The Bulldogs have lost plenty of their big name players over the off-season and so far they've scored mixed results.

They won two of their three games at the pre-season nines but that split with two trial losses, including a heavy one to Thirlmere on Saturday.

The Bulldogs have welcomed brothers Romann and Euston Leota on board.

Co-coach Chris Maher expects they will fill positions in the front row.

They join former Young captain-coach James Woolford at the club this season.

Maher is still hopeful of picking up one or more.

"There are two Kiwi front rowers who are brothers," Maher said.

"We did have another fella but he had family problems and had to go back to New Zealand.

"He might come back but you just don't know.

"We are still looking for one more, maybe two if we can."

It will help replace the likes of former coach Glenn Buttriss, who has headed back to play in Canberra, best and fairest winner Jake Goodwin, and fellow forward Jeremy Wood and Aaron Duncan, who are all back with West Wyalong, the retired Aaron Byrne and former NSW Cup player Jarrod Brackenhofer.

In more good news Dave Buttriss will play again.

Cootamundra took a tight 16-14 win over Temora to start the nines at Les Boyd Oval, then had a draw with Junee, but picked the points by scoring the first try, before a 22-16 loss to Young ruled them out of the finals on percentage.

Plenty of their new and senior faces didn't play so far was far from disappointed by their performance.

"We had a really young side with a lot of fringe and reserve players there," Maher said. 

"We were looking to give them a run with a few boys out.

"Everyone stepped up and performed.

"It was really good."

The Bulldogs tackle Junee to start the season on April 7.