Former NRL player Steve Georgallis has joined the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs as coach of their NSW Cup team.

The 48 year-old joins the club from Penrith, where he was assistant coach to the NRL team last season.

Georgallis has a strong background in coaching at this level having been assistant coach to Geoff Toovey at Manly in 2014-15, while before that he performed the same role under Tim Sheens at the Wests Tigers in 2012-13.

He also acted as interim coach at Penrith in the 2011 season.

Bulldogs coach Des Hasler was pleased to have Georgallis on board: "Steve brings great experience in the NRL from his time as a player and coach. We are pleased to have him with us at the Bulldogs and I'm sure that he will be able to do a great job with our NSW Cup side."

Georgallis is also looking forward to a new challenge: "I am delighted to be joining the Bulldogs. I have a great deal of respect for Des and the standards the club have set over the years and I look forward to working with a talented group of young players and trying to bring the best out of them."

Georgallis will start his new role with the Bulldogs in early January.