliar position of thirteenth, with an unprecedented injury toll seeing thirteen players make their first-grade debut for the Club.

But ending the season with six consecutive losses, the Bulldogs were consigned to  a surprising finish in twelfth place. 

Season Snapshot: 

• Taking on English Champions Leeds Rhinos, the Bulldogs fell short in the World Club Challenge, 39-32. 
• Andrew Ryan took over the captaincy after the departure of Steve Price, who was joined by Jamie Feeney, Dennis Scott, Johnathan Thurston, Ben Harris, Hutch Maiava and Glen Hughes as players leaving the Club. 
• A strong start with a 46-28 win over St George Illawarra was followed by four consecutive losses, before the year ended in a twelfth placed finish. 
• Then 4 losses in a row put the club in 13th position.
• Thirteen players made their first-grade debut for the Club throughout the year with a huge injury toll changing the line up on a week-to-week basis. 
• Both reserve grade and Jersey Flegg finished in the finals. 

Debutants: Chris Armit, Ben Czislowski, Nate Myles, Trent Cutler, Brad Morrin, Charlie Tonga, Dallas McIlwain, Cameron Phelps, Daniel Conn, Makasini Richter, Daniel Irvine, Luke Young, Filinga Filiga

2006 - Missed Opportunities

The loss of Premiership-winning five-eighth Braith Anasta to rivals the Sydney Roosters left a bitter taste in the mouth of Bulldogs everywhere, however the side were able to overcome the loss to put together a strong campaign.

Starting with eight wins from the opening twelve matches, Steven Folkes' side learned from the mistakes of the season prior and took their opportunity with both hands.

A six-match winning streak from Round 17 to Round 23 propelled the side to second place on the ladder with sixteen victories, behind only the Melbourne Storm.

Kiwi sensation Sonny Bill Williams continued to show the Rugby League world why he was one of the best young prospects in the competition, with his power running, freakish offloading ability and brutal hits in defence a constant talking point. 

Opening the finals series with a solid 30-12 victory over old foes the Canberra Raiders, plenty had slated the Bulldogs to return to the Grand Final after an uncharacteristic season the year before.

Unfortunately, the side were on the wrong side of an almighty comeback at the hands of the Brisbane Broncos.

After running away with a 20-6 lead at the break in their Preliminary Final at the Sydney Football Stadium, the Bulldogs' fortunes shattered with a second half performance to forget - their opponents clicked into gear and claimed the victory. 

Despite a bitter end to a wonderful season, the blueprints were there to see; the Bulldogs had reminded the NRL of their capabilities. 

Season Snapshot: 

• 2004 Premiership-winning five-eighth Braith Anasta departed to the Sydney Roosters, while Jamaal Lolesi signed to the Wests Tigers. 
• A reasonable start to the season with eight wins from twelve matches was compounded by a six-game winning streak. 
• The Bulldogs finished in second place on the ladder with sixteen wins, behind only Melbourne. 
• The first week of finals saw the Bulldogs defeat Canberra 30-12, earning themselves a week off. 
• The Preliminary Final saw the side run down after leading 20-6 at half-time, with Brisbane scoring 31 unanswered points in the second half. 
• The reserve grade side failed to qualify for the finals, however the Jersey Flegg finished semi-finalists.

Debutants: Daniel Holdsworth, Andrew Emelio, Jon Green, Ben Roberts, Billy Ngawini, Jarrad Hickey, Nick Kouparitsas

2007 - The Ring of Champions

Forward duo Roy Asotasi and Nate Myles farewelled the Club, while favourite song and long-serving Bulldog Tony Grimaldi called it a day before the 2007 season could kick off. 

Meanwhile, the competition added a new team - the Gold Coast Titans - with the Bulldogs overcoming a 0-2 start to the season with a convincing 22-6 win to open their campaign. 

The very same day, the Club presented The Ring of Champions - a group of nineteen of its greatest players and secretary Peter 'Bullfrog' Moore at the match at Telstra Stadium.

In a season of see-sawing results, the Bulldogs found themselves in a respectable sixth-place after winning twelve of their 24 matches. 

