Yesterday morning Des Hasler wasn’t sure if he was going to coach the Bulldogs next season, or move to the circling Dragons.
By day’s end, after a bizarre Bulldog board meeting, the under siege Hasler was retained, but Bulldog legend Steve Mortimer quit the board as a result.
How Hasler was ever put in that position by such a well-run club defies description.
He’s been Bulldogs coach for five seasons, and has always reached the finals.
In his first year 2012, the Bulldogs were minor premiers, but beaten in the decider 14-4 by Melbourne with Hasler winning the Dally M coach of the year award.
In 2013, the Bulldogs were beaten 22-6 by the Knights in the qualifying elimination final.
In 2014, Hasler coached the Bulldogs from seventh to reach the grand final, beating the Storm 28-4 in Melbourne, Manly 18-17 in extra time, and the Panthers 18-12 before going down to South Sydney 30-6. It was a stellar season.
In 2015, the Bulldogs bowed out 28-12 in the semis to the Roosters.
And this season, the Bulldogs led 6-4 at the break, but were mown down by the Panthers 28-12 in the qualifying eliminator.
Hardly shabby.
But Hasler has been accused by some board members of not understanding the Bulldogs culture, Mortimer went further saying the coach didn’t possess the club’s DNA, and he’d resign from the board if Hasler wasn’t sacked despite having a year to go on his contract.
Result – Hasler stays, Mortimer’s gone.
But I wonder how long Mortimer will be just one of the boys at Bulldog games?
Both Hasler and Mortimer are passionate, strong-willed competitors, but as Mortimer admits he talks too much – and that’s a fact of life.
But he’s the very essence of what the Bulldogs have been since the halcyon days of Peter ‘Bullfrog’ Moore. Moore was the Bulldog boss for a record 25 years from 1969 to 1995.
He was a superb administrator, always available for interviews or updating what was happening at Belmore – one of the finest sporting officials I’ve had the privilege to know and deal with at any time of the day or night.
In that quarter of a century he won four premierships in an era where the club was rightfully known as the Entertainers, playing brilliant rugby league.
And in the process Bullfrog set up the Bulldog culture of a family club on the field and in the stands – it was literally just that.
There were three Mortimers – Steve now 60, Peter 58, and Chris 57. Then there were three Hughes – Garry 64, Mark 62, and Graeme 60, and two of the club’s Kangaroos – Steve Folkes and Chris Anderson married Bullfrog daughters.
And Belmore was always full of parents with kids wearing the Bulldog jerseys.
Even today, the Bulldogs are fortunate to have a wise and dedicated chairman in Ray Dib.
He was always in Hasler’s court and when push turned to shove at last night’s board meeting it was Dib who won through.
His motto?
The club is bigger than anyone – the club comes first, the team second, and individuals are third.
And by individuals he means the chief exec Raelene Castle, Hasler, the board and himself.
So sanity won through last night with Des Hasler. In time sanity will win through with Steve Mortimer who would be well advised to zip it if the opportunity presents itself.(Click to Tweet)
The eye
Guest
“It’s about winning premierships. It’s about being up there. It’s about developing your own — even though I came from Wagga — good players. That certainly hasn’t happened over the last five years.”...what the Dogs need is more of Turvey's honesty..knowingly all full well this was in all probability comimg back to bite him hard..still had the conviction and knackers to put it out there...probably tinged with melancholy and pine for the days of the 'entertainers' ..thats the gene I miss..
Johnybulldog
Guest
Young Abbey should be given a crack at FB next year,I think we'll see a few new faces next year n thank God no bloody Trex
Bexdog
Guest
Exactly. Definitely would rather see a more exciting team and miss the finals than what we got this year.
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
Mortimer can now concentrate on shuffleboard. Senior citizens across the country will be thrilled.
Drew
Roar Rookie
Obviously the coverage surrounding the meeting was unfortunate and Turvey speaking out was ill-advised. Despite being a great clubman, Mortimer is not the sharpest tool in the shed. Nonetheless, the board were right to put it to Des. Despite making the finals in all his 5 years at the helm, the squad and standard of play has gone backwards since the exciting days of 2012. The depth is no loner there and the lower grades are performing poorly. He is rightfully on notice. The buck stops with Des and his coaching staff. He gained a lot of credit from that 2012 season and that has seen him demand and receive complete control over the most facets of the club. Now that credit has well and truly been wiped - he is in the red. Most Dogs fans are over him and the stodgy style of play, the grind, the completions, the 6th tackle options that he coaches into the squad. I'd happily take a 9th place finish next year where we actually play some football than have to sit through the crap we dish up each week as we limp into the finals and prepare ourselves for another quick exit..
Don
Roar Rookie
The Dogs actually won 5 Premierships with Bullfrog was there. 1980, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1995. And only the team of the late 70s early 80's was considered the "entertainers." Warren Ryan's sides were unreal but they played a completely different game to Teddy Glossop's lads. Des needs to get some "mongrel" back into himself and some more points of attack and speed in his side. He has been a bit "passive" compared to the old angry Des. A creative dummy half is the starting point. And I know this is "left field" but I'd be considering Mbye or Reynolds at dummy half for a season and signing Benji Marshall on a cheap deal just for a year as a back up half. Meanwhile try to stitch up one of the halves hitting the market next year.
MAX
Guest
In Rugby League much is made of the necessity to have an intelligent and productive front office. I have heard it said that performances on the paddock are a reflection of the merits or otherwise of front office and board room methods and efficiency. If so, Canterbury may have a problem. Steve Mortimer purportedly uttered the words "I'm too bloody honest" when leaving yesterday's meeting. That aroused my curiosity more than the thousands of words written on this drama. It has been reported in today's SMH that CEO Castle hoped to have a new extension deal with Des before the start of season 2017. How that resonates with members of the C-BRLFC will be reflected in membership renewals. The team list is in urgent need of repair. That is top priority.
Cedric
Guest
how did it even come to all this drama, I didn't follow it closely but as you said TB there is a time to speak and a time to shut up. I was concerned for the dogs as not long ago we saw Manly sack Toovey after most of his player stocks had gone, nuts! I was hoping the dogs were not going to act like some looney corperate and start sacking because they didn't make the GF! Hopefully now the dogs resume normal service.
Simoc
Guest
It seems it's worked out ok. Steve Mortimer can settle down now and rejoin the board in time for next years premiership win.
Johnybulldog
Guest
So true Baz,so true mate.
The Barry
Roar Guru
It's a real shame about Nortimer but i was disappointed about his approach in speaking to the media twice this week and threatening to resign if he didn't get his way. The irony is that approach is completely against the Bulldogs DNA. I'm sure Bullfrog was very accommodating with the media but equally sure he would never have aired dirty laundry in public. Mortimer is a club legend and has every right to comment on any aspect of the club. But he was filling the role of board member, not club legend and as a board member his approach was unacceptable.