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Opinion

Experts Roar: Who should be Bulldogs' next full-time coach: Flanagan, Green, Woolf, Morris, Gus himself?

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18th May, 2022
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Canterbury have become the first team this year to “part ways” with a coach following Trent Barrett’s decision to fall on his sword after boardroom machinations suggested he was going to get the punt sometime soon anyway.

The search is now on for the next full-time coach of the Bulldogs with NSW Cup mentor Mick Potter stepping into the breach in a caretaker capacity for the rest of the season.

Should the Dogs go with a tried and tested coach like premiership-winning veterans Shane Flanagan or Paul Green?

Or should they try a new face like St Helens mentor Kristian Woolf, Roosters assistant coach Jason Ryles or Penrith’s Cameron Ciraldo.

Then there are several candidates who have had a brief stint in the NRL like former Sharks coach John Morris, Dean Young – who was a caretaker at St George Illawarra and is now an assistant at the Cowboys or Josh Hannay, who has filled in at Cronulla and North Queensland.

Or does Canterbury general manager Phil Gould step into the coaching hot seat himself although Gus said there was no way in the world that would happen when asked on Tuesday.

The Roar experts have their say and if you’d like to do likewise, fire away in the comments section below.

Experts Roar – Next Bulldogs coach

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Michael Hagan (premiership-winning player and coach)

I’m going to say Shane Flanagan, he’s got a connection with Gus from when he had a director’s role at the Roosters and Flanagan was an assistant to Ricky Stuart back in the 2000s. He would have a good handle on the Canterbury footprint and the junior development system, and he should be able to get the best out of his son, Kyle, at halfback.

Paul Suttor (Roar expert)

Paul Green has premiership credentials and he’s a fresh outside voice removed from the internal politics at Canterbury. He didn’t have a great run with the Maroons last year at Origin level but in the week-to-week grind of the NRL, he’s proven over several seasons at the Cowboys that he can get the best out of a team.

Green deserves plenty of credit for the 2015 premiership win but also the run to the grand final two years later when the Cowboys didn’t have Johnathan Thurston or Matt Scott available.

Maroons coach Paul Green looks on

(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

AJ Mithen (Roar expert)

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Phillip Ronald Gould AM. There’s never been a better time to prove he’s the best. Put up or shut up, Gus. 

Mike Meehall Wood (Roar expert)

They need to fix their attack first and foremost – John Morris has the attacking chops while also having done the head coach job relatively recently and, crucially, actually wanting to be the Bulldogs coach.

If I were Paul Green or Cameron Ciraldo, I’d run a mile from Belmore, and if I was Shane Flanagan, I’d run a mile from Gus Gould. 

They should get Kristian Woolf or Steve McNamara, but neither will leave until the end of the season. McNamara would be an inspired choice as he’s taken Catalans from 10th and barely staying in the Super League to a Challenge Cup win and a Grand Final, but Australian clubs are more likely to appoint a Martiaan than someone from Hull so it’s a non-starter.

Dean Pay Bulldogs coach

Dean Pay. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas)

Joe Frost (Roar expert)

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The Canterbury board should eat some humble pie and give the job back to Dean Pay, who did better than Barrett with a far worse roster. Never going to happen? Sure. But what decent coach is going to say yes to a gig this poisoned – especially with Phil Gould having admitted there’s at least 18 months of pain still to come. 

Mary Konstantopoulos (Ladies Who League)

I almost feel sorry for whomever is named the next Canterbury coach, but my view is we absolutely must look forward rather than backward. A failed coach is not the answer (whether that failure came in win/loss ration or in behaviour off the field). I would like to see Cameron Ciraldo or Jason Ryles get an opportunity; but it’s a big gamble to take on the Bulldogs as your first coaching gig.

Danielle Smith (Roar expert)

I have been thinking about this question since the news broke and I still have no idea who should be put in charge. Given the shambles the club is in, I do think it needs to be someone who has held the top job before, not an assistant coach trying to break through. As much as I don’t think Shane Flanagan should be allowed to coach an under 6 side let alone a top grade NRL side ever again, if it means that he is gone from the Fox commentary team I may be able to get on board!

Stuart Thomas (Roar expert)

Whilst the past week has been a tumultuous one for the Bulldogs, the future is paramount right now. Since the salary cap debacle that took place under Des Hasler finding the right players and the right coach to lead the club to it’s next premiership has proven extremely difficult.

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With Mick Potter as the temporary replacement there will need to be a more long-term appointment made by the end of the season. That means names like Flanagan and Green will certainly be rumoured as potential head coaches, with Brad Fittler also a theoretical possibility.

As a Bulldog fan and member, I’d prefer club legend Jim Dymock and felt he showed enough in his first stint at the helm a few years back. However, Dymock may still be hesitant to accept such a challenge and right now, it would be easy to understand why. 

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