The Bulldogs are plotting a huge change to their jerseys for the NRL's third year kicking off the season in Las Vegas in 2026, but there could be a major roadblock that stops it from happening. Bulldogs CEO Aaron Warburton has revealed plans for the club to restore player names to the backs of jerseys across all grades. While sports like football and basketball commonly emblazon player names on the backs of jerseys, the NRL has never really embraced the concept.

There have been occasions in the past where names were included, like the 1997 Super League season, the inaugural Melbourne Storm season in 1998 and in State of Origin. But for regular season matches, fans have to work out players by their number. Warburton wants to change that in Vegas and believes it will heighten fan engagement. The Bulldogs used to have player names on their jerseys back in the Super League season of 1997.

Melbourne Storm hooker Richard Swain with his name on his jersey in the club's first NRL season in 1998. 'It's about pushing the boundaries … It's about us putting the Bulldogs on the map,' Warburton told SEN. 'We're actually talking with the NRL at the moment because we think it's the perfect moment to implement surnames on the back of jerseys. 'Something as simple as that we think will really engage the fans.

'There's a lot of chat online, particularly with our fanbase, around why they can't see a Burton or Kikau or Mahoney on the backs of jerseys with their number. 'The stats say they want it, and we're really open to it. It'd be a discussion for us and all the clubs and in particular the top-of-jersey sponsor to negotiate what that would look like to make way for the surname.'. News Corp has reported the NRL is unlikely to give the idea the green light unless it is rolled out across the whole league.

And fans have also picked out a key problem with the proposal. 'What about the lost revenue from where the sponsors name currently sits?' one asked. The space where the player names would go is currently occupied by sponsor logos. Players like Matt Burton could have their names on their jersey for the Vegas season opener in 2026. '100% should do it. Plus should cut the amount of sponsors on jerseys,' posted another.

However Warburton claims having the player names there will actually bring more eyes to sponsor logos as well. 'We've started some of the conversations internally and the metrics behind it,' Warburton said. 'We don't want to approach any particular sponsor with, 'This is how we are going to diminish your brand awareness'. 'Some of the early research has suggested it will actually amplify it just in terms of the amount of interest and eyeballs on that space.

'The size of the logo, anything you do with that by reducing it will reduce the value of it. 'But we think there is a lot more to valuing a sponsor logo than just eyeballs. If you are enhancing the match day experience, it could be 10-fold exposure but just in a different way.'. NRL fans are not so sure. While there were plenty in support, others pointed out flaws in the system. 'The problem here is a player is not in a particular number permanently. Players swap positions, go from starter to the bench, it's not like the NFL or NBA where a player is assigned a jersey number,' one posted.