With the team languishing and an administration at war, perhaps Canterbury’s attempts to reinvigorate their gritty fighting culture may be better applied on-field.
That’s the opinion of most judges warming their hands around the Bulldogs’ bin fire, a once-imperial brand battling to avoid a wooden spoon while its administration makes amends by indicting and/or thumping each other.
For those unaware, the eight-time premiership winners are deeply entrenched in turmoil and headlines, a far cry from the days when they were deeply entrenched in turmoil and headlines and running seventh.
While the team recorded a boil-over win on Thursday night against the Bunnies to move off the bottom of the table, it’s been perpetual slim pickings despite a plucky squad showing plenty of pride in the flak jacket.
The Bulldogs sift through the rubble of a rank roster, all while the administration goes to war in one of those bitter board battles so spiteful and Sydney-centric it could end up in the Supreme Court, or more embarrassingly, What’s the Buzz.
Canterbury’s crisis follows a heralded return to the club’s Dogs of War heyday upon the appointment of Dean Pay in 2017, with the former back-rower hired to instil the good old-fashioned values so celebrated in his time, beating up opponents in the ’90s.
(Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
But the moment the board empowered the coach with the mandate to restore the famous catch cry, they left him in no doubt of their expectations by promptly applying the approach upon each other, mostly over his job security.
Now fast-forward three years and the club has destabilised to such a state that when Canterbury players are going through their strenuous warm-ups, fans aren’t sure if it’s for a game or an AGM.
It seemed like only yesterday the Dogs were rugby league’s most tyrannical brand, a club that accomplished everything there was to achieve from producing premierships and internationals to blowing unassailable comps with systematic rorting.
But years of mismanagement have left the club’s roster in a dire state, resulting in the virtual reserve grade side we see today. The side is so undermanned it’s almost as threatening to advertising dollars as their Mad Mondays.
Many believe the rot began with the Des Hasler years, an era renowned for dogmatic completion rates on the field and the exact opposite off, with many players signed to stratospheric long-term deals before premature exile to lower-grade sides like the reggies or the Tigers.
This fallout resulted in the club paying rival organisations to employ James Graham, Aaron Woods, David Klemmer, Brett Morris, Josh Morris and Moses Mbye – losses that were luckily offset on tax as charitable donations.
Following was an attempted circuit breaker with the appointment of Pay, who after establishing himself as the nicest guy in footy, departed the club after two hellish seasons of ably serving his brief as a patsy.
But such is the prevailing state of the club, even incoming coach Trent Barrett has been openly encouraged by Phil Gould to back out of his three-year deal, an unsurprising piece of advice from a man who likes to sack people after employing them, not before.
(Photo by Jason O’Brien/Getty Images)
Nevertheless, the new coach has given his word he will honour his sentence, immediately setting about bolstering the playing roster with a number of deals, some that may even see their agreed completion date.
This includes Nick Cotric and Manly forward Corey Waddell, two acquisitions that send a strong message Barrett intends to stock up on serviceable forwards and high-priced backs to complement the club’s already-heaving stocks of serviceable forwards and high-priced backs, which will make him popular in Supercoach, if nothing else.
Can Barrett harness the squad’s boundless application? Judging by his previous roles, there’s no doubt he could provide an immediate boost, or already be negotiating a release payout.
mach4
Roar Rookie
I am fed up with journalists and commentators with their snide remarks and innuendo regarding the Boards at Canterbury. There are two boards at the club one for the leagues club and one for the football club if any of you loud-mouthed have any facts regarding internal disputes name names write the article back it up on Sunday mornings with Sterlo or simply shut up and let us get on with next year.
Kman
Roar Rookie
Another brilliant piece filled with gems, Dane!! Some of the lines in this one after priceless :laughing:
Andrew
Roar Pro
My own team hasn’t had a very good year but the one thing that’s given me joy is watching the dogs & broncos battle it out for the wooden spoon. P.S. Trent Barrett is not your saviour.
Phil
Roar Rookie
That '86 GF was a forgettable one, except for Parramatta fans that is. I remember one scribe wrote up that the holy grail of RL will be to score a try in the GF. One try apiece in the '85 GF and then none in '86. Warren Ryan got the lollies as coach but made for a dull brand of footy.
Tony
Roar Guru
I may be slipping after an arduous season, but when I look through the Bulldogs' squad I see enough talent to be a far more competitive team than they've shown this year. Assuming that off contract players like Lafai, Cogger, Tolman Sue and Montoya won't be re-signed, the addition of Blake Green and Cotric, and the return of Stimson from injury, they don't look too bad on paper. The addition of a good number 9 and another half back would be a bonus. My doubt for their success next year centers around Barrett's ability to get them playing as a unit, while at the same time watching his back.
Tony
Roar Guru
Get a room guys
Paul
Roar Guru
Now we’re talkin’. Make it a televised event, the shave down before the frolic! Sponsorship by Schick razor blades and there’s even a brand of shaving cream called Bulldog! You could be a living licence to print money!
Dane Eldridge
Expert
Will need to shave down but I’m def keen mate
Paul
Roar Guru
now there's a vision - a frolicking Dane Eldridge! Let me know if you ever feel the urge to do it! I'll film it, post it on Youtube and we'll ( I mean you'll) make millions!
Dane Eldridge
Expert
Yep BD, spot on mate. It wouldn’t be rugby league or Sydney if it were a harmonious board full of selfless administrators
Dane Eldridge
Expert
Too right again KK. This financial saga could take years to repair, possibly the covid economic crash of rugby league but worse
Dane Eldridge
Expert
Agreed Paul. A few years back, I would’ve frolicked in the streets at their misfortune. But rugby league needs a strong Dogs (mainly for the TV deal)
Big Daddy
Guest
Apologies - and girls.
Big Daddy
Guest
I suppose Canterbury are the one that stand out at the moment. Club boards in general are fairly cannabalist in the way they operate. There's always someone lining up to get the embroidered jacket that says director. All the clubs have been there but boys at Belmore seem to have the limelight at the moment.
kk
Roar Pro
Hi Dane, Scintillating review of the Belmore Bungle. Both on and off the field, talent identification and valuation has been the club's biggest problem. Covid 19 aside,reports of a current $6 million deficit is a dampener. With the greatest respect to the players the rebuild may take another decade to correct. 'Together Forever' will be a patience test like never before. As regards the board room, forget Muzz, time for a Kate McClymont visit.
Paul
Roar Guru
I still have the occasional nightmare thanks to sitting through the most boring grand final in modern times - the 86 Bulldogs bomb-a-thon. That alone should be reason to have little sympathy for the Doggies plight but I don't. I really hope they sort out their Board issues, get together a decent squad, find enough money to pay out Trent Barrett and then become a genuine premiership threat. After all, it's hard to dislike a Club that's down and nearly out.
Dane Eldridge
Expert
Well said, TB. The Dogs, for want of a better term, were always bastards. Still have nightmares in September of stony-faced Folkes hatching plans behind Oakleys. Seems forever ago. What’s Cement up to?
The Barry
Roar Guru
The best thing about being a Bulldogs fan over the past 40 years has been the regular semi finals, grand finals and premierships. Second best has been the security of knowing that when the bad times hit, they’ll never last long because of how well the club is run Doesn’t feel like that any more I choose to believe that Peter Moore, like Walt Disney and John Wayne is cryogenically frozen. When they find a cure for 40 Craven A’s a day, he’ll be thawed out and the Bulldogs will return to their rightful place at the top of the ladder As ridiculous as that sounds, it seems a more likely path to success than waiting for the current board to sort itself out and get us back on track