It’s do or die time for the Bulldogs.
Forget about the supposed seven-week window needed to figure out Des Hasler’s future with the club. Forget about how many games they’ll need to win from now until late August to figure in the finals picture.
The only date the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs need concern themselves with right now is Thursday, 30th March.
For on that date they face the Brisbane Broncos at ANZ Stadium. Call me hyperbolical, but I believe this clash to be the most important fixture (with the exception of the 2012 and 2014 grand finals) they’ve had during Des Hasler’s time at the club.
For so long the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have earned a reputation as the club which, no matter the obstacles thrown their direction, will find a way to come back from the dead and stand tall even after everyone had written them off.
Of course, I could name a dozen examples – namely the three year period from 2002-04 which included both the loss of 37 competition points due to a salary cap scandal, as well as a rape allegation of which they were later acquitted. Yet somehow, they came out of the end of the tunnel all smiles, Premiership trophy in hand.
Because that’s how the ‘Dogs have always done it.
In order to succeed in rugby league, clubs and players alike must always learn to adapt, or perish. A look back through the Bulldogs’ 80-plus year history suggests this could almost be the club’s motto. The slogan which they’ve used to become if not the most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, then at least among the most consistent. Not a whole lot of change takes place without Canterbury-Bankstown being aware of it.
rguably the most prominent example in the club’s history of their incredible ability to successfully readjust according to the changing nature of rugby league came in the eighties, when they quickly went from ‘The Entertainers’ and ‘The Enforcers’ under coach Warren Ryan. A team that had been known as one of the most entertaining teams in Australian rugby league were soon recognised for a style of football which could accurately be described as a dour, physical struggle.
By the end of the 1980s they’d qualified for four grand finals, winning three.
And so it goes.
In each decade since the 1980s the Bulldogs have won a Premiership. Granted, a team can win three titles in thirty years to achieve that feat, yet when you consider that the Parramatta Eels, who were head-to-head with the ‘Dogs as the most successful team of the 1980s, haven’t won a grand final since 1986, it is no small accomplishment.
During the same period in which they accumulated these Premiership victories came terrible times of turbulence which would have brought weaker clubs to their knees. But it only served to steel the Bulldogs’ famous resolve.
And once again, they find themselves in that exact position of vulnerability which they’ve encountered so many times before, having been at the wrong end of a 36-0 drubbing on the weekend at the hands of Manly at Brookvale Oval.
Sure, they’ve had worse losses in recent times as far as the margin goes. But I can’t recall if I’ve ever seen as insipid a performance from a Bulldogs side as I saw on Saturday afternoon.
And it goes beyond the typical rugby league nomenclature so often rattled off in press conferences and match reports; lamenting they’re ‘poor last tackle options’, and the fact they were too flat in both attack and defence. No, this goes beyond that.
When it comes down to it, moreso than failing to follow a pre-planned strategy for any length of time, the Bulldog’s didn’t play with any heart. And that’s the worst criticism a team can be given. Not only did they not play for each other, they didn’t appear to be playing for themselves either.
About the only semblance of passion came when David Klemmer inexplicably slapped Daly Cherry-Evans after the Manly pivot failed to hand the ball over to Klemmer after a Sea Eagles mistake.
Instead of using his frustrations to increase his intensity and lift his team, Klemmer resorted to slapping the opposition’s halfback in the face. Fittingly enough, even then Manly were able to get the last laugh.
Not only were they awarded a penalty, but during the post-match interview Cherry – Evans got a not to subtle dig in when he quipped: “He just wanted the ball. They’ve had a long day, and obviously didn’t get much of it”.
More than an opportunity to turn the club’s season around and – if the rumours are true – perhaps save the coach, their upcoming clash against the Brisbane Broncos is a chance for the Bulldogs to prove that not only as a team, but as a club they still posses the kind of willpower that has earned them the reputation as one of the toughest, most resilient clubs in rugby league.
