AFTER a 2009 season that saw the Canterbury Bulldogs rise from the doghouse to the penthouse, rugged second-rower Gary Warburton said his teammates are aware if they want to actually get across the threshold to the decider they need to take their game to a new level.

Warburton's assessment comes ahead of another NRL season where the Bulldogs will start as one of the favourites for the title despite getting knocked out by eventual grand finalists Parramatta in a thriller.

The former Group 20 junior said that loss to the Eels still haunts him, but quickly added with the work that is being done currently in their off-season when combined with the new recruits should see the Bulldogs again feature in the top eight come finals time.

"It (Eels loss) does hurt, everyone was really rapt with how we played given where we came from. But in saying that this is a whole new season," Warburton said.

"Everybody in the club's really motivated because the rest of the competition knows how well we can go now," Warburton said.

"We've got no excuses to not go well, and we've got a few new players that have given us some more depth in the playing ranks.

"They've fit in really well and it's a credit to the club with how well they've bought with the blokes they've bought in they're really decent blokes and genuine and it's really working out well."

The radical shift in Canterbury's recruitment policy was one of the main reasons for their charge up the ladder last season, with many of the more family-orientated players, such as David Stagg, Ben Hannant and veteran halfback Brett Kimmorley being creditied with the stunning revival.

"Stevie Turner's a great bloke who's about to have his first baby and Dene Halatau; he's got a little girl and few other blokes that are down to earth and are just here to play footy," Warburton said of the newest Bulldogs at the Moore Park kennel.

As for his role in the team in 2010, the 22-year-old said he was still unsure where coach Kevin Moore will want to use him.