Bulldogs' Hayward switch could be best in 15 years

Yahoo

7 hours ago

No NRL premier has made such a big and late tactical change at hooker in 15 seasons but Canterbury players insist Bailey Hayward's promotion to No.9 can help the Bulldogs become even better.
With five rounds before finals, Hayward started as an NRL rake for the first time in Canterbury's defeat of the Warriors and retains his spot for Friday's clash with the Sydney Roosters.
It's left North Queensland-bound Reed Mahoney, starting dummy-half in a grand final three years ago, consigned to a bench spot as the third-placed Dogs eye a first premiership since 2004.
"Respectfully, there probably wasn't a spot for (Hayward) in the 17 at the start of the year and he's just forced his way into the team every week," said Bulldogs prop Max King.
"Now he's forced himself inside that 13, in the No.9. It's a credit to himself and how he's going."
The footwork from Hayward 🕺 #NRLBulldogsRoosters Telstra Moment of the Match. pic.twitter.com/vLKDJK8ljb
— NRL (@NRL) May 16, 2025
Hayward's breakout season notwithstanding, it is rare for premiership-winning teams to make such a dramatic shift in the crucial position so late in a campaign.
The most recent example of a team tinkering with its starting hooker this late in a premiership run was in 2022, when Penrith's Mitch Kenny began to start ahead of Api Koroisau.
But that change was nowhere near as seismic as the Hayward move, with Koroisau always swapped to the bench on game day and still playing the majority of each game at hooker.
South Sydney memorably thrust Koroisau into starting hooker when Issac Luke was suspended for the 2014 grand final, while rookie Sam Verrills replaced the injured Jake Friend with seven regular-season games to play in 2019.
But it's not since 2010 that a side has made as big a tactical move at hooker this late in the season and gone on to win the premiership.
That year, St George Illawarra coach Wayne Bennett began deploying Dean Young at the expense of dual premiership-winner Luke Priddis, who only started again when stars were rested before finals.
Coincidentally, Bennett began the tactical change with five games before finals - the exact same time of the season as Canterbury have begun starting the newly re-signed Hayward.
But Hayward's teammates are confident the late change can take the Bulldogs to new heights.
"Bailey's biggest attribute is his communication and the way he works with teammates," King said.
"He makes us all better. Everyone speaks about the greatest compliment you can get is (being) a player that players want to play with. He fits into that mould.
"He makes us a better team."
Canterbury retooled their attack ahead of their season's best performance, a 42-4 walloping of Manly three weeks ago, and Hayward has been tipped to continue their ascent in that area.
"(Hayward at hooker) is obviously going to add that value to us in attack. We're obviously building on that each week but he'll bring a dimension to that as well," said five-eighth Matt Burton.
"He's been great for us all year."
Mahoney played 16-and-a-half minutes from the bench on Saturday, only coming on once the result was sealed.
"(The change) is not really a discredit to him, it's just more of a credit to Bailey and how he's been performing. It's a tough position for Reed but I feel like he's handled it really well," King said.