Desperate bulldogs to scour the globe for talent

[Cappuccino]

We scoured the globe and resigned Chris Smith
What a fucking joke
Folkes would be turning in his grave seeing what we have become

 

[AlzzBulldog]

But apparently the board is doing the “BEST” job they can lol

 

[DinkumDog]

I get what you’re saying... everyhting I am going off was their blueprint that they advised us of leading us up until now, where we have the money for 2021... and so far I just feel they haven’t delivered... I always held of judgment based on our salary cap position but looking back on where we are and where they’ve taken us, there is a number of items that they need to address as to why that didn’t occur, otherwise it’s just empty words on letter heads.

Sure, but it's also crucial in such a competitive marketplace we don't leak strategy to competitors. Strategies change all the time because there's always mitigating factors that perhaps didn't apply 18 months ago. Then you have the bottom feeding journos itching for stories as well. Mad Monday, whilst some mistakes were made by the club, really poisoned our already tenuous relationship with News Limited. The club is ensuring they don't get a peep of what we're really up to and that in my view is a good thing. So I get the frustration - we all feel it - but I'm still giving them time and until we get a better idea of what things look like for 2021 I really don't see the need to panic. We may not set the world in fire in 2020, but I believe we'll be better for it with our 2019 experience - and we only missed the finals by 1 loss! Hang in there pal, it's not as bad as it might seem on the surface...

 

[Merimbula Man]

Believe me it’s in the works for real

Why he’s hopeless

 

[Wahesh]

I remember this headline, it was last year. It was one of these “open letters” about the bulldogs plans moving forward.

“UNABLE to sign a marquee player for the next two to three seasons due to their salary cap debacle, Canterbury will embark on a worldwide hunt for the most promising juniors playing rugby league and rugby union”

I can recall the article about the dogs looking at starting nurseries in Fiji, png, and looking for the best up and coming talent overseas..

well let’s fast forward 18months now.

we’ve been in png for 8yrs, and all we do is community service work, YAY!! And all we got to show for it was a dud named rhys Martin, yet Souths sign gebbie, and manly sign their best hooker in png who anihilated Great Britain.

start a junior nursery in Fiji ay? Well it looks like we won’t be doing that either! As sharks just signed up with the Fijian silktails who will now be a feeder club to the sharks from the nsw cup.

before the usual call me a board basher, i have never gone on the kennel and criticised the board about not signing big name players, they keep referring to 2021, ok if that’s what they say... I will give them that much.

The “open letter” from Lynne was disgusting, our board is outdated and still stuck in the 1990s, with lines of “we want players with bulldogs identity”
“We wasn’t hard working players”
“We are a family club and will support foran”

So far all I have seen from our club representatives is a small club mentality.

our recent player retention is quite embarrassing...

to resign Chris smith, Lachlan Lewis, Renouf Toumaga, Marcelo montoya, Adam idiot (watch this space, he’s next) aiden tolman.... yes aiden tolman...

I asked someone close to the club this question yesterday... 2021 is meant to be our season to spend yes, and his response was yes, my next question was well what’s with all the one year extensions to players that many clubs would deem surplus to requirements... to my surprise he had no convincing answer... quite alarming.

St George are advertising in the leader for a new ceo, I found that amusing until I recalled that our club can’t even scoop up a major sponsor and is using linked In, I though Andrew hill had all the contacts...

forget 2021 and major signings, there is so much more that I believe needs to be answered for, and all we get as fans is a cheap corny letter from Lynne spilling garbage from the beginning of 2017 again...

Tfehhh

You want to sign a player from Fiji or PNG? Fly over the island in a plane, and sign-up the first bloke you see atop a coconut tree.

Problem solved.

 

[liljohny]

Some of you blokes on here need to take some time out and hit a few bars, enjoy yourselves and hopefully jag yourselves a root.

 

[Scoooby]

Hmmmm !!

 

[obje]

To me the board is over cautious hence no marquee signings. .

Isnt it that we have no cap space until after the end of 2020? That 'Bulldogs war chest' spoken about doesn't begin until then (or later).

Right now we're still paying for the Mbye and Reynolds and Woods and Foran des-cisions

 

[Real1]

Isnt it that we have no cap space until after the end of 2020? That 'Bulldogs war chest' spoken about doesn't begin until then (or later).

