It's time for a change at the Bulldogs

I see so many similarities between Brian Smith and Des. The teams he was in charge of had talent and should have had a GF under their belt. Hasler had the team train in a 2 by 2 metre box which was absolutely restrictive. On game day they looked clunky, were not opportunistic and when competing for a loose ball they were slow and hesitant leaving their zone to compete. This is Smith all over. Look at Bennett, they have a formation and some set plays, but each player is given freedom to have a crack or two and play some ad lib football, players on the field would cover as a team and it would pay off. If your going have such structured play as Hasler coaches, then buy average players and lower the salary cap. The dogs need to get a coach who understands what his players can do and nurture that into play. See what happens with Kasiano and Reynolds when they leave.

Hi JB - they have no alternative but to punt Kasiano. But my biggest fear is that he goes to Melbourne and becomes the player he looked like being 3-4 years ago. Does he look like a player who has been made to challenge himself or been allowed to coast? There are a lot of players whose games have gone backwards. Some due to age sure. But there are plenty, like Reynolds and Kasiano who should have come on and developed into better players but haven't. Even the guys that have like Jackson and Klemmer it's really because of the way they play. Neither has really added any strings to their bow.

We'll come good Bazza,Im glad Kasianos going n I hope we push out Eastwood...Grub leaving creates an excuse to be fkn lazy in my opinion!

You must've missed last nights game..which basically summised why he hasn't been used more..his service wasn't NRL level..just more vindication that Des did the right thing,this time..conversely,you wouldn't want to go to the Dogs if you were a hooker hoping to have your game developed..

A lot of valid comments above. But they all seem to be focusing on personnel and roster. Respectfully, while there's issues there, the Dogs style of play is a far bigger concern than their roster. Rugby league is simple in theory. To make breaks and score points you have to create space and extra players and/or force defenders into making mistakes. None of the Dogs play does this. They play such a long way from the line that it's ridiculously easy for defensive lines to read the plays and adjust. They just shovel the ball from one side to the other. There are no decoys, there are no bodies in motion to create doubt. It's bland and vanilla and we're lucky to get two tries a game. Reynolds in 2011-14 was dynamic. People say he's not an attacking player but I disagree. Having him running off the back of the forwards with the ball in two hands and bodies moving around him and he's very good and can play instinctively what's in front of him. But that type of player who plays what's in front of him needs options. The Dogs structure gives him zero. The Dogs were minor premiers and made the GF in 2012 with two running halves - Reynolds and Kris Keating. Mbye is certainly a more talented player, yet results are worse. The Dogs forward game isn't a shadow of what is was in 2012. But no wonder, we've got basically the same pack but they're all five years older. I respect how tough Will Hopoate is and the hard takes he makes under pressure and the tough runs he makes at the back. But he doesn't create anything. He breaks heaps of tackles but doesn't break the line. Brenko Lee hasn't played since round 11 yet still leads the team in line break assists, try assists and off loads - by a long way too. Does the defence really look that much better without him that we'd forgo our main (only) attacking weapon. Worst part is the team doesn't seem to be putting in. I have no problem with a losing season - happens to everyone - but the nature of this has been poor.

And how has that worked out? Both sides are struggling big time.

I'm 37 Rob,I've had a few coldies for u mate...hopefully we can chat about more positive things in the future about our boys....I love my Doggies till the end regardless...cheers mate n take care..Go the mighty Doggies!