As the old adage goes, it’s not how many times you go down that counts, but how many times you get back up. And if there’s one thing the Bulldogs have proven time and again in their illustrious history, it’s that they’ve always got back to their feet, and then some.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Most still are st the club but they're not playing remotely the same football as they did in 2012. Graham, Kasiano, Payne and to a lesser extent Tolman were ball playing before the line and doing everything st pace. They don't do much of either now. Check out a highlights clip on YouTube - it's completely different to how they're playing now. 2014 was different. A lot of the interplay of passing was done by then. They went on a good run of form in September but were playing more of a power forward game than a skilful forward game by that stage.
Sammy
Guest
Canterbury's success in the 2012 and 2014 seasons is often attributed to their massive skillful forwards - many of whom are still at the Club. Have the forwards changed their style of play because of Moses Mbye ? In any case Mbye won't be changing his style to emulate Trent Hodkinson and Kris Keating.
The Barry
Roar Guru
...and I know plenty of passionate Souths fans younger than 43 who felt the weight of every one of those 43 years. But they're passionate fans. The fact you don't know what I'm talking about and say "I'm only 35" shows how little you understand about following a team.
The Barry
Roar Guru
You haven't even remotely earned the right to put the slipper in - the rest of us follow one team through thick and thin, hearts on our sleeves. You just cheer for whoever's winning. "Souths going through a tough time? I don't care, I go for the Storm and we're undefeated" True fans wait decades for premierships. You cheapen it by saying "my team won in 2015, 2014, 2012...." Of course you can cheer whoever you want. I never disputed that. You just don't know what it's like to be a true fan of a club, riding the lows and the highs. And without the lows you can't fully appreciate the highs. You can take it personally all you like but it's a fact.
BigJ
Roar Guru
yes i have its called being a fan. So in your book anybody who chooses to support more than one team cant do that,? please barry do us a favour and get out of your 1985 single minded mentally and did actually read my first comment. Hasler is the biggest problem in the NRL has been for twenty years or so. Manly fell apart after he left the coaches role and he has single handedly brought the bulldogs to their knees. The sooner he goes the better off the game will be. But according to you i just jump on a bandwagon we things are up and jump on necks when thins are down. And how could i go through 43 years of agony with the rabbits when i an only 35 myself??? I can cheer from whom i want whenever i want i you cant do a damn thing about it. so get over yourself
The Barry
Roar Guru
You never mentioned any of the Bulldogs current problems. Just spewed out a little hate filled rant. But what it's got to do with it is that you'll never understand what people like me (or Warriors fans or Knights fans, or Dragons fans last year, etc) are going through at the moment because you're not a loyal supporter of a team. When your team is struggling you just jump across to the next one. You don't go through the ups and the downs, you just cheer whoever is winning on the day. And because you never know the lows, you can never really experience the highs. You were cheering for Souths in 2014 but you never went through the agony of 43 years without a premiership or the pain of being kicked out of the comp to earn the right to cheer that day. You were sitting in your maroon and yellow scarf yelling "go bwoncos" or "storm" or "Warriors" or whoever else you decided you followed on the day like a fair weather supporter. You haven't earned the right to cheer when your flavour of the month team wins and you haven't earned the right to kick others when they're down.
BigJ
Roar Guru
whats that got to do with the Bulldogs current problems????
The Barry
Roar Guru
Great summary. Hopefully this loss is a kick in the pants for this team and they can start playing with some heart and Bulldogs mongrel. Manly has shown over the past fortnight that when you start playing with heart and effort the rest can fall into place.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Yeah...I don't mind that idea either. Mbye could be fantastic playing off the forwards in the middle of the ruck. I've seen Frawley play a few times and have always been very impressed by him. Classic style half, cool head and good kicking game. Seems to be just what the Dogs need at the moment. They've also got two dynamic hookers in Garvey and Woolford and some talented backrowers. Just need to start giving these guys some opportunities.
