Canterbury call on big-game NRL experience

Canterbury have 114 games of finals experience in the NRL squad, and they will call upon every one of them as they aim to make a push for this year's top eight.

Josh Reynolds.

Five-eighth Josh Reynolds is one of several Bulldogs hoping to call on their finals experience. (AAP)

Canterbury are hoping their wealth of experience can help them make an unlikely run at the NRL finals.

The Bulldogs have made the finals every season since coach Des Hasler's arrival in 2012, but would require a dream run of results to continue the streak.

Currently 13th on the ladder, the Bulldogs face a virtual two-month run sudden-death football to make the finals, likely requiring wins in at least six of their last eight games.

But departing five-eighth Josh Reynolds said the combined 114 games of finals experience in the Bulldogs' squad would be called upon in the run home.

"Because when the pressure might be on at the back end of a close game - if you haven't got that experience you might not be ready for the occasion or be able to step up," he said.

"We've got plenty of players who can be cool calm and collected in the big moments and that's probably something in our favour so it definitely helps."

The Bulldogs' run must start on Sunday against Newcastle at Belmore Oval.

The match will be Reynolds' last at the club's traditional home ground before he departs for the Wests Tigers at the end of the year, but he is well aware of its importance to the Bulldogs' season.

After last week's golden-point loss to Parramatta, Canterbury will be without Origin stars Brett Morris, Josh Jackson and David Klemmer, as well as injured captain James Graham.

Reynolds knows how important it was the rest of the squad stepped up in their absence against the Knights.

"It really is (must win)," he said.

"We haven't really been in this predicament before where we nearly had to win every one of our games to be in the semis.

"It's killing us - it really is.

"So we're going to be doing everything in our powers to power home and make sure we get in that eight."


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Source: AAP



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