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The Code.
The famed ‘Dogs of War’ side was fearless and intimidating. Many of them are now back at Belmore and schooling the NRL club’s next generation of forwards on what is required, writes LACHLAN McKIRDY.
It was on a cold winter’s night in 2006 that a formidable rugby league legacy was confirmed.
The Bulldogs were taking on St George Illawarra at Kogarah on a Friday evening. Neither team took a backward step.
The Dogs’ forward pack was the definition of formidable: Mark O’Meley, Roy Asotasi, Willie Mason, Andrew Ryan and Reni Maitua. Add Sonny Bill Williams and Nate Myles on the bench for good measure.
Highlights from the match have hundreds of thousands of views across social media, with comments full of fans’ admiration for ‘The Dogs of War’.
The same clips are inspiring a new generation of forwards at Belmore.
“The boys were flying out of the line, one after the other,” recalls Bulldogs prop Max King.
“That inspires me. Especially as a front rower, you’re the guy that has the opportunity to drive that.
“I want to be able to do that and be able to inspire my teammates because it’s about leading on the field.”
It’s part of the drive to recapture the glory days at Belmore. Mason and Ryan have become part of the Dogs’ coaching roster, O’Meley has been around their development system and even SBW has been welcomed back to the club he controversially left.
The message they’ve been passing on is to not be afraid to be the enforcer, particularly at training.
“It’s been so good for them to come on board and help lift intensity, help inspire,” King says.
“They played us the Dragons v Bulldogs game. To have them around and see old footage of Mase back in the day, and Ogre (O’Meley), Roy and all these blokes coming out of the line making plays and big hits, it’s mad.
“Mase is the intensity guy. He’ll tell you stories about, ‘Back in my day with Ogre and Sonny Bill … we used to knock each other’s heads off at training’.
“It’s driven that intensity of training. I think that’s something that as a team, but me personally, I can improve on.
“I didn’t really know what the Dogs of War were last year. You want to learn about it but it’s hard because no one had been there besides Jacko (Josh Jackson).
“So it’s been so cool to have that on board, that ruthless, resilient side.”
Mason in particular has had a big impact on King, working with the young forward to ensure he sets standards at training.
After just one year at Belmore, King’s influence at the club has already been recognised with inclusion in their extended 2023 leadership group.
When he first arrived at the Bulldogs from the Storm, King was just hoping for a chance to play regular first grade. Now, he has a chance to live up to his potential.
“All I wanted was an opportunity,” King says. “One of the best moments of my career was round one against the Cowboys in Townsville. We won, but [it was great] to play NRL again and for this club.
“We voted for who we think should be in the leadership group. And for me to receive high votes is hard for me to comprehend, because I don’t see myself as that guy. It’s a real honour.
“It’s not something that I get this title and I want to be acting like a different dude. I want to be the best leader I can be – that means being able to have hard discussions but also throwing an arm around people.
“The things I’ve seen at Melbourne, [I want to] be able to incorporate that in the team. Being there with Cameron Smith, he would get up and speak so much … it was like having another coach on the field.
“It’s about me being able to lead by my actions … you can’t be demanding things from players and not providing them yourself.”
King wants to improve on 2022, when he averaged 91 run metres and 28.9 tackles while playing every game for the Bulldogs.
And with Tevita Pangai Junior and Luke Thompson set to miss at least the opening month of the season, even more pressure will fall at King’s feet.
It’s a challenge the 25-year-old will relish as he picks up even more of the dirty work as the Bulldogs look for a return to finals. It’s the least he can do as he seeks to continue repaying the faith to the club that took a chance on him.
“I felt like it was this rebirthing of my career last year after the injuries,” King says.
“When I came into the NRL, I struggled with confidence. I struggled with a lot of things.
“I had 50 games to my name in a couple of years. I felt so proud of the fact I had played NRL, but I just felt like I had underachieved. I wasn’t really proud of my career.
“I just want things that I can look back on and be proud of.
“Last year was a step in that direction. I’d want more success obviously, but to be able to go out there and feel like it’s me out on the field rather than this limited, caged guy.”
