News Bulldogs coach Dean Pay denies senior players wishes for mass changes

Spoonman84

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Canterbury coach Dean Pay has resisted making mass changes to his side to take on St George Illawarra despite calls from senior players to shake up the backline.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal a group of four senior Bulldogs players approached Pay following the Bulldogs’ 32-6 loss to Manly in Gosford on Sunday expressing their frustrations at the side’s winless start to the season.

It’s believed the players asked Pay to consider moving Will Hopoate from centre to fullback, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak from fullback to the wing, Reimis Smith from centre to the wing and for Kerrod Holland and youngster Morgan Harper to be selected at centre.

But Pay only made one change for Monday’s clash against the Dragons and that was naming Kieran Foran at five-eighth at the expense of Jack Cogger.

Foran was out injured with a serious shoulder injury he suffered last November while playing in a Test match for New Zealand against Great Britain.

His inclusion will add a much-needed boost and experience into Pay’s spine. Foran’s return also marks the Kiwi international’s 200th NRL match.

The Daily Telegraph can also reveal no deadline has been placed on Pay’s future but the club refused to guarantee he would see out the rest of the season.

Pay, who is off contract at the end of this year, is not only fighting to salvage his career at the Bulldogs but the team’s 2020 campaign.

It’s understood Pay met with CEO Andrew Hill and chairwoman Lynn Anderson on Monday to discuss his future and was told his side’s performance was unacceptable, but was offered any support he needed.

The club remains reluctant to sack Pay mid-season but there is no doubt calls for him to be replaced will only grow louder, particularly from disgruntled fans, if the Bulldogs can’t beat the Dragons, who are also winless and under pressure to find results.

While it is widely accepted Pay is coaching an inferior roster compared to others in the NRL, the Bulldogs entered the season on a high note.

Pay’s team ended last season with five from six wins, giving fans hope that they could improve on their 12th placed finish in season 2020.

But losses to Parramatta, North Queensland and the Sea Eagles to open their 2020 campaign has dampened those hopes.

The Bulldogs could receive a recruitment boost this season if the club is able to secure the release of St Helens forward Luke Thompson from the English Super League. Thompson signed a three-year deal to join Canterbury from season 2021 but the club is exploring ways to get him to Belmore this season.


Canterbury recently baulked at the opportunity to bring back local junior and experienced playmaker Josh Reynolds after they failed to agree the terms of his release with the Wests Tigers.

Former Bulldogs hooker and Cronulla premiership winner Michael Ennis blasted the club’s recruitment decisions after Sunday’s loss to the Sea Eagles. Ennis said pairing up Reynolds with Foran in the halves could help turn around the side’s on-field fortunes.

"If there’s a committee for recruitment, boy, oh boy – fair dinkum, do they want to win footy games?” Ennis said.

“They cannot score a point. Yes, they keep saying we want to bring local juniors through and this is our thing, and that’s fantastic.

“The solution is put Foran in when he’s healthy, and put Reynolds next to him.

"They’re two quality halves who can manage them through this period. Josh’s deal would only be for 18 months.

“It’s frustrating, it’s really frustrating as a former player to see how hard some of their players are working, and the pain they’re going through and not getting any reward for it.”

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/s...s/news-story/be5e187da028715f81ebcd8c8e110f3b
 

Freakzilla

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Those 4 players are better coaches than Pay
 

Heckler

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It's like he is being babied. Pride kills people.
 

The_Chimpster

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Senior players: "this side is beyond woeful, let's shake things up and win some games"

Pay: "I've been tinkering with this side all season, now that foz is back with lewis it's PERFECT. Let's make some madness boys"

Senior players:images.jpeg
 

DinkumDog

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More quality journalism.
'4 senior players' approached Pay.
They wouldn't name them would they.
'It's believed'. 'It's understood'.
Soon it'll be 'a friend says' and 'a source confirmed'.
Logo_NI.jpg
 
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capt obvious

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Its pretty much the back 5 line up id have.
Wakeham or averillo to replace lewis too
 

doggieaaron

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Everyone can see it except pay or hes being a stubborn sook,this has been my constant gripe with pay,i think hes a good guy and actually is good at building team spirit but he is clueless with the feel of picking the right players in right positions etc
 

MatstaDogg

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I got nothing personal against Pay, but the writing has got to be on the wall with him you would think.

I mean last week's game, woeful, just woeful.
 
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no1bulldog

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Another Telecrap special - '4 senior players' approached Pay.
They wouldn't name them would they.
'It's believed'. 'It's understood' - they sound more like New Idea with every article.
jackson, Hoppa, Tolman, Foran... no one else would qualify as senior players?
 

Cappuccino

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jackson, Hoppa, Tolman, Foran... no one else would qualify as senior players?
I thought that too but then we have the great Lachlan Lewis who told the world he was our primary halfback at the start of the year and was coaching the team in the media
 

CrittaMagic69

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jackson, Hoppa, Tolman, Foran... no one else would qualify as senior players?
Or Lewis walked in 4 times in a disguise as that would explain the lack of Wakeham being mentioned.
 

Moedogg

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The changes to make the team stronger are quite obvious.... even members of the kennel can see that except our head coach!

Pay must be too proud and arrogant to recognise that and make changes.....
 

Cappuccino

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jackson, Hoppa, Tolman, Foran... no one else would qualify as senior players?
Remove Foran and Add elliot
I reckon Foran would be pretty quiet atm, can't say much if u aint in the team
 
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