PATRON’S REPORT – Mr John Khoury & Mr George Coorey

Dear CBDRLRA members,

As you know the Bulldogs have had a long and proud association with your wonderful association. Together, we have served our local community through our special junior league competition and your CBDRLRA members. This has helped unite so many diverse cultures, religions, and backgrounds.

As we work towards ensuring a successful season ahead, you should be proud of the role that you are playing in developing the sport within the Bulldogs local community. We always say that the Bulldogs are more than just an NRL team. They are a club that represents much more across our wonderful and diverse local community.

Collectively, we are paving a way for young athletes in our district to follow their dreams and aspirations. Part of this is to improve and invest in our local grassroots communities, including our junior rugby league programs. We also need to provide continual support and encouragement to create an environment for ongoing and sustained success, on and off the field.

Whilst the last few years have been challenging regarding our results, the club has responded quickly to create the right environment for 2022, and beyond.

PATRON’S REPORT

Mr. John Khoury

We have decided to return to being a ‘Development’ club once again, with a focus on establishing a system that best gives players from the Junior League the opportunity to move into the Bulldogs Junior Development Program.

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As part of our promise to return to traditional Bulldogs’ values, we decided that it was vital that we ran our own NSW Cup side next season. This will allow our players to train at Belmore and run out in the blue and white of the Bulldogs. In addition to that, we will continue to support the Mounties side in 2022, through the provision of players.

On the playing front we have made some outstanding signings that we believe will make a major impact for us on the field. Players of the calibre of Josh Addo-Carr, Matt Burton, Tevita Pangai Junior, Paul Vaughan, Brent Naden, Matt Dufty and Josh Cook will complement our current 2022 squad, as we look forward to seeing what our ‘new look’ side can achieve. Additionally, we are pleased to have signed Viliame Kikau and Reed Mahoney for season 2023.

We have also been extremely active in the community, with the firstever partnership between the Bulldogs and the Community Care Kitchens, which has seen former player Hazem El Masri lead the program and help deliver over 200 fresh meals per week to those people experiencing difficulties during the lockdown period.

In addition, the creation of the ‘Bulldogs by your Side’ program has allowed local primary school students to have ‘zoom’ calls with players from our current NRL squad.

On top of each of these programs has been the Vaccination Hub at Belmore, that has seen hundreds of members of the local community receive vaccinations in a ‘drive through’ system, while we thought that it was important to show our support and appreciation for all Healthcare workers by having a ‘Thank You – Healthcare Workers’ message on the sleeve of our NRL jerseys throughout the second half of last season.

In these challenging times it was great to see so many groups work together to care about those in need.

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On the Sponsorship front, the Club has been busy in recent months renewing and welcoming new sponsors to the Bulldogs, with Ultimate Security (Back of Jersey), CPe (Back of Shorts), CG Air Conditioning (right - Back of Shorts), Sydney Tools (Bulldogs Official Tool Supplier), Accolade Wines (Official Wine Partner) and ELMO Software (Official HR and Payroll Partner), all committing to the club, with further announcements to follow in the coming months. In other great news, our recently launched ‘Bulldogs Business Club’ is on track to double in size, less than 12 months after being formed.

Our 2022 draw is also now out, and we can look forward to some great matchups.

Some of the key dates to look forward to are our return to Belmore in Round 12 to take on the Dragons, plus a new look Queen’s Birthday fixture against the Eels, where we will look to create a ‘local derby’ occasion on the Public Holiday. We will also take a match to Bundaberg for the first time in an initiative that will include community visits and school clinics as part of an overall drive to promote the game.

It is an exciting time to be a Bulldogs fan and to be part of what we believe is a ‘new beginning’.

It has been a tough 12 months for everyone and not being able to go to the football has been a major part of that. I know that everyone here at the Bulldogs is looking forward to the upcoming season with a real sense of excitement and optimism.

I look forward to seeing you all soon.

John Khoury Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Chairman CBRA Patron #proudtobeabulldog

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PATRON’S REPORT

Mr. George Coorey

I trust everyone has been able to enjoy a pleasant Christmas and New Year after what has been another particularly challenging year.

Congratulations to the Association on your centenary season in 2021. It is a phenomenal achievement to have been fostering and nurturing the development of referees to serve the great game of rugby league for 100 years.

I know that I say it every year, but it really does bear repeating. Without the service of competent and qualified referees, the game would not be possible and for that we are grateful.

After the challenges of 2020, we were certainly hopeful for what 2021 would deliver. Sadly, the second wave of the Covid19 pandemic proved even more devastating and impactful than the first. Our League Club was forced to close for 107 days, with the Sydney wide lockdown also halting all but the elite rugby league competitions. Let’s hope 2022 delivers us an incident free season as you embark upon the first of your next 100 years.

I am honoured to have been a Patron of the Association in 2021 and am pleased to confirm that Canterbury League Club has recommitted our support as the Major Sponsor of the CBDRLRA for 2022.

George Coorey Director – Canterbury League Club CBRA Patron

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