It's been a while since the Bulldogs were good.
After a period of dominance in the early 2000's, Canterbury's team have been reduced to cellar dwellers in recent years, more likely to contend for a wooden spoon than a premiership.
But amidst an injection of talent into their side, such as NSW Origin star Stephen Crichton, the mighty Blue and White are performing as well as they ever have, and the sky could be their limit.
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When was the last time the Bulldogs finished top four?
It has been over a decade since the Bulldogs finished as a top-four team during the NRL regular season, with the last instance coming in 2012 when they topped the competition.
This was one of six instances in which the team finished inside the league's top four since 2000, also finishing there in 2009, 2006, 2004, 2003, and 2001.
Surprisingly, the team did not finish in the top four in their most recent season playing in the NRL Grand Final, finishing seventh in 2014 before going on to face the Rabbitohs in the big dance.
But their fates could be set to change.
The team sits in fifth heading into Round 24, riding a three-game win streak, and a strong end to the year could once again see them finish among the best in the league.
Bulldogs finishing position since 2000
| SEASON | REGULAR SEASON FINISH |
| 2000 | 11 |
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 15** |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 2* |
| 2005 | 12 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 6 |
| 2008 | 16 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 13 |
| 2011 | 9 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 6 |
| 2014 | 7 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2017 | 11 |
| 2018 | 12 |
| 2019 | 12 |
| 2020 | 15 |
| 2021 | 16 |
| 2022 | 12 |
| 2023 | 15 |
*Won NRL Premiership
**Stripped of 37 points due to salary cap breach
Bulldogs NRL membership growth
Despite the dwindling success in recent years, the Bulldogs faithful have remained one of the league's strongest fan bases, and they are now being rewarded for their efforts.
The team had 22,000 members in 2023, a 27 per cent increase, and while their 2024 number is yet to be revealed, it can be expected that it will jump once more.
