{"id":60120,"date":"2025-08-11T13:54:08","date_gmt":"2025-08-11T13:54:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/60120\/"},"modified":"2025-08-11T13:54:08","modified_gmt":"2025-08-11T13:54:08","slug":"bulldogs-back-bailey-as-utility-signs-long-term-extension-nrl-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/60120\/","title":{"rendered":"Bulldogs back Bailey as utility signs long-term extension – NRL News"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Canterbury Bulldogs<\/a> utility Bailey Hayward<\/a> has earned a new deal as the club looks to secure their long-term dummy-half following the confirmed departure of Reed Mahoney<\/a> at the end of this season.<\/p>\n

Agreeing to a one-year extension until the end of 2026 in March, Hayward has now been extended through to the end of the 2028 NRL<\/a> season.<\/p>\n

A junior of the Bulldogs’ pathways system, he also spent time at the Sydney Roosters<\/a>\u00a0before taking a three-month hiatus from the rugby league field.<\/p>\n

However, since returning to the game, he has become one of the club’s most underrated players and is highly regarded by his teammates as the best communicator on the field.<\/p>\n

“I think there were a couple of things going on in life that I sort of thought were more important, but it wasn’t long,” Hayward previously told Zero Tackle.<\/p>\n

“I was only out of the game for three months and I had that itch to come back. That love for the game and fire in the belly brought me back and it’s there still.”<\/p>\n

\"2025BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 22: Bailey Hayward<\/a> of the Bulldogs in action during the 2025 NRL<\/a> Pre-Season Challenge match between Brisbane Broncos<\/a> and Canterbury Bulldogs<\/a> at Kayo Stadium on February 22, 2025 in Brisbane, Australia<\/a>. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

The move to tie down Hayward means the Bulldogs now seem him as their long-term hooker after starting in the position in the win against the New Zealand<\/a> Warriors on Saturday evening.<\/p>\n

Despite taking over the position that Reed Mahoney<\/a> previously held, the youngster has credited the influence of the former Parramatta Eels<\/a> hooker in the past.<\/p>\n

“Having a positional switch and probably not playing there anywhere near as much in my junior footy, he’s [Reed Mahoney<\/a>] been a massive help,” Hayward said.<\/p>\n

“After trainings I’m picking his brain and he’s always there to answer questions that I ever need and he’s really clear. He’s taken me under his wing massively.”<\/p>\n


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