Would the Bulldogs get better value from Connor Tracey or Ryan Papenhuyzen?

The Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs are on the hunt for the last piece of the puzzle as they look to enter Premiership contention in 2025.

Bulldogs’ supremo Gus Gould has made his intentions very clear when searching the open market for players and he has reportedly identified Melbourne Storm star Ryan Papenhuyzen as his next target.

Papenhuyzen has 12 months to run on his current deal and is currently mulling over a two-year extension offer worth around $750k,000 per season.

The offer from the Storm means Papenhuyzen would have to take a significant in order to stay, leaving his future up in the air.

12 months after securing the services of Connor Tracey, the Bulldogs are seemingly already looking for an upgrade with Papenhuyzen but with the incumbent fullback having a career-best season, many are left wondering if this is the right move.

SEN's NRL expert Denan Kemp weighed up the pros and cons of both players but pondered if Tracey’s current contract value makes him the more attractive option.

“The Dogs are interesting because Connor Tracey has just killed it and also he is so flexible as a player, on top of all of that he wouldn’t demand more than maybe $500k a year if that,” Kemp said on SEN 1170's The B Team.

“I guess you’ve got to ask yourself, the bang for buck, is it worth paying Paps say $900k, is he $5-600k more valuable than Connor Tracey?

“Then the argument is, he may not be $5-600k more but he is 10 per cent worth more and that 10 per cent will get us into the top four.

“It’s a real tricky one.”

Although Kemp is likely leaning towards keeping Tracey, he did note the star power of Papenhuyzen and what that would mean for the Bulldogs' spine going forward.

“If the Bulldogs could get a guy like Ryan Papenhuyzen, that spine all of a sudden gets that Origin-level type player with Reed Mahoney and Matt Burton,” Kemp added.

“It’s not bad at all.”