# 2012 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs season

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

| Round | Home | Score | Away | Match information | Match information |
| Round | Home | Score | Away | Date and time | Venue |
| TRIAL 1 | St. George Illawarra Dragons | 18–28 | Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs | Sat 4 Feb 2012, 6:00pm AEDT | Wollongong Showground |
| TRIAL 2 | Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs | 16–28 | Sydney Roosters | Sun 12 Feb 2012, 5:00pm AEDT | Belmore Sports Ground |
| TRIAL 3 | Canberra Raiders | 16–14 | Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs | Sat 18 Feb 2012, 7:00pm AEDT | McDonalds Park, Wagga Wagga |
| 1 | Penrith Panthers | 14–22 | Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs | Sat 3 Mar 2012, 7:30pm AEDT | Penrith Stadium |
| 2 | Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs | 30–4 | St. George Illawarra Dragons | Sat 10 Mar 2012, 7:30pm AEDT | Stadium Australia |
| 3 | New Zealand Warriors | 18–32 | Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs | Sun 18 Mar 2012, 2:00pm NZST | Mount Smart Stadium |
| 4 | Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs | 6–20 | Newcastle Knights | Sun 25 Mar 2012, 3:00pm AEDT | Stadium Australia |
| 5 | Gold Coast Titans | 20–30 | Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs | Sun 1 Apr 2012, 2:00pm AEST | Robina Stadium |
| 6 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 20–10 | Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs | Fri 6 Apr 2012, 4:00pm AEST | Stadium Australia |
| 7 | Melbourne Storm | 12–6 | Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs | Sat 14 Apr 2012, 5:30pm AEST | Melbourne Rectangular Stadium |
| 8 | Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs | 10–12 | Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | Fri 27 Apr 2012, 7:35pm AEST | Stadium Australia |
| 9 | Parramatta Eels | 12–46 | Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs | Fri 4 May 2012, 7:35pm AEST | Stadium Australia |
| 10 | Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs | 14–25 | Gold Coast Titans | Fri 11 May 2012, 8:30pm AEST | Suncorp Stadium |
| 11 | Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs | 26–6 | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | Mon 21 May 2012, 7:00pm AEST | Stadium Australia |
| 12 | Sydney Roosters | 12–30 | Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs | Mon 28 May 2012, 7:00pm AEST | Sydney Football Stadium |
| 13 | Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs | 23–18 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | Sat 2 Jun 2012, 7:35pm AEST | Stadium Australia |
| 14 | | BYE | | |
| 15 | St. George Illawarra Dragons | 20–28 | Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs | Fri 15 Jun 2012, 7:35pm AEST | Wollongong Showground |
| 16 | Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs | 20–4 | Melbourne Storm | Sun 24 Jun 2012, 2:00pm AEST | Virgin Australia Stadium |
| 17 | | BYE | | |
| 18 | Wests Tigers | 20–32 | Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs | Fri 6 Jul 2012, 7:45pm AEST | Sydney Football Stadium |
| 19 | Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs | 32–12 | Parramatta Eels | Fri 13 Jul 2012, 7:35 AEST | Stadium Australia |
| 20 | Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | 12–20 | Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs | Fri 20 Jul 2012, 7:35pm AEST | Brookvale Oval |
| 21 | Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs | 32–18 | North Queensland Cowboys | Sat 28 Jul 2012, 5:30pm AEST | Stadium Australia |
| 22 | Newcastle Knights | 10–26 | Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs | Sat 4 Aug 2012, 5:30pm AEST | Newcastle International Sports Centre |
| 23 | Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs | 22–14 | Brisbane Broncos | Sun 12 Aug 2012, 3:00pm AEST | Stadium Australia |
| 24 | Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs | 23–22 | Wests Tigers | Fri 17 Aug 2012, 7:35pm AEST | Stadium Australia |
| 25 | Canberra Raiders | 34–6 | Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs | Fri 24 Aug 2012, 7:35pm AEST | Canberra Stadium |
| 26 | Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs | 42–10 | Sydney Roosters | Sat 1 Sep 2012, 7:30pm AEST | Stadium Australia |
| Finals Week 1 | Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs | 16–10 | Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | Fri 7 Sep 2012, 7:35pm AEST | Stadium Australia |
| Finals Week 3 | Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs | 32–8 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | Sat 22 Sep 2012, 7:35pm AEST | Stadium Australia |
| GRAND FINAL | Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs | 4–14 | Melbourne Storm | Sun 30 Sep 2012, 5:00pm AEST | Stadium 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