‘I want to be here’: Lucky charm eyes new deal

Toby Sexton has been the lucky charm for the Bulldogs this year, and the halfback hopes he can call Canterbury home for a lot longer as he looks to lock in his future beyond the 2025 season.

While it’s been reported in some places that he’s off contract at the end of the season, Sexton confirmed on Tuesday that he still had another year left on his deal, having switched from the Titans midway through 2023.

“I couldn’t speak highly enough of this club,” he said.

“They’ve given me an opportunity to come down to Sydney and play footy here, and I’ve loved everything about the club we’ve got from the staff we’ve got here to the playing group.

“The path this club is going towards, I want to be here as long as possible.”

‘I want to be here’: Lucky charm eyes new deal

Sexton was locked in a battle with Drew Hutchison at the start of the year for the halfback role that he ultimately lost and had to bide his time in reserve grade.

But he’s made the most of his chance, with the Bulldogs 5-1 with him in the team this year and in a great position to end their finals drought.

“It’s been a good transition back into first grade, and winning has made it a lot easier,” he said ahead of Saturday’s game against the Warriors.

“It was difficult at first because you want to be in the first grade side, and that wasn’t the case so it was difficult at first.

“But I got an opportunity to play in reserve grade and really work on my craft. Ciro (coach Cameron Ciraldo) has been really honest with me on where I’m at, but he kept reassuring me that I’d get a chance at some stage and to be ready.

“Looking back at it now, it’s probably the best thing that’s happened to me. I got to see all those combinations forming in the background while I wasn’t there, and now coming in, it’s been really good.”

While Canterbury have proven their doubters wrong this year, they are set to be even stronger in 2025 with Roosters star Sitili Tupouniua expected to be announced as their latest signing in the coming days.

Josh Curran used to play with Tupouniua at the Roosters and is looking forward to playing alongside the versatile forward, even if it means having to fight for spots.

“I don’t mind. Sitili is a really good player and he’s going to be really good for our forward pack,” he said.

“We’ve got lots of boys here who can play multiple positions – back row, centre, middle – so adding Sitili Tupouniua to our squad is going to be really good.

“I played with him at the Roosters, and every time he takes the field, he wears his heart on his sleeve.”