Bulldogs leagues club chairman George Coorey has been trying to sign Wayne Bennett to Belmore for at least 10 years now and was at it again this week.
With Trent Barrett at the prohibitive odds of $1.04 to get the gig, a quiet tip swept around Wednesday afternoon that the Dogs might be making a left-field play for the seven-time premiership-winner.
It won’t be happening. As much as some influential types at the Bulldogs were pushing for Bennett the club is now a fair way down the track in terms of installing Barrett for next year.
The three-year deal will most likely be announced next week.
D-DAY FOR FUMING BULLDOG AS RAIDERS LINK STRENGTHENS
The Bulldogs asked Harawira-Naera if he wanted Josh Jackson on a Zoom call with the club but were told thanks but no thanks.
Harawira-Naera’s beef is not with his Bulldogs teammates but rather the powers that be who run the club.
The meeting on Friday will be with chair Lynne Anderson and chief executive Andrew Hill.
SPOTTED
Phil Gould, Wayne Beavis and Bulldogs director Paul Dunn catching up for coffee late last week. Gus was the coach at Canterbury in 1988 and Penrith in 1991 when Dunn played front row in both grand final winning teams. Beavis is one of rugby league’s great characters who also acts as an adviser to the likes of Trent Barrett, Brad Fittler and Anthony Griffin
BULLDOGS LEGEND ANSWERS SOS
Two-time Dally M Medallist Mick Potter has offered to help the struggling Bulldogs out as an assistant coach after the sudden exit of Dean Pay and assistant coach Steve Antonelli this week. Potter was part of the Canterbury-Bankstown teams who won back-to-back grand finals in 1984 and 1985 under Warren Ryan and understands the fabric of the family club as well as anyone. The champion fullback won his first Dally M medal in 1984 after playing only one game of first grade in 1983.
