With the Bulldogs well and truly placed in the bottom half of the ladder, Denan Kemp has expressed his disappointment with their start to the season.

Following a top-four finish in 2025, hopes were high in Belmore that the side could take the next step in their development and enhance their premiership case.

But so far, it’s been a mixed bag of form.

Despite being the only side to beat the ladder-leading Penrith Panthers, the Bulldogs have struggled particularly with their attack.    

On Friday, those struggles continued as they picked up their fourth loss for the year against the Brisbane Broncos, losing 32-12.

Reflecting on their performances so far, Kemp expressed his frustrations with their showings so far.

“Honestly, I'd go further than inconsistent,” Kemp said on SEN’s Saturday League Kick-Off.

 “I'd say it's been a disappointing year. They've only had one good game, and it was against the Penrith Panthers.

“I am lost for words with the Dogs.

“They come out, they have this great game, and I go, ‘OK, maybe, Galvin is a 7, and maybe this is the setup that can get the job done’.

“But then you look at situations where (Bailey) Hayward is coming off the bench, he comes on at 13, and their attack actually looked quite good towards the end of the game there.

“I’ve been saying for pretty much a year that Bailey Hayward’s best position is lock or at least a utility forward.”

One of the main criticisms surrounding the Bulldogs this year has been around their halves, with some believing halfback Lachie Galvin is better suited as a five-eighth.

During his press conference, coach Cameron Ciraldo would defend the 20-year-old, pointing to his phenomenal performance against the Panthers to.  

But Kemp thinks that even the club is unsure if Galvin's is best suited to being a halfback.

“I get where he's coming from with that, and then after he said, ‘Galvin's a 20-year-old half,” he continued.

“But he emphasised the word half, and this is where I struggle with the Dogs in regard to messaging.

“If they say, ‘Galvin is our 7 going forward, for the next 5 years, and we're gonna build a team around him’, I'll be like, ‘Sweet, he's 20 years old (and) he's got plenty of talent’.

“The concern I have with the Dogs is like, I don't even think they're sure whether he's the 7 to build the club around.

“I don't know how you can begrudge fans questioning that Galvin-Burton situation, where there has been no clear, strong message from the Bulldogs that he is their guy for the next 5 years.

“Even Ciraldo saying he's a 20-year-old half and emphasising the word half.

“That suggests to me that maybe he is a 6 long-term.”

The Bulldogs’ Round 9 fixture takes place next Friday when they host the Cowboys at Accor Stadium.

Kick off takes place from 6pm AEST with SEN League having live coverage of the match across our radio network and on the SEN app from 5pm.