The Barry
Roar Guru
"Hasler is a genesis" may well be the most ironic, enjoyable sentence I have ever read. BJ - this is the part of being a fan that you as someone who goes for six teams will never understand. True supporters feel the agony of the lows with their team. For you it's "2014 - I'm a Souths supporter yay!" But when Souths are struggling you just jump over to the Cowboys or the Storm or whoever. It's all jumping on the bandwagon of the latest club that's caught your eye. You've got no loyalty and no heart and no right to comment on articles like this while true fans are feeling the pain.
Dodgydragons
Guest
Dogs of 2017 look the same as dragons of 2016. Need to go forward before throwing the ball sideways. The forwards aren't eating the meters and laying a platform. Mbye Is impotent, Reynolds tries his guts out but no one is running straight lines for him and their kicking game is ordinary, same as Marshall and widdop at saints last year. Flick Mbye and give the forwards a rocket, attitude change does wonders for a footy side, get off the back fence and run with some ticker, they've done it before but lost their mojo at the moment.
BigJ
Roar Guru
oh well they are still better than the bulldogs
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
err....
BigJ
Roar Guru
you and your bloody Glebe, let it go mate they will never return to the NRL
BigJ
Roar Guru
Hasler is a genesis! Please don't go away Des, you have single handley destroyed both the most successful yet hated clubs in the comp over the last forty years (what you didnt actually think i was going to compliment Hasler do you?) Through your treason to your beloved Manly you have turned them from Premiership winners to bottom dwellers that can only beat your bulldogs. You have destroyed the Bulldogs inside out, gotten rid of all the legends(Mortimer, Lamb,etc) for your no nonsense my way or the highway crap style of under 12's football that is an embrassment tot he game. Please don't go anywhere Des until both clubs are no more and everybody will hold you responsible.
Succhi
Guest
Culture starts at the top and works its way down. Somewhere along the way, Reynolds, Morris, Jackson and Klemmer started playing to get penalties, not to make an impact. Taking dives, complaining to the ref, et., - sure other teams do it as well, but this was not part of the culture of the Dogs of the past.
Big Daddy
Guest
Max, I think it is the same at all clubs. Highly paid officials who are completely out if their depth. But I suppose if someone offered me $1 mill??? I would take. Have you noticed all these jokers have been recycled from one club to the other. They are only in if for the $$$$$$.
kk
Roar Pro
Excellent post uglykiwi. It occurred to me that the Canterbury board could engage a panel of Roarers to sort the problems at Belmore and get the show on the road. We have all the answers. For that matter any club in the NRL. After that we could give Todd and John a hand.
uglykiwi
Roar Pro
Forwards are to soft; get paid way too much. Klemmer needs a haircut; hasn't been the same since he grew it (wont get picked for origin on form........ but then again with Daley picking the team, him and Woods will be first picked..) Graham: Agree with the above; please for the sake of god, take the "c" away from him... ITS NOT WORKING Tolman signed to 2020; You cannot be serious..... Eastwood is dating my grandma........ and shes younger than him Kasiano; get him back onto the KEBABS asap..... Can't hassle Eastwood, as hes a kiwi and has East in his name... And dont get me started on Hoppo jr; any man that plays team sports and refuses to play....... (for whatever reasons) is not good for team morale. The Morris Bros.... love these guys, but they getting on in years...... and really dont have much support out the back Moses........ reminds me of Brookes and that other half at the tigers... can't remember his name.... Pretenders!!! and nothing more Reynolds: he's just s tripper. How could they have not signed Latrel Mitchell and Cameron Munster, imagine these two in the same team!!! Ennis: why would you have ever let this guy go....... So summing up; Hasler to be sacked in 48 hours and Cleary to take over. Will he win a premiership with this bunch of guys; the answer is no; and I cant see them making the 8 in the next 3 years. Would Clearly be better off taking over the tigers......... again the answer is no.....
Albo
Guest
Yep ! But its amazing what culture you can actually develop with a team of fresh talented cattle, rather than weary old out of form stock ! The Dogs just need a new herd !