Round 20 BIGLEAGUE 2019 21
o t he Dogs
BULLDOGS
FULLBACKS
L
UKE Patten is arguably the greatest
modern player to don the No.1 jumper for
the Bulldogs. He played 282 NRL matches
across 13 seasons in the top grade and
became a fan favourite at Belmore. He
scored exactly 100 tries and was always
reliable at the back for the Dogs.
Since his retirement in 2010, there’s
been a void in that position at the club.
Ben Barba starred in the No.1 jersey
and even won a Dally M Medal in 2012,
however off-field dramas and positional
and club changes unsettled the side.
The Bulldogs have had a number of
players fill the role over the past decade
but no players has made it their own. Dallin
Watene-Zelezniak wants to change that.
“I’ve always been vocal about playing
fullback. I’ve played there for the Kiwis and
I’d prefer to stay there from now,” he says.
“Dean [Pay] has handed me this
opportunity at the Bulldogs and hopefully
I can make this position my own. I’ll have to
stay consistent and work on some things.”No.1s post-Patten
Fullbacks Games at FB Years
Ben Barba 67 2011-2016
Drury Low 3 2013
Josh Morris 6 2013
Sam Perrett 35 2014 -2016
Brett Morris 19 2015-2017
Will Hopoate 51 2016 -2019
Moses Mbye 14 2018
Nick Meaney 11 2 019