LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
The Canterbury Bulldogs have made a strategic signing decision as they aim to secure their first premiership since 2004. They have upgraded a player from last season's development list to their Top 30 roster for the 2026 NRL season.
This player, who served as the captain of the club's Under-21s Jersey Flegg Cup team, was on the cusp of making his NRL debut this season due to standout performances in both the NSW Cup and the NRL Pre-Season Challenge.
The decision to promote O'Neill follows his impressive back-to-back performances in the NSW Cup. In the 2024 season, he participated in 20 reserve-grade matches, followed by 16 this year, establishing himself as a key player in the halves. Towards the end of the season, he transitioned to a lock-forward position after recovering from an injury that sidelined him earlier.
Throughout these games, O'Neill made a notable impact, scoring three tries, forcing one drop-out, assisting seven tries, facilitating eight line-breaks, executing three offloads, and amassing 740 running metres (averaging 46 per match). Additionally, he recorded 244 total tackles with an impressive efficiency rate of 90.7 percent.