Top Dogs to the Final: Canterbury Now Best-Supported Club in Sydney — and Eyeing NRL Supremacy
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are on the rise — and not just on the ladder. The storied NRL club has officially become the best-supported team in Sydney, boasting record-breaking membership numbers and swelling fan engagement across all platforms. Now, with momentum on and off the field, the Bulldogs have their sights firmly set on becoming the biggest club in the entire NRL.
In a year marked by strategic recruitment, bold leadership, and a renewed identity, the Bulldogs have captured the imagination of a new generation of fans. As of May 2025, Canterbury has surpassed 42,000 members — the highest in Sydney and trailing only behind interstate giants like the Brisbane Broncos and New Zealand Warriors.
“Becoming Sydney’s number one supported club is just the beginning,” said Bulldogs CEO Aaron Warburton. “We’re building a powerhouse not just in terms of performance, but community, culture, and legacy. Our next step is to be the biggest and best in the NRL.”
A huge driver of the club’s resurgence has been coach Cameron Ciraldo, whose gritty, energetic team is now playing finals-quality football. The Bulldogs’ aggressive recruitment strategy — bringing in stars like Matt Burton, Stephen Crichton, and Viliame Kikau — has helped create a winning on-field product that fans are proud to back.
But the club’s transformation goes deeper than wins and losses. Major upgrades to the Belmore Sports Ground, community outreach programs, and an innovative digital media strategy have helped the Bulldogs reconnect with their traditional heartland while expanding into new demographics.
Club legend and current General Manager of Football Phil Gould said the vision is long-term but bold. “We’re not just talking about being a finals team,” Gould noted. “We’re talking about setting a new benchmark for what a rugby league club can be.”
The numbers back it up. Attendance at home games has jumped significantly, with crowd averages at Accor Stadium rising by over 25% compared to 2023. Social media engagement and merchandise sales are also at all-time highs.
As the Bulldogs charge toward the finals, fans are dreaming big. The “Top Dogs” mantra, once a bold prediction, is fast becoming a lived reality.
From a club once mired in rebuilds and off-field turmoil, the Bulldogs have become a Sydney success story — and perhaps soon, an NRL empire.
With belief, backing, and blue-and-white pride, Canterbury’s next chapter could be its greatest yet.
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