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Canterbury Bulldogs set out preseason plans: to unleash the Dogs of war
CANTERBURY-Bankstown’s preseason focus has been simple: to regain their reputation as Dogs of war.
New coach Dean Pay vowed to restore the values of the famous club that have somewhat faded in recent years, and he immediately acted on his word with the appointment of the Bulldogs’ past five premiership captains in various roles.
Terry Lamb, Andrew Ryan, Peter Tunks, Steve Mortimer and George Peponis all skippered the club to glory in their respective eras.
KATO OTTIO: Game pulls together for family
PRESEASON: Foran fit for Dogs opener
Andrew Ryan, George Peponis, Peter Tunks, Terry Lamb and Steve Mortimer, with new coach Dean Pay. Picture. Phil Hillyard
It’s 14-years since Ryan hoisted the Provan-Summons trophy after the Bulldogs emerged triumphant from one of the great grand finals against the Roosters in 2004, and they’re ready to end the drought.
Backrow enforcer Adam Elliott says the playing group have bought into the bid to restore the club to glory, and that supporters can expect a new-look game plan from the side in 2018.
“Our stock standard this year is going to be to make sure that each team we play against knows that when they get off the field that they’ve played against the Bulldogs,” Elliott said.
“We want teams to feel sore leading into their next game.
“There was a few times last year where we heard rumours that teams were happy to stick with us because they knew we couldn’t go the full length.
“That’s something that hurts you as a footy player, it hurts your pride a bit.”
Adam Elliott says the players are embracing the history. (Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
When Des Hasler took over as head coach in 2012 he ushered in a successful game plan centred around versatile, ball-playing forwards.
The strategy took the Dogs to a grand final in his first season and again in 2014, before becoming stale at the back end of his tenure with the club.
Elliott says the focus for the upcoming season has shifted to an old school approach, with a run first past second mindset at the forefront of the new plan.
“Whether we win or we lose we want to be known as competitors,” Elliott said.
“I think that comes down to running hard before any of that ball playing or expansive style of play.
“We want to be known as a tough pack and a tough 17 each week that are going to work hard for each other.”
What few people in the game know is that Elliott has a history in rugby league as a five-eighth, wearing the six on his back while playing for Country under-16s as well as at various other stages of his career.
Having found his feet as an established first-grader, the Tathra product will look to draw on his creative ability next season, likely as a ball playing lock.
“I’ll probably move a bit closer to the ruck which I think will be good for me because I’ll get my hands on the ball a bit more, and I’ll be in the middle with the bigger boys,” he said.
Klemmer and Woods will bring plenty of bite.
“Then in attack I can shift the ball. We’ve got a few big boys like Klemmer and Woods, if I can shift the ball to them with a few short passes here and there I think that can be pretty dangerous for us.
“It took me a while but I’ve got that confidence now, and I know that my teammates have that faith in me.
“I think that if it comes to the point where the best option is to put it on the boot and roll one through or find an offload through the line or things like that that involve a bit more ball playing, I’ll have the confidence to do that.
“I’ll know my teammates would have the confidence for me to do that as well.”
CANTERBURY-Bankstown’s preseason focus has been simple: to regain their reputation as Dogs of war.
New coach Dean Pay vowed to restore the values of the famous club that have somewhat faded in recent years, and he immediately acted on his word with the appointment of the Bulldogs’ past five premiership captains in various roles.
Terry Lamb, Andrew Ryan, Peter Tunks, Steve Mortimer and George Peponis all skippered the club to glory in their respective eras.
KATO OTTIO: Game pulls together for family
PRESEASON: Foran fit for Dogs opener
Andrew Ryan, George Peponis, Peter Tunks, Terry Lamb and Steve Mortimer, with new coach Dean Pay. Picture. Phil Hillyard
It’s 14-years since Ryan hoisted the Provan-Summons trophy after the Bulldogs emerged triumphant from one of the great grand finals against the Roosters in 2004, and they’re ready to end the drought.
Backrow enforcer Adam Elliott says the playing group have bought into the bid to restore the club to glory, and that supporters can expect a new-look game plan from the side in 2018.
“Our stock standard this year is going to be to make sure that each team we play against knows that when they get off the field that they’ve played against the Bulldogs,” Elliott said.
“We want teams to feel sore leading into their next game.
“There was a few times last year where we heard rumours that teams were happy to stick with us because they knew we couldn’t go the full length.
“That’s something that hurts you as a footy player, it hurts your pride a bit.”
Adam Elliott says the players are embracing the history. (Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
When Des Hasler took over as head coach in 2012 he ushered in a successful game plan centred around versatile, ball-playing forwards.
The strategy took the Dogs to a grand final in his first season and again in 2014, before becoming stale at the back end of his tenure with the club.
Elliott says the focus for the upcoming season has shifted to an old school approach, with a run first past second mindset at the forefront of the new plan.
“Whether we win or we lose we want to be known as competitors,” Elliott said.
“I think that comes down to running hard before any of that ball playing or expansive style of play.
“We want to be known as a tough pack and a tough 17 each week that are going to work hard for each other.”
What few people in the game know is that Elliott has a history in rugby league as a five-eighth, wearing the six on his back while playing for Country under-16s as well as at various other stages of his career.
Having found his feet as an established first-grader, the Tathra product will look to draw on his creative ability next season, likely as a ball playing lock.
“I’ll probably move a bit closer to the ruck which I think will be good for me because I’ll get my hands on the ball a bit more, and I’ll be in the middle with the bigger boys,” he said.
Klemmer and Woods will bring plenty of bite.
“Then in attack I can shift the ball. We’ve got a few big boys like Klemmer and Woods, if I can shift the ball to them with a few short passes here and there I think that can be pretty dangerous for us.
“It took me a while but I’ve got that confidence now, and I know that my teammates have that faith in me.
“I think that if it comes to the point where the best option is to put it on the boot and roll one through or find an offload through the line or things like that that involve a bit more ball playing, I’ll have the confidence to do that.
“I’ll know my teammates would have the confidence for me to do that as well.”
