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http://makingthenut.com/from-the-couch-round-15-2018/
Fear and Loathing at Belmore: Des Hasler, Ray Dib and Raelene Castle should never work in Rugby League again. They should all consider themselves lucky they are not in jail though, in Castle’s case, she is suffering a fate far worse than prison: rugby union. Their wilful mismanagement of Canterbury’s salary cap and roster situation has done so much damage to the club that the Bulldogs have no real alternative but to grit their teeth, swallow their pride and endure a Newcastle-like complete rebuild. The Bulldogs can look inside the chest but they won’t anything … the club has been plundered by Dib’s thirst for politics, Hasler’s desire for total control and Castle’s sheer and utter incompetence. From backended deals that will see someone as ordinary as Greg Eastwood paid $800,000 a year to the seven-figure deal to bring in a “star” half who can hardly walk, to six years of pathway neglect and no player development, the trio have looted and torched a proud club. Let’s not talk about monies given to Tony Williams and opportunities to denied to Damien Cook.
The Bulldogs have not historically been a two-bit operation. For so long, they have been one of the best managed organisations in the premiership. Peter Moore is arguably the greatest administrator in Rugby League history. They will now have to endure three and maybe four seasons anchored in the bottom four. They will start short-priced favourites for the wooden spoon next year. They will be paying probably 6-8 players to play at other clubs, maybe the best 6-8 players. It is the only way to rebuild now.
The appetite for such a rebuild was there for all to see on Saturday at Belmore when less than 7000 fans turned up. The Bulldogs were favoured but turned in their worst performance of the year.
The club is back in the right hands. If any team will have the patience of rebuild it is Lynne and Chris Anderson. They have backed coach Dean Pay and CEO Andrew Hill. All are realists. They know the predicament they have entered. It Is just unfortunate that it took such horrific circumstances to give the levers of power at the club back to good people.
Nick Tedeschi on June 17, 2018