Phil Gould has delivered some thrilling news for Bulldogs supporters, with young talent Bailey Hayward poised to sign a contract extension with the club.
This versatile player has been a quiet achiever for Canterbury since making his NRL debut last season, coming off the bench and stepping into various positions as needed.
With his contract ending at the conclusion of this season, Hayward will take on the starting five-eighth role for the Dogs in round three, filling in for Matt Burton, who is sidelined for the coming month.
Bailey Hayward has quietly made a name for himself at the Dogs. Getty
In a surprising announcement during this week’s episode of Wide World of Sports’ Six Tackles With Gus, the club’s general manager shared that Hayward is set to remain with the Bulldogs.
“Great story, Bailey Hayward,” Gould remarked.
“It’ll be intriguing to see how he progresses, as he is quite adaptable.”
“We are on the verge of extending his contract for another year. I had a discussion with his manager yesterday.”
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Hayward rose through the junior ranks as a playmaker but has transitioned into a bench hooker role at the Bulldogs, amassing 22 appearances so far.
His adaptability will be crucial for Cameron Ciraldo’s squad in the coming weeks, especially with Viliame Kikau also expected to be absent due to a knee injury.
Viliame Kikau and Matt Burton exited the field with injuries in round two. Nine
“This is a significant challenge for the Bulldogs,” Gould added.
“Players like Jacob Kiraz and Sam Hughes haven’t featured this year, and now we face injuries to Kikau and Burton.”
“This will be a true test of the Bulldogs’ depth in the upcoming weeks.”
The Canterbury club has won both of its matches so far in 2025, with a clash against Parramatta scheduled for Sunday.
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