The Bulldogs have encountered more ups and downs than a fiddler's elbow in the last decade, but one thing that has remained consistent is the form of the NRL's record points scorer Hazem El Masri.

The Lebanon-born winger has been a mainstay of the club since making his first-grade debut in 1996, and Sunday's clash with Canberra will leave him just two games shy of 300 appearances for the Dogs.

The 33-year-old is already the club's record try and points scorer and well qualified to judge how good this latest Bulldogs side really is having won five of their first six games.

"All the new signings and the young blokes have stepped up and the club have signed significant players in key positions like Mick Ennis and Noddy Kimmorley who have taken on leadership roles," said El Masri.

"They have all come on board and I think we are definitely heading in the right direction."

It's a far cry from a year ago where a side which was once the most feared in the competition, was reduced to toothless pups.

Star forwards Mark O'Meley and Willie Mason upped sticks and moved to the Roosters, Sonny Bill Williams walked out mid-season to play rugby in France and on no fewer than three occasions the side gave up 50 points or more in a game to collect the wooden spoon.

"When you are winning and things are going well for you, you feel on top of the world and unfortunately with all the disruptions and negatives we went through last year it was unpleasant," said El Masri.

"But this year it has been really good, there is a different coach, different players and a different feel to the place.

"It does feel in some ways that I am playing for different club ... it was like a rep team with guys walking up and introducing themselves to each other for the first time when we returned in the off-season."

El Masri said has been impressed with the form and the attitudes of the younger Bulldogs players and believes Jamal Idris, who is recalled for the Canberra clash, will become a star of the game.

"He is only 18, still growing and has a bright future ahead of him with the things he can do and the way he plays," he said.

"He is also a good bloke off the field, very quiet and he is going to get better and better. Being one of the senior players it is the job of me, Noddy and some of the other senior players to have a chat with the younger players and keep an eye out for them and they have responded well to us."

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