‘Greatest compliment’: Ciraldo opens up on Dogs’ demotion after shock spine switch

Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo is committing to another shock late season switch to his spine, with hooker Reed Mahoney set for a demotion.

An hour before kick off, Ciraldo promoted Bailey Hayward to the starting side, dropping Mahoney to the bench.

FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer >

With Hayward at dummy-half, the Bulldogs’ clicked in the wet, jumping out to a 20-2 half time lead over the Warriors before going onto win 32-8.

Mahoney came on with just 16 minutes to play with the game already in the Bulldogs’ keeping.

Ciraldo confirmed post game that Mahoney, who is heading to the Cowboys next season, will have a reduced role going forward, while lauding Hayward.

“I thought he (Hayward) was really good. Probably a couple of moments he’d like back but defensively he makes our team function at a really high level and that’s probably the greatest compliment you could give someone,” Ciraldo said.

“He helps make other people around him better.

“He’s been doing that for a while and deserved the start tonight.

“He’ll definitely start next week. He’s earned the right to start the game through his performances and that’s really hard on Reed because Reed’s been doing a lot of good things for us.

“It’s not so much about Reed it’s more about Bailey and what he’s been doing for us.

“He’s earned the right and I think the way he and the team performed tonight, he deserves to stay there.”

There were plenty of question marks heading into Saturday night’s fixture over the Bulldogs’ ability to handle wet conditions.

Some of their worst performances this year (vs. Broncos, Tigers) have been in the wet.

Ciraldo was smarting post-game, pleased he was able to prove some doubters wrong.

“We played the conditions a lot better than we have the last three times we played (in the wet),” Ciraldo said.

“Playing the conditions a lot smarter than we have the last couple of times so that’s pleasing.

“I woke up and read the paper today that we couldn’t play in the wet so it’s nice to prove that wrong.”