Right now we're still paying for the Mbye and Reynolds and Woods and Foran des-cisions

You’re a few years behind pal, we aren’t paying them shit

 

[Natboy]

You’re a few years behind pal, we aren’t paying them shit

A few years? Mbye was contracted to ya until the end of 2020 & we still have Foran.
We were paying Woods to play for the sharks but obviously didn’t have to pay Reynolds as he was off contract

 

[Real1]

A few years? Mbye was contracted to ya until the end of 2020 & we still have Foran.
We were paying Woods to play for the sharks but obviously didn’t have to pay Reynolds as he was off contract

We released woods, he signed a completely new contract with the sharks. we aren’t paying for mbye anymore, that finished this season, was for 2018 and 2019.
And foran....... well yeh... foran lol...

 

[wendog33]

And who's to say after a review the strategy didn't change? Remember they are not obliged to report anything publicly.
They HAVE announced tie-ups with Northern Rivers and Greater Northern Region.
Maybe they view the future as more home-grown than say the Pacific Islands.
Major sponsor could be purely timing. It's no news in late November. It's bigger news in February when everyone is getting lathered up for the new season.
I'm not saying I know or I'm right - just trying to perhaps provide some perspective...

Holding off announcing the major front of jersey sponsor till February wouldn't make much commerial sense would it?

 

[Spoonman84]

Holding off announcing the major front of jersey sponsor till February wouldn't make much commerial sense would it?

Yeah if there's a sponsor there is no way they will hold off announcing it to Feb. They would want that done ASAP to get signage, merchandise and jerseys sorted.

 

[D- voice]

Sadly it is what it is...
Lost the major and some minor sponsors
TPAs on the decline
We let go of almost the whole team
No sign of signing any marquee players for 2021 (miracles could happen)
There needs to be an investigation...[/QUOTE]

 

[D- voice]

Holding off announcing the major front of jersey sponsor till February wouldn't make much commerial sense would it?

If true...Just in time for Election ?

 

[DinkumDog]

Yeah if there's a sponsor there is no way they will hold off announcing it to Feb. They would want that done ASAP to get signage, merchandise and jerseys sorted.

What use other than training shirts etc for the players which would be publicised do they have for the other stuff over summer?
Signage etc I'm sure would be done in parallel to be ready for when it's needed.
I'm not saying it's happened, but I do think that the club isn't being given enough credit for some pretty fundamental business and marketing decisions that would be made without necessarily announcing something.

 

[DinkumDog]

If true...Just in time for Election ?

All politicians need sweeteners before elections
Or maybe there's an announcement for the forum next week. Can't remember exactly what it was but at the member forum in 2018 they announced something to the members and said it was being released to the press in 30min - they wanted members to know first. So who knows...
Yes, I'm sure I'll be accused of blindly following and blah blah blah - bottom line is no-one has yet convinced me we don't have competent people running the club.

 

[Spoonman84]

What use other than training shirts etc for the players which would be publicised do they have for the other stuff over summer?
Signage etc I'm sure would be done in parallel to be ready for when it's needed.
I'm not saying it's happened, but I do think that the club isn't being given enough credit for some pretty fundamental business and marketing decisions that would be made without necessarily announcing something.

The massive one is having merchandise and jerseys available for Xmas. They would have held off with most of it in the hope of releasing it with a major sponsor on it.
I agree completely with your last point and I'm confident they will get a major sponsor sorted but I just can't see much merit in not telling anyone for a few months if they have secured one.
The board will still get credit if they announce it tomorrow or in Feb.

 

[obje]

You’re a few years behind pal, we aren’t paying them shit

nah youre wrong

 

[wendog33]

The massive one is having merchandise and jerseys available for Xmas. They would have held off with most of it in the hope of releasing it with a major sponsor on it.
I agree completely with your last point and I'm confident they will get a major sponsor sorted but I just can't see much merit in not telling anyone for a few months if they have secured one.
The board will still get credit if they announce it tomorrow or in Feb.

That was my reasoning as well.

Lots of fans by merchandise for xmas gifts. The first jersey without the red Kia signage would be a popular present.

If they have a major sponsor and holding off annoucing till the election, I'd say that is not in the best interests of the club and it's finances.

Can't see that. They know they'll get everyone off their back for a while longer by announcing a feel good sponsorship asap. Even more so than the Adam Elliott or Montoya re-signings