Former NRL players Bryan Fletcher and Chad Townsend have questioned why the Bulldogs ever let Reed Mahoney go after they reportedly signed Freddy Lussick from the Panthers. The Daily Telegraph is reporting that Lussick has agreed to join Canterbury on a two-year deal from 2027.
The 25-year-old is enjoying his best season to date at Penrith after stepping in for the injured Mitch Kenny. The hooker has scored four tries in 10 games for the table-topping Panthers, after switching from the New Zealand Warriors in the off-season.
Lussick scored a double in the Panthers’ 68-0 mauling of the Wests Tigers last weekend, and he’s evidently caught the eye of Bulldogs general manager Phil Gould. But speaking on SEN radio this week, Fletcher suggested the signing of Lussick is an admission from the Bulldogs that they got it wrong with Mahoney.
The Bulldogs thought Bailey Hayward was their hooker of the future, so they allowed Mahoney to walk early from his contract last year. But Hayward hasn’t been particularly effective in 2026, and the signing of Lussick suggests they’ve had a major backflip in the hooker department.
“Who’s a better hooker out of Reed Mahoney and Freddy Lussick?” Fletcher asked. “Why have they let Mahoney go? [It looks like they’re saying] ‘we’ve made a big mistake here’.”
Townsend responded: “Freddy Lussick has been great for the Panthers and comes a bit cheaper then Mahoney. But they already had it there (with Mahoney). What you’re saying is they’ve made the wrong decision.”
Bulldogs ‘made the wrong decision’ with Reed Mahoney
Tellingly, Gould was spotted meeting with out of favour Titans hooker Sam Verrills during Magic Round. And they also had discussions with Luke Metcalf before he signed with the Warriors.
It’s a clear indication the Dogs aren’t happy with their current set-up of Hayward at hooker and Lachie Galvin at halfback. Gould recently claimed they’ve never viewed Galvin as the long-term halfback and would ideally like him to play five-eighth.
“This shows that they’ve probably made the wrong decision on their hooker,” Townsend said. “And they’re probably not happy with their current halves. The future for Bailey Hayward is probably going back to the lock role, which he can do so well. And you’d think Galvin will eventually move back to No.6.”
This article originally appeared on Yahoo Sport Australia at https://au.news.yahoo.com/bulldogs-massive-mistake-laid-bare-after-phil-gould-and-canterbury-sign-player-from-panthers-001416226.html