While they had found form in mid August with a 52-4 demolition of the Canberra Raiders and a nail-biting 25-24 win over the Brisbane Broncos the following week, two high-scoring defeats to the Melbourne Storm and North Queensland Cowboys followed to end the season proper.

Ironically, the Bulldogs faced off against the Cowboys in the opening round of the finals up in Townsville, and while their performance was much better, they were still handed a 20-18 defeat.

Up against arch-rivals Parramatta with a crowd of over 50,000 at Telstra Stadium, the side's courageous finals campaign ended right as it had begun, with a 25-6 defeat. 

Still, the season still had its fair share of memorable moments, most notably the 27-8 win over Grand Finalists Manly in Round 15.

Season Snapshot: 

• An up and down season saw the Bulldogs finish in sixth position after losing their last two matches of the regular season. 
• Returning to Townsville one week after being defeated by North Queensland, the Bulldogs were unable to return serve in the first week of finals with the 20-18 loss ending their season. 
• The highlight of the year was a 27-8 win over eventual Grand Finalists Manly Warringah in Round 15. 
• Both the reserve grade and Jersey Flegg sides qualified for the finals. 
• The Gold Coast Titans were admitted to the NRL, which was now a sixteen-team competition. 

Debutants: Daryl Millard, Kane Cleal, Lee Te Maari, Tim Winitana, Heka Nanai, Aaron Wheatley, Fred Briggs

2008 - The Shock of the Century

As the National Rugby League celebrated its centenary, there were numerous celebrations and acknowledgements made - however on the field, things were not as glorious for the Bulldogs.

The side's depth was certainly tested with the departure of fan favourites and 2004 Premiership winners; Willie Mason and Mark O'Meley headed east to the Sydney Roosters, halfback Brent Sherwin headed to the UK and understated hooker Adam Perry retired. 

But with the loss of experienced campaigners and no big-name recruits coupled with long-term injuries to the likes of Luke Patten, Matt Utai, Willie Tonga and Reni Maitua, it certainly looked like a tough season ahead.

If things couldn't get worse, the sudden departure of Sonny Bill Williams in July proved it could. 

With just five wins after eighteen rounds, the season finished with the Club's worst performing season since 1964 with eight consecutive losses and a wooden spoon.

Highlighting the mass injury toll were the 38 players fielded across the season and the sixteen first-grade debutants - numbers previously unheard of.

It ultimately proved to be the final season for legendary player and Head Coach Steven Folkes, who had a combined five titles in both roles. 

However, despite being anchored at the bottom of the ladder - there still lay hope for the Bulldogs for 2009; namely star duo Ben Barba and Jamal Idris showing potential for stardom. 

The year also saw the appointment of CEO Todd Greenberg, who would prove himself an innovator in the coming years. 

Season Snapshot: 

• Fan favourite quartet Willie Mason, Mark O’Meley (both Roosters), Brent Sherwin (Super League) and Adam Perry (retirement) were notable departures in the off-season.
• CEO Malcolm Noad resigned, replaced by Todd Greenberg.
• After a solid start to the season with three wins from six matches, the side suffered a number of long-term injuries to key players Luke Patten, Matt Utai, Willie Tonga and Reni Maitua.
• The season ended with eight losses in a row with the side finishing with the wooden spoon.
• The Bulldogs used 38 players during the year, with sixteen making their first-grade debut for the Club.
• Steven Folkes' tenure as Head Coach came to an end following eleven seasons, holding a record 288 matches at the helm. 
• While the reserve grade side failed to qualify for the finals, the league introduced the National Youth Competition (NYC) with the side finishing as semi-finalists.

Debutants: Justin Tsoulos, Danny Williams, Michael Sullivan, Gary Warburton, Brent Crisp, Lorenzo Ma'afu, Aaron Groom, Nick Youngquest, Joe Williams, Charlie Leaeno, Frank Winterstein, Arana Taumata, John Kite, Ben Barba, Reece Blaney, Jamal Idris

2009 - From Brisbane to Belmore

Season 2009 proved to be one of the greatest turnarounds in the Club's history; rising from the depths of last place to go within a match of the Grand Final. 

