The Family Club That Keeps Falling Apart

[Kempsey Dog]

Some bullshit article in the DT I can't get up on my phone. Can anyone get it up ?

 

[_G-Dog_]

We have managed to consistently let the most valuable members of our family leave over the past 15 years..

 

[Alan79]

Some bullshit article in the DT I can't get up on my phone. Can anyone get it up ?

I've got no issues in that. But I've heard reading the DT will cause erectile distinction.

 

[Spoonman84]

The shadow of Andrew Farrar, among others, haunts and taunts Canterbury.

Most know the Farrar story and will forgive the telling again for those that don’t.

Farrar, all sharp elbows and mean intent, was once the best schoolboy footballer in the country. In 1979 he was preparing to fly to England for the Australian Schoolboy Tour and all the big teams were trying to sign him.

This guy could change everything, they believed.

Eventually the money being offered got crazy.

Canterbury boss Peter Moore rang his rival club secretaries and, his voice rising from the gravel pit where it came, called the money insane and warned they would all go broke if they continued making bidding wars for the likes of Farrar, still a schoolboy.

Let’s leave it alone, Bullfrog told them, and all go for a Chinese meal instead.

Beautiful.

The club bosses arrived for their prawn dumplings at the NSW Rugby Leagues Club that Friday, each aware that the first rule of rugby league was to never knock back a free lunch, and as they looked around they realised they were all there except for the Bullfrog.

He was landing in England, where he signed Farrar to Canterbury.

He ran the Bulldogs for 26 years, his way. