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FORMER Bulldogs bad boys Willie Mason and Reni Maitua have been revealed as the disruptive force that handed over the club's proud Mortimer legacy to arch-rivals Parramatta.
The unthinkable will take place at ANZ Stadium this Saturday, when the newest pup in the Mortimer litter - Eels playmaker Daniel - tackles the team that will always be synonymous with his famous surname.
After winning four premierships in the 1980s with Mortimer brothers Steve, Peter and Chris on board, the Bulldogs were desperate to continue the dynasty once Daniel emerged as a talent two seasons ago.
Given the youngster spent his infancy in the family creche at Belmore Oval and worshipped former Bulldogs five-eighth Braith Anasta as a child, it seemed inevitable the family tradition would continue.
But father Peter had other ideas despite the Bulldogs out-bidding Parramatta for the youngster's services in 2007.
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"There were some influences at the Bulldogs that I was not comfortable with sending a 17-year-old to," Mortimer said.
"Guys like Willie Mason and Reni Maitua, they probably weren't setting the best example behaviour-wise for a young footballer.
"Thankfully those influences have now moved on.
"But at the time, my first and only priority was Daniel's development."
Mortimer also revealed Bulldogs coach at the time - his former teammate Steve Folkes - was not the best fit for Daniel.
"Steve was still coaching a 1980s style of football," Mortimer said.
"It was a game plan based heavily on the forwards. The game had moved on, but the club had not.
"Michael Hagan was at Parramatta then and I felt Daniel was better suited to playing under a coach who'd played three different positions in the backline himself."
The final decision was left to Daniel. He made up his mind to accept Parramatta's offer at dinner in the family's Orange home.
"I'm sure he'd have convinced himself he was going to play for the Bulldogs as a child," Mortimer said.
"He would have gone to bed dreaming of being a Bulldog.
"He was a big fan as a child. When I worked for the club until 1992, we used to keep him in the creche at Belmore Oval during games. Peter Moore's family looked after him and the other babies.
"He loved Braith Anasta as a child and was at the game when Canterbury won the 1995 Grand Final.
"I'll never forget the day because we lost him in the hotel afterwards."
Daniel's decision coincided with a period of turbulence at Belmore which followed the exit of his uncle and club legend Steve as CEO during the 2004 Coffs Harbour sex scandal. The incident left the family and club officials virtually estranged, but recent conciliatory gestures from new CEO Todd Greenberg and coach Kevin Moore have mended the rift.
Bulldogs insiders now readily admit they still want Daniel at the club - and this time Peter will not stand in the teenager's way when his current Parramatta deal expires at the end of next season.
"It's up to Daniel and Parramatta have been wonderful to us, but I'd have no issues with him going there now," Mortimer said.
"Discipline and decency have returned to Belmore. Todd Greenberg and Kevin Moore can take credit for that. I get a kick out of watching the Bulldogs again.
"Kevin has already told me he'd like to have a talk to Daniel when he's contract is up for renewal."
The unthinkable will take place at ANZ Stadium this Saturday, when the newest pup in the Mortimer litter - Eels playmaker Daniel - tackles the team that will always be synonymous with his famous surname.
After winning four premierships in the 1980s with Mortimer brothers Steve, Peter and Chris on board, the Bulldogs were desperate to continue the dynasty once Daniel emerged as a talent two seasons ago.
Given the youngster spent his infancy in the family creche at Belmore Oval and worshipped former Bulldogs five-eighth Braith Anasta as a child, it seemed inevitable the family tradition would continue.
But father Peter had other ideas despite the Bulldogs out-bidding Parramatta for the youngster's services in 2007.
Start of sidebar. Skip to end of sidebar.
End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar.
"There were some influences at the Bulldogs that I was not comfortable with sending a 17-year-old to," Mortimer said.
"Guys like Willie Mason and Reni Maitua, they probably weren't setting the best example behaviour-wise for a young footballer.
"Thankfully those influences have now moved on.
"But at the time, my first and only priority was Daniel's development."
Mortimer also revealed Bulldogs coach at the time - his former teammate Steve Folkes - was not the best fit for Daniel.
"Steve was still coaching a 1980s style of football," Mortimer said.
"It was a game plan based heavily on the forwards. The game had moved on, but the club had not.
"Michael Hagan was at Parramatta then and I felt Daniel was better suited to playing under a coach who'd played three different positions in the backline himself."
The final decision was left to Daniel. He made up his mind to accept Parramatta's offer at dinner in the family's Orange home.
"I'm sure he'd have convinced himself he was going to play for the Bulldogs as a child," Mortimer said.
"He would have gone to bed dreaming of being a Bulldog.
"He was a big fan as a child. When I worked for the club until 1992, we used to keep him in the creche at Belmore Oval during games. Peter Moore's family looked after him and the other babies.
"He loved Braith Anasta as a child and was at the game when Canterbury won the 1995 Grand Final.
"I'll never forget the day because we lost him in the hotel afterwards."
Daniel's decision coincided with a period of turbulence at Belmore which followed the exit of his uncle and club legend Steve as CEO during the 2004 Coffs Harbour sex scandal. The incident left the family and club officials virtually estranged, but recent conciliatory gestures from new CEO Todd Greenberg and coach Kevin Moore have mended the rift.
Bulldogs insiders now readily admit they still want Daniel at the club - and this time Peter will not stand in the teenager's way when his current Parramatta deal expires at the end of next season.
"It's up to Daniel and Parramatta have been wonderful to us, but I'd have no issues with him going there now," Mortimer said.
"Discipline and decency have returned to Belmore. Todd Greenberg and Kevin Moore can take credit for that. I get a kick out of watching the Bulldogs again.
"Kevin has already told me he'd like to have a talk to Daniel when he's contract is up for renewal."
