Tolman: Dogs have recruited well

Canterbury recruit Aiden Tolman is impressed with the calibre of the club’s off season signings, but warns they must play to their potential.

Tolman, who has joined from Melbourne, is one of six Bulldogs recruits alongside Frank Pritchard, Greg Eastwood, Kris Keating and Trent Hodkinson.

But the 22-year-old prop says big names will count for little when they kick off their season against last year’s preliminary finalists Wests Tigers in March.

“The club’s bought good in the off-season,” Tolman told The Daily Telegraph.

“They’ve bought really good players, but names don’t mean much until you get on to a training paddock. You’ve got to do your best and hopefully when you start the trials you’re fit and ready.

“Just because we’ve got all these big names doesn’t mean things will just change. Everyone knows that. We’ve been working hard for seven weeks so hopefully when round one comes around we’re firing and playing to our potential.”

Tolman, who was signed to replace Ben Hannant, will get a chance to pull on the Bulldogs jersey in their trial match against Canberra on February 26.