The Code.
The famed ‘Dogs of War’ side was fearless and intimidating. Many of them are now back at Belmore and schooling the NRL club’s next generation of forwards on what is required, writes LACHLAN McKIRDY.
It was on a cold winter’s night in 2006 that a formidable rugby league legacy was confirmed.
The Bulldogs were taking on St George Illawarra at Kogarah on a Friday evening. Neither team took a backward step.
The Dogs’ forward pack was the definition of formidable: Mark O’Meley, Roy Asotasi, Willie Mason, Andrew Ryan and Reni Maitua. Add Sonny Bill Williams and Nate Myles on the bench for good measure.
Highlights from the match have hundreds of thousands of views across social media, with comments full of fans’ admiration for ‘The Dogs of War’.
The same clips are inspiring a new generation of forwards at Belmore.
“The boys were flying out of the line, one after the other,” recalls Bulldogs prop Max King.
“That inspires me. Especially as a front rower, you’re the guy that has the opportunity to drive that.
“I want to be able to do that and be able to inspire my teammates because it’s about leading on the field.”
It’s part of the drive to recapture the glory days at Belmore. Mason and Ryan have become part of the Dogs’ coaching roster, O’Meley has been around their development system and even SBW has been welcomed back to the club he controversially left.
The message they’ve been passing on is to not be afraid to be the enforcer, particularly at training.
“It’s been so good for them to come on board and help lift intensity, help inspire,” King says.
“They played us the Dragons v Bulldogs game. To have them around and see old footage of Mase back in the day, and Ogre (O’Meley), Roy and all these blokes coming out of the line making plays and big hits, it’s mad.
“Mase is the intensity guy. He’ll tell you stories about, ‘Back in my day with Ogre and Sonny Bill … we used to knock each other’s heads off at training’.
“It’s driven that intensity of training. I think that’s something that as a team, but me personally, I can improve on.
“I didn’t really know what the Dogs of War were last year. You want to learn about it but it’s hard because no one had been there besides Jacko (Josh Jackson).
“So it’s been so cool to have that on board, that ruthless, resilient side.”
Mason in particular has had a big impact on King, working with the young forward to ensure he sets standards at training.
After just one year at Belmore, King’s influence at the club has already been recognised with inclusion in their extended 2023 leadership group.
When he first arrived at the Bulldogs from the Storm, King was just hoping for a chance to play regular first grade. Now, he has a chance to live up to his potential.
“All I wanted was an opportunity,” King says. “One of the best moments of my career was round one against the Cowboys in Townsville. We won, but [it was great] to play NRL again and for this club.
“We voted for who we think should be in the leadership group. And for me to receive high votes is hard for me to comprehend, because I don’t see myself as that guy. It’s a real honour.
“It’s not something that I get this title and I want to be acting like a different dude. I want to be the best leader I can be – that means being able to have hard discussions but also throwing an arm around people.
“The things I’ve seen at Melbourne, [I want to] be able to incorporate that in the team. Being there with Cameron Smith, he would get up and speak so much … it was like having another coach on the field.
“It’s about me being able to lead by my actions … you can’t be demanding things from players and not providing them yourself.”
King wants to improve on 2022, when he averaged 91 run metres and 28.9 tackles while playing every game for the Bulldogs.
And with Tevita Pangai Junior and Luke Thompson set to miss at least the opening month of the season, even more pressure will fall at King’s feet.
It’s a challenge the 25-year-old will relish as he picks up even more of the dirty work as the Bulldogs look for a return to finals. It’s the least he can do as he seeks to continue repaying the faith to the club that took a chance on him.
“I felt like it was this rebirthing of my career last year after the injuries,” King says.
“When I came into the NRL, I struggled with confidence. I struggled with a lot of things.
“I had 50 games to my name in a couple of years. I felt so proud of the fact I had played NRL, but I just felt like I had underachieved. I wasn’t really proud of my career.
“I just want things that I can look back on and be proud of.
“Last year was a step in that direction. I’d want more success obviously, but to be able to go out there and feel like it’s me out on the field rather than this limited, caged guy.”
