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There are no two ways about it – the Canterbury Bulldogs<\/a> fade out at the end of the 2025 season means the pressure is on coming into the new year.<\/p>\n After spending much of the first half of 2025 at the top of the table, the signing of Lachlan Galvin<\/a>, changes to the spine and other factors saw the Bulldogs fail to host a qualifying final.<\/p>\n That left them with a tricky trip to Melbourne, where they fell short, before promptly being knocked out the following week against the Penrith Panthers<\/a>.<\/p>\n It was far from a straightforward finals series, but the lingering question out of the season for the Belmore-based club, frankly, is \u201cwhat might have been\u201d.<\/p>\n The same selection questions linger over 2026 despite the departure of Toby Sexton<\/a>, while new faces, and the performance of some, as well as rookies ready to breakout, will create extra head-scratchers for Cameron Ciraldo<\/a> as he looks to coach the blue and white to a premiership.<\/p>\n Who plays at halfback?<\/p>\n It was one of the big questions of the second half of 2025.<\/p>\n Bulldogs fans were left questioning what had happened, neutrals looked on in amazement, and Toby Sexton<\/a> must have been waking up with cold sweats in the middle of the night, hoping it was all a nightmare.<\/p>\n Now at Catalans, Sexton lost his spot in the number seven, before being recalled during the finals through injury and being one of the blue and white’s best.<\/p>\n His departure leaves the Bulldogs with two to pick from at number seven. Lachlan Galvin<\/a>, who is a number six, and Mitchell Woods<\/a>, who, for all the potential he possesses, is a rookie.<\/p>\n