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BULLDOGS legends Steve Mortimer and Terry Lamb have flagged Bulldogs captain Andrew Ryan as a future club "immortal".
All five surviving premiership winning captains, including George Peponis and Peter Tunks, yesterday said Ryan was one of the greatest captains to serve the club, as they came together to celebrate 75 years since Canterbury's first game.
"He's one of the greats and one of the great captains of the Bulldogs or Berries," Mortimer said yesterday.
"He is a leader, he's humble, he's gracious and he's a great player. I think his influence and demeanour has rubbed on to players looking for inspiration and guidance."
Ryan, 32, has been at the club since 2003 and captained the 2004 premiership team with Steve Price missing the decider that year. He has been captain since 2005.
Former Bulldogs five-eighth Lamb said Ryan was a key in the club's dramatic transformation off the field and believes his beloved Bulldogs are in their strongest ever position thanks to Ryan, coach Kevin Moore and chief executive Todd Greenberg.
"Financially wise we're going really strong with sponsorships and membership drive. We've got over 10,000 [members]. This is the strongest the club has ever been," Lamb said.
"To be strong off the field, you've got to be strong on the football field."
The Dogs immortals gathered at Sydney Olympic Park yesterday agreed Ryan's reign had been the most "difficult" in the club's 75-year history.
All five surviving premiership winning captains, including George Peponis and Peter Tunks, yesterday said Ryan was one of the greatest captains to serve the club, as they came together to celebrate 75 years since Canterbury's first game.
"He's one of the greats and one of the great captains of the Bulldogs or Berries," Mortimer said yesterday.
"He is a leader, he's humble, he's gracious and he's a great player. I think his influence and demeanour has rubbed on to players looking for inspiration and guidance."
Ryan, 32, has been at the club since 2003 and captained the 2004 premiership team with Steve Price missing the decider that year. He has been captain since 2005.
Former Bulldogs five-eighth Lamb said Ryan was a key in the club's dramatic transformation off the field and believes his beloved Bulldogs are in their strongest ever position thanks to Ryan, coach Kevin Moore and chief executive Todd Greenberg.
"Financially wise we're going really strong with sponsorships and membership drive. We've got over 10,000 [members]. This is the strongest the club has ever been," Lamb said.
"To be strong off the field, you've got to be strong on the football field."
The Dogs immortals gathered at Sydney Olympic Park yesterday agreed Ryan's reign had been the most "difficult" in the club's 75-year history.
