LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
With the 2025 season complete, the Canterbury Bulldogs have regained a strong identity. A group of players who previously donned the Australian Schoolboys jersey are now pivotal in the club's resurgence as Canterbury looks ahead to 2026.
From schoolboys to Belmore
The narrative begins in the schoolboy ranks. In 2023, the Australian Schoolboys team included Lachlan Galvin, Finau Latu, and edge forward Logan Spinks.
A year later, Mitchell Woods shone as the halfback for the 2024 Australian Schoolboys and represented New South Wales Under 19s in both 2024 and 2025.
These players have quickly progressed from elite junior honors to professional systems, constituting the backbone of Canterbury's next generation.
The new core
Mitchell Woods is set to enter his second full-time NRL preseason with the Bulldogs' Top 30. The two-time NSW Under 19 representative and 2024 Australian Schoolboys playmaker has garnered significant praise at Belmore for his discipline and composure under pressure.
Phil Gould has suggested that Woods will be given ample chances to compete for a starting position in 2026, as long as he continues to improve on his current path.
Lachlan Galvin, a prominent competitor from the 2023 Schoolboys season, debuted for Wests Tigers in 2024 and has since played 45 NRL matches across both Wests and Canterbury.