Article here:
https://www.zerotackle.com/dean-pay-you-have-got-to-be-kidding-me-43880/
On March 28th, 2019, the Bulldogs extended Dean Pay’s contract by 12 months. At the time I thought this was an interesting decision considering the Bulldogs sat 0-2 having lost their first 2 games 40-6 and 36-16. Just over a month later, it seems my criticism has been justified.
With the Bulldogs just 2-6 and languishing in last place, it now appears Pay has lost the locker room. This usually spells the end for many coaches, most recently
Jason Taylor,
Mick Potter and
Tim Sheens, who all coached the Tigers. Maybe I was being a bit picky here since it has also happened to
Anthony Griffin, Matthew Elliot and
Ivan Henjak.
So how has Pay responded to this? Maybe he organised a team meeting where he emphasised to the players about his goals for the club? Did he call in the team leaders to discuss their concerns? Did he have a board meeting to get there backing?
No. He dropped their three best players, Lachlan Lewis, Rhyse Martin and Kerrod Holland, on the eve of an almost must-win game against fellow battlers Newcastle. Whilst Lewis can be somewhat justified due to the return of
Kieran Foran, there is no way that Pay can seriously believe
Jack Cogger is the better man to play the 6.
SEE ALSO: Penrith great lashes out at former club
The other two decisions are even more absurd. Martin and Holland are the two best goal kickers the club has, and have been in great form to start the season. It is now likely that
Kieran Foran, making his return from ankle surgery, will be the man to kick. Remembering this kick (
) as well as these stats, I don’t like those odds.
This is also the second time this season Pay has stood Martin down, having played him in the NSW Cup for the first two rounds of the season. There is a definite rift between the pair, and this most likely extends to the others dropped and potentially the rest of the team.
When a coach loses the locker room, his days in that role are usually numbered. I feel this will be the case for Pay as well. With Trent Barret,
Anthony Griffin,
Jim Dymock and
Laurie Daley all without a head coaching role, the Bulldogs should move quickly to ensure that they can acquire an upgrade.
Only time will tell what the Bulldogs do. Hopefully it eases the pain of their loving fan base who has had to sit through 4 years of absolute torment.
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