The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have made a significant mid-season move by officially announcing the early acquisition of highly-rated young forward Finau Latu from the St George Illawarra Dragons. The 2023 Australian Schoolboys representative has joined the club ahead of schedule as the Bulldogs look to bolster a forward pack severely impacted by injury and suspension.
Over the past few weeks, the Bulldogs have been forced to deal with the absence of key forward personnel. Jacob Preston and Sitili Tupouniua are currently serving suspensions, while Jack Todd (arm) and Jaeman Salmon (ankle) are sidelined with long-term injuries. This shortage has prompted the club to fast-track recruitment efforts, with Latu seen as a valuable addition to the club’s future and immediate plans.
Initially contracted to the Dragons until the end of the 2025 NRL season, Latu had already agreed to join the Bulldogs next year. However, in light of Canterbury’s current crisis in the middle, negotiations were finalised to bring him in earlier than expected. In a bold move, Latu also turned down a lucrative three-year, $1.2 million offer from the Newcastle Knights, underlining his commitment to joining the Bulldogs’ long-term project.
A Minchinbury Jets junior, Latu has been one of the most promising forwards emerging through the Dragons’ pathways system since his arrival in 2022. He successfully transitioned from the Harold Matthews Cup to making his NSW Cup debut last season, showing signs of being a future NRL regular.
Dragons head coach Shane Flanagan did not hide his frustration regarding the departure of the promising young forward.
“Without a doubt, I wanted to keep him,” Flanagan said.
“I’m not happy about the negotiation side of it. It has been handled poorly… terribly. Sometimes you lose them because you’re not willing to pay a certain fee, or you don’t want the player, but we wanted to keep him and we aren’t happy about it.”
For Latu, however, the move to Canterbury represents a fresh opportunity and a challenge he’s eager to embrace.
“I’m excited to be joining the Bulldogs,” Latu said in a brief club statement. “I know there’s a lot of work to do, but I’m ready to contribute however I can and help the team be successful. I’m grateful for the chance and will give it everything.”
The Bulldogs, under head coach Cameron Ciraldo, continue to shape a youthful and competitive roster with an eye on sustainable long-term success. The signing of Latu is viewed as a key component in this strategy, especially in revitalising their forward depth and maintaining competitiveness in a tightly contested 2025 NRL campaign.
Latu is expected to link up with his new teammates in the coming days and could be available for selection as early as next week, pending clearance and fitness assessments.
This acquisition not only addresses a short-term need but is also a clear investment in the Bulldogs’ future.