Ok. First of all, I am not a Dogs or Souths fan, but yes, I see similarities too. Another coach who has a complete lack of ability to adapt is Ricky Stuart, but that's another story.... Foran will turn up for the Dogs. And here's why: 1. His livelihood is on the line. If he doesn't perform, and quickly, a team in turmoil will just axe him. And in reality, who will want him then? 2. He'll be personally happier, back in Sydney with his family. 3. At the Warriors he has fallen victim to the appalling club culture, and that just won't fly at Belmore. I've said for years that the difference between the All Blacks and the Warriors is the make up of the team. The Warriors have focused on building teams heavy on Maori and Islander raw talent. But what is lacking is discipline. And this is what the All Blacks do so incredibly well. They perfectly blend the pure athletic grace and power of the Maori and Islander players with the discipline of the Caucasian master play makers. I don't know what's wrong at Belmore, and certainly don't know how to fix it, but I do know what's wrong in Auckland and how to fix their outfit. They are a better, more complimentary blend of skill and stickability. This is what the Warriors need to do. This mindset of recruiting almost exclusively Kiwi players is damaging. They need to begin marketing the Warriors, New Zealand and Auckland as attractive destinations for talented and disciplined Aussie players. Heck, recruit from the UK! I'm sure there'd be plenty of Poms keen to live in NZ and play in the NRL! And guess what? I'm not even a Warriors fan either. Just a Queenslander currently living in NZ. Sometimes though, problems are obvious, and more so from the outside looking in. Sometimes, as is the case with the Dogs, the problem is a lot less evident. All anyone reallykknows is that SOMETHING has to change. But Doggies fans, I am confident that you're getting a half who will make it his business to perform for you. It's a start, at least...

Albo, I agree with most of what you say. Foran will hold the key if he stays injury free. You have to remember the Warriors have failed for a long time with Johnson so to expect Foran to be the missing piece is a little hard. Johnson is a golden boot winner who has never lived up to that potential since. No where even close.... On top of that Issac Luke and RT have done nothing since joining albeit RT was injured for a while. The players you listed i would keep but don't dismiss the Morris twins so easily. Defensively go watch the games and you will see they barely leak points and sadly they don't get quality ball to show their true potential in attack. I'm happy to keep Mybe as a running half who doesn't direct traffic as that takes away from his running abilities. He certainly makes for a good hooker as well so the utility value is a plus.

Heya JB :) you'll have to have the cold one for me as I'm not much of a drinker. Ps i grew up watching the Dogs and Eels go back and fourth in the 80's. I still have memories of Mortimer cover tackle watching on Tv as a 6 or 7 year old lol. Getting old npw turned 40 recently.

Thanks Rob,well said mate,well said where have u come from?Man I love ur Doggies passion...hope ur havn a cold one when doing housework mate!

Rob, as an outsider my impressions is that the Dogs just need a complete clean out. Their current team is just not competitive in todays NRL game . Who's to blame, I don't know , but their recruitment needs a complete overhaul. They have the weakest spine in the competition and by a long way. The addition of Foran next year may improve it slightly , but I wouldn't count on it. He is a dubious proposition with his history and he has not ignited a great spine at the Warriors. The Dogs strength for years has been their pack but with playing styles changing and with no spine to provide management around the park they are regularly ineffective. Priority one must be to find a spine and build a team around that. For me, I would keep Jackson, Klemmer, Mariner, Elliott, Montoya, Abbey & give Chase Stanley more time now he is back from injury. Dump the rest including the Morris twins and the lumbering old pack. Get some youth and speed into the team but find a 7 & 9 in particular.

