The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are pleased to announce the appointment of Bulldogs legend, Michael (Mick) Potter as the Bulldogs’ 2024 NSW Cup Head Coach.
Potter will continue to work closely with Head Coach Cameron Ciraldo, officially shifting from his post as an NRL assistant coach in 2023 to take charge of the Club’s next-in-line NRL players in 2024.
An incredibly seasoned and accomplished coach, he will now have the opportunity to shape the Club’s emerging talent, coaching and developing them to their first-grade ambitions. His appointment replaces outgoing NSW Cup Coach, David Tangata-Toa who has taken up a post at the New Zealand Warriors.
“NSW Cup is the final testing ground from junior pathways into the NRL,” said General Manager of Football, Phil Gould.
CEO Aaron Warburton added: “Mick has done incredible service to our Club on both the playing and coaching front. He did a terrific job with our NRL side during a time of need and has assisted Cameron [Ciraldo] tirelessly over the past year. In him, we have a coach with vast experience at all levels and a perfect fit to take the reigns with our reserve grade side. He is a true Bulldog, who can help instil the Bulldogs values at this level and help us take our development of future NRL players to a whole new level.”
Potter played 80 games in the blue and white and was a part of the Bulldogs’ Premiership-winning sides of 1984 and 1985. Post his playing career, he turned his attention to coaching where he has held several positions across the Super League, NRL, NSWRL and Fiji National Rugby League representative teams.
The two-time Dally M medalist was coaching Mounties in the NSW Cup competition before returning to the Bulldogs in 2022, stepping in to assist the Club at short notice to lead the NRL squad as an interim coach.
With Cameron Ciraldo’s arrival to Canterbury in 2023, the duo had candid and humble conversations about the future of the Club, sharing alignment in their coaching philosophies and vision for the future.
With players arriving for 2024 induction as soon as next week, Potter is readying to take charge of the NSW Cup program.
