The 2012 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs season was the 78th in the club's history. Coached by Des Hasler and captained by Michael Ennis, they competed in the National Rugby League's 2012 Telstra Premiership, finishing the regular season in 1st place to take the minor premiership. They then won both of their finals matches to reach the 2012 NRL Grand final but were defeated by the Melbourne Storm.
Season summary Having just won the 2011 NRL Grand final with the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, coach Des Hasler left the club to be head coach of the Bulldogs.
Under the NRL's revised final eight system, the Bulldogs only played two home finals matches, winning both of them to reach the grand final.
The club were the first in almost 50 years to win all three minor premierships, however none of the three teams were able to win a grand final.
Draw and results RoundHomeScoreAwayMatch informationDate and timeVenueTRIAL 1 St. George Illawarra Dragons18–28 Canterbury Bankstown BulldogsSat 4 Feb 2012, 6:00pm AEDTWollongong ShowgroundTRIAL 2 Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs16–28 Sydney RoostersSun 12 Feb 2012, 5:00pm AEDTBelmore Sports GroundTRIAL 3 Canberra Raiders16–14 Canterbury Bankstown BulldogsSat 18 Feb 2012, 7:00pm AEDTMcDonalds Park, Wagga Wagga1 Penrith Panthers14–22 Canterbury Bankstown BulldogsSat 3 Mar 2012, 7:30pm AEDTPenrith Stadium2 Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs30–4 St. George Illawarra DragonsSat 10 Mar 2012, 7:30pm AEDTStadium Australia3 New Zealand Warriors18–32 Canterbury Bankstown BulldogsSun 18 Mar 2012, 2:00pm NZSTMount Smart Stadium4 Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs6–20 Newcastle KnightsSun 25 Mar 2012, 3:00pm AEDTStadium Australia5 Gold Coast Titans20–30 Canterbury Bankstown BulldogsSun 1 Apr 2012, 2:00pm AESTRobina Stadium6 South Sydney Rabbitohs20–10 Canterbury Bankstown BulldogsFri 6 Apr 2012, 4:00pm AESTStadium Australia7 Melbourne Storm12–6 Canterbury Bankstown BulldogsSat 14 Apr 2012, 5:30pm AESTMelbourne Rectangular Stadium8 Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs10–12 Manly-Warringah Sea EaglesFri 27 Apr 2012, 7:35pm AESTStadium Australia9 Parramatta Eels12–46 Canterbury Bankstown BulldogsFri 4 May 2012, 7:35pm AESTStadium Australia10 Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs14–25 Gold Coast TitansFri 11 May 2012, 8:30pm AESTSuncorp Stadium11 Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs26–6 Cronulla-Sutherland SharksMon 21 May 2012, 7:00pm AESTStadium Australia12 Sydney Roosters12–30 Canterbury Bankstown BulldogsMon 28 May 2012, 7:00pm AESTSydney Football Stadium13 Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs23–18 South Sydney RabbitohsSat 2 Jun 2012, 7:35pm AESTStadium Australia14BYE15 St. George Illawarra Dragons20–28 Canterbury Bankstown BulldogsFri 15 Jun 2012, 7:35pm AESTWollongong Showground16 Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs20–4 Melbourne StormSun 24 Jun 2012, 2:00pm AESTVirgin Australia Stadium17BYE18 Wests Tigers20–32 Canterbury Bankstown BulldogsFri 6 Jul 2012, 7:45pm AESTSydney Football Stadium19 Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs32–12 Parramatta EelsFri 13 Jul 2012, 7:35 AESTStadium Australia20 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles12–20 Canterbury Bankstown BulldogsFri 20 Jul 2012, 7:35pm AESTBrookvale Oval21 Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs32–18 North Queensland CowboysSat 28 Jul 2012, 5:30pm AESTStadium Australia22 Newcastle Knights10–26 Canterbury Bankstown BulldogsSat 4 Aug 2012, 5:30pm AESTNewcastle International Sports Centre23 Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs22–14 Brisbane BroncosSun 12 Aug 2012, 3:00pm AESTStadium Australia24 Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs23–22 Wests TigersFri 17 Aug 2012, 7:35pm AESTStadium Australia25 Canberra Raiders34–6 Canterbury Bankstown BulldogsFri 24 Aug 2012, 7:35pm AESTCanberra Stadium26 Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs42–10 Sydney RoostersSat 1 Sep 2012, 7:30pm AESTStadium AustraliaFinals Week 1 Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs16–10 Manly-Warringah Sea EaglesFri 7 Sep 2012, 7:35pm AESTStadium AustraliaFinals Week 3 Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs32–8 South Sydney RabbitohsSat 22 Sep 2012, 7:35pm AESTStadium AustraliaGRAND FINAL Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs4–14 Melbourne StormSun 30 Sep 2012, 5:00pm AESTStadium Australia
2012 squad
*Flags mean countries that players represent.
2012 Signings/transfers Signings Des Hasler Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles – Head Coach Noel Cleal Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles – Recruitment Manager James Graham ESL – St. Helens James Gavet – Vulcans NSW Cup Luke MacDougall – Saracens Sione Kite – Melbourne Storm
Re-signed David Stagg till 2012 Jake Foster till 2013 Corey Payne till 2013 Josh Morris till 2014 Michael Ennis till 2014 Ben Barba till 2015 Steve Turner till 2012 Bryson Goodwin till 2012 Tim Browne till 2013 Joel Romelo till 2012 Michael Lett till 2012
Transfers/leaving Jarrad Hickey – Mid-Season – Wakefield Trinity Wildcats ESL Jamal Idris – Gold Coast Titans Ben Roberts – Parramatta Eels Michael Hodgson – Retired Andrew Ryan – Retired Chris Armit – Penrith Panthers Brad Morrin – Retired Junior Tia-Kilifi – Penrith Panthers Mickey Paea – Hull Kingston Rovers
See also List of Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs seasons
References