'What have I done?': Mahoney's mid-year regret

New Bulldogs recruit Reed Mahoney has admitted he was having doubts about his off-season move as the Eels marched towards the NRL grand final.

Mahoney rejected a three-year extension with the Eels to pen a four-year, $650,000-a-season contract with the Bulldogs in late-2021.

He will co-captain the side in 2023, alongside star half Matt Burton.

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As the Eels ran onto the field on the first Sunday in October, Mahoney was doubting he'd made the right decision.

"We went to the grand final, and the Doggies boys didn't even play finals," he told Nine.

"You have [those] days where you go, 'oh, what have I done?'".

The Bulldogs picked up another key signing, with Panthers star Stephen Crichton set to join the club in 2024.

Mahoney said he reached out to Crichton once the news was made public, to ensure Crichton didn't have the same doubts in his final season for the Panthers as he did with the Eels.

"I was sort of in his position last year, signing 12 months out. Obviously, you have those second doubts. We've all had them," he said. 

"Just letting him know he's coming to a good club and the culture of the boys is really good."

Mahoney said his parents were in tears when he called them with the news he would be leading the side.

"I didn't really know what to say; Mum and dad were in tears and super proud of me."

Burton in early January signed a massive five-year extension to stay at Belmore. He told Nine he was never looking to go elsewhere, despite his player agent David Riolo fielding interest from the NFL.

"As soon as they wanted to lock me down, I didn't even bother looking," he said.

"I told my manager, 'this is where I want to be, this is home for me'."

The Bulldogs play the Raiders in the first of two trial matches in Moruya on February 12, and then the Sharks at Belmore the following weekend.

They take on the Sea Eagles at Brookvale Oval in round one.

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