His team is on the verge of one of the most remarkable 12-month turnarounds in rugby league history, but Bulldogs coach Kevin Moore says success can’t be judged until the grand final.
The Bulldogs only need a win over the Wests Tigers on Friday to collect the minor premiership, and the $100,000 prize money that goes with it, but Moore says the JJ Giltinan Shield is simply a bonus towards the holy grail the Bulldogs truly covet.
“It’s a recognition of the fact you’ve been really consistent throughout the year and it’s a by-product of the hard work you’ve put in,” said Moore.
“You only have to look at (the players) … go and ask them if they’re satisfied with where they are at.
“Obviously they’re happy with what we’ve done so far but it ain’t over.”
A year after they finished last and lost their last eight games, the Bulldogs enter the final round of the 2009 competition in top spot and knowing a win will guarantee them the minor premiership.
No club in the history of rugby league has gone from last to minor premiers in one season.
Western Suburbs, however, did achieve the unthinkable after going from 1933 wooden spooners to 1934 premiers.
It is an achievement well within the Bulldogs’ reach, but with five weeks of the season still to go, Moore is refusing to accept any praise.
“We will assess (success) at the end of the year,” said Moore.
“I haven’t thought too much about it because we still have a lot of work to do.
“I always believed we had the players to be competitive with anyone.”
Bulldogs lock David Stagg agreed with Moore, he’d happily trade a minor premiership for the major prize handed out at ANZ Stadium on October 4.
“The big picture at the end of the day is that first week in October,” said Stagg.
“(Minor premiership) is a bonus along the way.
“At the beginning of the year there was no set plan how many games we would win or where we would end up. It’s just a matter of guys coming together and playing a bit of footy and hopefully being competitive.
“That’s where we are but it’s obviously a new ball game in a week’s time.”
The only other team capable of snatching the minor premiership is St George Illawarra, who need to defeat Parramatta at WIN Jubilee Stadium also on Friday and hope the Dogs lose to the Tigers.
Wayne Bennett’s men are riding a three-game losing streak and even though they can still claim the JJ Giltinan Shield and a top two spot, the coach has slammed the NRL’s McIntyre finals system, which could see his side in a re-match with the Eels next week.
“I think it is unfair on the top teams,” said Bennett.
“At the moment you could finish first and play eighth and eighth could be a better team right now than second or third.
“The reward is not good enough.
“I think the other one (AFL system), first versus fourth and second against third and the others battle it out (is better).”
But the minor premiership and even getting a win are the furthest things from Bennett’s mind going into the blockbuster.
“Winning is not our priority, right now a good performance is our priority,” he said.
“We are in a wonderful (ladder) position, so it’s not a case of win at all costs.”
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