Coached by Brian Smith and captained by Nathan Cayless, they competed in the National Rugby League's 2002 Telstra Premiership.

The club would win seven of their first ten games to sit fourth on the competition ladder.

The side lost in the first week of the finals 24–14 to the Brisbane Broncos at what was then known as Telstra Stadium.

However, this loss resulted in the elimination of the club from the 2002 Finals Series as seventh place St. George Illawarra upset the defending premiers, Newcastle.

[1] 1 The Bulldogs were deducted 37 premiership points due to gross salary cap breaches.