Under-pressure Canterbury coach Dean Pay insists there is light at the end of their NRL tunnel that is darkening by the week.
The Bulldogs on Sunday slumped to a sixth defeat in their opening seven games, this time being walloped 34-6 by the Wests Tigers at Bankwest Stadium.
“First 20 minutes was, we competed really hard and got through our sets. We done some good things there, but after that, it wasn’t good,” Pay said post-game.
“It wasn’t good at all.”
The loss was soured by a suspected ankle injury to fullback Will Hopoate, who has arguably been their best player in a sorry campaign thus far.
The last-placed Bulldogs are the only team to have won just one game so far.
Asked how long Hopoate could be out for, Pay said: “I’m not sure about Will, I haven’t spoken to our medical guys.”
(Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
The uninspired performance also came just days after the off-contract Pay survived a board meeting where his future was believed to be discussed.
With money in the salary cap to spend, the onus will be on the club to make a decision on a head coach before players make the call to move to Belmore.
One player who has already signed on is highly regarded front-rower Luke Thompson, who will meet his teammates for the first time on Monday.
The English international finished his two-week isolation in Melbourne on Sunday and could make his NRL debut as soon as this week’s clash with South Sydney.
His arrival, as well as the club’s war chest, were the only positives Pay could point to following their latest effort against the Tigers.
“Our cap’s back in order. We’ve got Luke Thompson turning up here this week. He’s a real quality player,” Pay said.
The club is believed to be in negotiations with Canberra duo John Bateman and Nick Cotric, the latter of whom is off-contract.
Bateman has been given permission to talk with other clubs despite being signed at the Raiders until the end of next season.
“There’s light at the end of the tunnel. We need to get into the market. We need to buy three or four quality players and improve what we’re doing,” Pay said.
“Hopefully they’ll make a difference to what our team is. I’m sure they will. And keep bringing these young blokes along, keep playing them.
“Although it wasn’t where we needed to be tonight, these young guys, it’s another learning curve for them.”
Noosa Duck
Roar Rookie
One thing that has me perplexed. It is just my opinion and many may disagree but I reckon they get better direction and have better options when he plays Lachlan Lewis in the side, or am I just imagining things. Sure having Foran back in the side helps but by golly the dogs are horribly one dimensional
Paul
Roar Guru
seriously?
souvalis
Roar Rookie
‘There are two types of mange that affect dogs — demodectic mange, which is not contagious, and sarcoptic mange....‘ hopefully you get the second one..
Albo
Roar Rookie
Would certainly make my year, Crispy ! Long way to go yet, but I am happy with their marked improvements with their completions and their defence, the two areas where they have been poor in previous seasons.
Chris.P.Bacon
Guest
Always a pleasure to help a St George supporter Paul! (....Dragons being the only team we've beaten this year!) ;)
souvalis
Roar Rookie
When you lose your best player in the opening minutes, in a side where quality is scarce, and shift your hooker out there to replace him, against an opponent that’s baying for blood..you’re headed for a frustrating afternoon. That said, there were a couple of really unsatisfactory performances out there, but the forwards bye and large played hard and up to their abilities..blame whoever but they just don’t have the cattle for anything more than the odd win.. If you’re going to pay overs for anyone pay it for Bateman..or sniff around Ryan Sutton..not Cotric..
Chris.P.Bacon
Guest
...hahaha....yep, that would also fit! Your boys are playing really well Albo - what's the chance of an 'Albo Double' - Chiefs and Panthers, 2020?
Paul
Roar Guru
I didn't know there was such a word as "manged". Now I know there is and what it means, I'll have to use it more often on my Dragons, especially one Mary MacGregor. I reckon a few Broncos supporters might be using the same word, given how their boys have gone in the past 5 rounds. Thanks for the education Chris P. Always good to learn new things. :happy:
Albo
Roar Rookie
Yep ! I think it was a typo . But i think he meant " I think Pay's mangey ...." More appropriate for a Dogs coach !
Chris.P.Bacon
Guest
"I think Pay’s manged..." ......a rather unfortunate slip of the keyboard I think Paul but one which many Dog supporters would find appropriate at this time! ;) * manged : adj. Refers to anything that is mangled or damaged, usually beyond repair.
Paul
Roar Guru
I think Pay's manged a small smoke & mirrors effort here. The reality for 2020 is the Doggies are not in a good place, regardless how good Luke Thompson is. He'll take a few games to settle in but there aren't a lot of games left. If the light Pay is referring to is far off in 2021, with his talk of money freed up under the cap, he's effectively written off this year, which IMO is grounds to get rid of him. The Dogs played with real purpose late last year and I thought they'd do the same this season, but that hasn't happened and like Mary at the Drgaons and Seibold in Brisbane, that has to reflect badly on the coach.
Albo
Roar Rookie
I'm with you Baz. The Dogs are desperate for a quality spine, but where are the available candidates even if the Club is now cashed up ? I can see the Dogs just paying overs for whatever cattle is available (likely other's cast offs) without really enhancing their team performances . I think the only way out for a team like the Dogs right now is to concentrate on developing a squad of local juniors to take all the way into the NRL . It may take a few years, but it was the recipe that brought success for the Dogs & Eels in the 80's( with some Riverina help) , for the Panthers in late 80's / early 90's and the Knights in late 90's / early noughties. Good local juniors coming through as a group together with similar passion to succeed for their districts.
Doug Graves
Guest
It gets even more amusing. The Dogs are so inept they can't even get a major sponsor on their jersey!
no one in particular
Roar Guru
Brisbane will have a war chest too, but on the bright side you are the better option.
The Barry
Roar Guru
I’m trying to share Deano’s optimism but the only light I can see is a train. When the best you can say is “we competed well for 20 minutes” you’ve got big problems Luke Thompson looks like a beast but I can’t see how one prop will bring enough to stop week to week 30 point floggings So what if we’ve got a war chest? Outside of Thompson, who have we actually signed? There’s not that much top shelf talent left available for next season and not in some of the key positions we need. And is anyone half decent on the market going to look at the Bulldogs, playing with little heart, poor results and an under threat coach think “yep, sign me up for some of that”