Taaffe recruitment drive already well under way at the Bulldogs

Bulldogs supremo Phil Gould is very interested in bringing Blake Taaffe to Canterbury, believing the South Sydney backup is ready to play regular first-grade footy, and has already started the recruitment drive.

Gould, off-contract Taaffe, and the Rabbitohs youngster’s management met on Tuesday.

Inside the Canterbury halls, The Sporting Base has heard, both Gould and Cameron Ciraldo rate the 24-year-old quite highly and believe he could do a job for them at fullback. While Taaffe has spoken at length about wanting to play in the halves, his recent fullback outings have been eye-catching, to say the least.

Most recently, Taaffe gave Gould and Ciraldo front-row seats to what he can do in the number one jumper in a 32-36 loss to the Bulldogs in round 19 where he scored twice and kicked three goals.

The feeling within the Bulldogs camp is that the lure of first-grade footy would be enough to pry Taaffe—a 26-game player already—away from South Sydney. He is currently stuck behind Latrell Mitchell if he wants to play fullback or Cody Walker if he wants to take a shot at the five-eighth jersey. Then, in particular, the Rabbitohs see young halfback Lachlan Ilias, 23, as their next dynasty seven.

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The Bulldogs did just sign Toby Sexton to play halfback, so fullback for Taaffe is more likely. That said, Canterbury would also be happy to let the two duel for the top spot and take whomever eventually emerges victorious.

Whatever happens, Matt Burton is expected to stay at five-eighth long-term.

Taaffe has had a string of games in the Bunnies top squad between rounds 13 and 19 due to Mitchell’s injury, but with Latrell back next week that’s now coming to a close.