Ethan Parry: Tamworth product played for Kooty Roosters last season

Parry, 22, a 191cm centre who played several games for Kootingal-Moonbi last season, and front-rower Duggan, 23, are the headline acts of an ambitious recruiting campaign by new coach Aaron Watts which will see about 20 new players don the Bulldogs jersey in 2022.

The former Eels were both teammates at Parramatta with Bulldogs forward Jesse Cronin, who has retired because of concussion issues.

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Parry who made his debut with Parramatta in 2019 and played two first grade games with the club is originally from Tamworth and was part of the Australian Schoolboys with Cronin.

Duggan, from Muswellbrook, played most recently in the Jersey Flegg competition with the Eels after having the past two seasons disrupted by COVID-19.

The selection of Parry and Duggan comes as Kurri Kurri parted ways with former NRL players Frank-Paul Nu'uausala and Tyler Randell and the well-travelled Henry Penn.

The Bulldogs have not been able to contact Nu'uausala, Penn is set to play in Queensland and Randell will play with the Northern Hawks.

The Bulldogs have also enticed Newcastle Rebels centre Billy Gilbert from Cessnock.

Former Central Newcastle winger Tim Bridges, who played under Watts at Scone in 2018, has also signed.

Maitland Pickers half Hayden Grainger is also back at the Bulldogs along with his brother Zack, a promising hooker.

With former Newcastle Knight Nathan Ross re-signing after an injury-interrupted 2021, the Bulldogs have addressed a lack of depth in the backs with quality acquisitions.

The profile of the club is also a lot younger, which can only bode well for the future.

Watts has used his experience in the Upper Hunter to secure the signature of a number of players keen to test themselves in the Newcastle RL.

"We've got about four or five boys from up the Valley who have played first grade and there's a couple of kids coming down to play 19s," Watts said. "We've signed about 20 new blokes all up."

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