Canterbury have backed Englishman Luke Thompson to fill the void left by Adam Elliott and make an immediate impact in the NRL.
The Bulldogs confirmed their worst fears on Wednesday, with Elliott ruled out for the rest of the season with a shoulder injury.
His absence is at least somewhat offset by the timing of Thompson’s arrival.
The English international had long identified Saturday’s clash with Brisbane as his ideal NRL debut, after spending three-and-a-half months in lockdown.
And after a week at training, Bulldogs players are confident he can provide the same energy and motor at lock as Elliott.
“I don’t think he has missed a beat at all. We did extras today and he was leading our pack,” second-rower Raymond Faitala-Mariner said.
“In the session today he looked really confident. He is ready to do a job this week against the Broncos.
“The way that he has been training today, the way he runs the ball he brings a lot of energy. Adsy does the same.
“We have players who have the ball skills he (Adam) has, we have seen Aiden Tolman and Dylan Napa do it through the year.”
Elliott’s injury comes at a horrible time, given he is off-contract and could command big dollars on the open market.
It’s now possible he has played his last game for the club he debuted at in 2016 if he follows interest from elsewhere.
Thompson meanwhile has already been influential in Bulldogs training.
Teammates are hoping he can have the same influence Dallin Waetene-Zelezniak had when he arrived last year before Canterbury won seven of their last 15.
“The stuff he talks about in video, it’s different to what we have been discussing the last couple of weeks,” Faitala-Mariner said of Thompson.
“It’s refreshing and probably what the playing group needs at this time of year.”
Last-placed Canterbury know they will meet an equally desperate side on Saturday, with the Broncos having lost their last six.
Players took note of the tears from Brisbane players after their loss to the Warriors on the weekend and know what is coming this weekend.
“We saw the reaction after the game against the Warriors. There was a lot of emotion coming from the Broncos team,” Faitala-Mariner said.
“We expect them to fire up and respond in a big game this week.”