Kevin Moore - son of legendary supremo Peter 'Bullfrog' Moore - was assigned as Head Coach following a number of years leading out the lower grades.

Moore and newly appointed CEO Todd Greenberg hit the marketplace with a number of astute signings; Premiership winner, Australian representative and 1999 Clive Churchill Medallist Brett Kimmorley headlined the new arrivals. 

Quartet David Stagg, Ben Hannantt, Michael Ennis and Greg Eastwood all arrived via the Brisbane Broncos, while promising youngster Josh Morris and forward Michael Hodgson rounded off the squad. 

The new-look Bulldogs hit the ground running with seven wins from their opening nine matches - with the Round 1 victory over defending Premiers Manly not only injecting plenty of confidence, but also marking a new top point scorer in the competition's history - Hazem El Masri.

An interchange mistake proved to be costly in Round 2, with the NRL stripping the side of the two competition points after briefly fielding fourteen players, while a controversial no try at the death in the Round 10 against St George Illawarra saw the Bulldogs denied another Minor Premiership. 

Round 25 proved to be a significant match for two reasons; it not only marked El Masri's final home game in his glittering fourteen-season career, with a 40,000 strong crowd sending off their favourite son, but a facial fracture to Kimmorley effectively ended all hopes of a title. 

Still, the Bulldogs, finishing in second place on for-and-against (with the Dragons taking the honour of Minor Premiers) had plenty to prove after finishing in their highest position since 2006. 

A solid 26-12 win over the Newcastle Knights in the opening week earned Moore's side a well-deserved break - opening the door for Kimmorley to make a courageous return just weeks from injury.

Pitted against arch-rivals Parramatta - who made an audacious run into the finals - a record crowd of 74,549 saw the Bulldogs downed in a gallant 22-12 defeat, which proved to be El Masri's final match in the famous Blue and White. 

Individual player honours included Josh Morris (NSW and Australia) and Michael Ennis (NSW) make their representative debuts, while a win 26-12 over eventual Premiers Melbourne in Round 11 proved to be a highlight. 

Meanwhile, the reserve grade side, under the Bankstown Bulls umbrella, took out the Premiership in emphatic fashion. 

Season Snapshot: 

• Club legend Steven Folkes was replaced as Head Coach by Kevin Moore.
• With a strong presence in the marketplace, the Bulldogs signed Brett Kimmorley, David Stagg, Ben Hannantt, Michael Ennis, Greg Eastwood, Michael Hodgson and Josh Morris. Experienced trio Corey Hughes, Reni Maitua and Willie Tonga departed. 
• In the Round 1 victory over Manly, Hazem El Masri broke Andrew Johns' record of 2176 points to become the competition's all-time leading point-scorer. 
• The Bulldogs began with a promising 7-2 start to the year, while an interchange bungle cost them points in Round 2.
• In his final season, Hazem El Masri was sent off in his final home game in front of 41,835 Members and supporters in Round 25. Brett Kimmorley suffered a facial injury in the 40-20 win over the Warriors. 
• The Bulldogs finished in second place after narrowly missing out on the Minor Premiership.
• The side won their first finals match, 26-12 over the Newcastle Knights. 
• The Preliminary Final, played in front of a record crowd of 74,549 at ANZ Stadium ended in a heartbreaking 22-12 defeat to Parramatta, which would be El Masri's final match in first-grade. 
• Josh Morris and Michael Ennis made their State of Origin debuts for New South Wales, while Morris also earned a Test debut for Australia. 
• The reserve grade under the Bankstown Bulls umbrella won the Premiership, while the NYC side failed to qualify for the finals. 

Debutants: Josh Morris, Bryson Goodwin, Brett Kimmorley, David Staggg, Michael Hodgson, Michael Ennis, Ben Hannantt, Greg Eastwood, Yileen Gordon

2010 - New Look Bulldogs

With change aplenty in the previous twelve months, the Club took upon itself to return officially as the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, with a brand-new logo to boot.

2009 Premiership-winning and goal-kicking winger Steve Turner joined as Hazem El Masri's replacement along with 2005 Premiership winning forward Dene Halatau. 

However, in a major surprise, the side failed to fire as they had the year previous, with just three wins from the opening thirteen matches.