1) in regards to Damien Cook, he was offered more money and told he would be starting hooker when Souths signed him hence why he left. I believe he is more than capable of playing his role, definitely better than Lichaa, but neither Hasler nor Madge really want a dominating hooker in terms of running. 2) Lichaa, as much as he was good in lower grades is not a first grade player. After the first several games i picked it as his body wasn't built physically enough to cope for 80mins to which i would tell my friends and fellow dogs supporters. Add to that he can't pass accurately or quickly. Despite the dogs not playing to a running dummy half ypu still half to pass quickly, accurately and effectively. Mybe has looked more accustomed to the role than Lichaa. 3) when the majority of the forwards resignedl, it was before they introduced the new interchage system with less interchange. You are paying big money for these players so what to do without costing the club? Hasler backed the team to put in work and get fitter which Kasiano ultimately got slimmer but realistically this rule hurt the Dogs and souths alike as they don't have enough experienced 80min players. 4) as much as Reynolds may be the heart and sole of the club as a Dogs fan and a fan of when Reynolds just plays league, i can't wait to see the back of him. He even says it that he plays with a lot of aggression and it is costly. While energetically he may spark us he also costs us and has failed to find the balance. Other night he ran behind Tolman and givrs away a penalty for obstruction followed by stupidly raising the leg of the Panthers player lifting him past the horizontal to which Stanely had to correct as it was going pear shaped. Penrith piggy backed down the field and they score. Potential 12 point turn around as we were attcking their line initially. He played his best football prior to being selected for SOO and since it got to his jead all the dumb penalties, tripping, lifting, sjould Dr charging etc have come into his game. 5) to me Mbye should be the running half with Frawley given the green light to play half back to gain the experience he needs as Frawley is the best kicker out of the three. 6) the Woods signing is to team him and Klemmer up as it will produce a competitive aspect for the 2 being best mates and also Kasiano, Eastwood and Graham were off contract end of next season so they took him now as for me Rastwood and Kasiano need a change from the club. 7) Montoya, Mariner, Elliot and Abbey should be given there chances more so now as well as zac woolford at hooker who is a noted goal kicker. Hopoate is to slow at fullback and doesn't attck the ball with conviction when on the Dogs tryline. Case in point the nock on and gifted try from Panthers game as he looked up at defence before catching ball. 8) Morris boys need to see more of the ball instead of just shinning in defence. 9) Hasler needs to grow a set and drop the players for poor performance and also change his game plans. All i see from him is playing to statistics as he has realised the players haven't quite worked out eg Mbye and Reynolds can't kick so he gets them to run the ball on last tackle rather than give away 7 tackles. Again could talk all day but house work is calling lol....

Solid article Adam. As a suffering Dog's member, I completely agree with your assessment. The only area I'd disagree with is Hasler being there in 2018. The man has gone backwards and the writing was on the wall late last season. To say nothing has changed would be misleading - something has changed, they've managed to get worse. Hasler's recruitment has been diabolical right through his reign at Canterbury. It just adds fuel to the argument that he has made good on rosters put together for him by predecessors. He has shown no ability to adapt his approach and his one dimensional philosophy is outdated and killing the club. He must go. As for Dib, he clearly has no ability to manage an NRL Franchise. His decision to re-sign a coach who at the time was 1 from 4 (and actually considering the previous season was 1 from 9) so early in the season was as poor a decision I've seen in sport. Any sound businessman would have waited for further evidence and not clamoured to sign a coach who was obviously struggling. Dib has consistently said 'judge us at the end of the season'. Well, the time is nigh and unfortunately for Mr Dib, it's not going to be a pretty assessment.

I think people massively over rate Damian Cook...premiership winning coaches Dessie and Madge have preferred the much more maligned Lichaa and Farrah...he may appear to refresh the side when he enters against tired legs,but in 17 appearances his stat sheet reads just 1 try assist and 0 line breaks...Farrah has had more game time..but their number of runs with the football are roughly the same yet Old man Robbie has 6 TA's and 1 LB..not great but doubt Cookies form warrants any regret from Dessie...

There must be something wrong other than a lack of attack at the Bulldogs which needs to rooted out. Their well credentialed CEO left mid season, Hasler singed to a contract extension, even though the side was underperforming at the time, some highly questionable & expensive signings, releasing players who epitomise the "Bulldog spirit", no question of releasing the coach even though the side is STILL underpeperforming etc. I'm not a Bulldogs fan, but you don't have to be Einstein to realise this is a club in trouble and needs a thorough review and maybe a cleaning out of the old guard. A weak Canterbury is not good for the competition.

It was the same problem last year coming up to finals time, the Bulldogs had made it into the eight on defence but this year they needed to put forward a lot more points to be competitive. Something definitely needs to change, and I don't think adding another forward to a team already filled with beefed up players is not the way for the Bulldogs to improve.

As a souths fan I see so many similarities between our teams. What worked in season's past no longer works and yet Haslers and Madge can't see this