Repeated hamstring injuries have slowed Mitchell Woods' progress over the past couple of years, after he was considered the more promising prospect as a youngster.
Woods and Alex Conti are now both trying to earn a place in Canterbury's NRL team, where Lachlan Galvin is seen as a long-term halves option.
The childhood friends went to St Patrick's College in Strathfield and played together for the NSW Waratahs and Bulldogs Under-16s.
Both are competing for the Bulldogs' No. 7 jersey, but Conti said the contest has not affected their friendship or teamwork.
"Not really. We've always been in contention. That's just the love of the game that we have and we love playing together as well," Conti said.
"We played together the whole schooling career, so that's really important for us and we work well off each other and bounce well with each other."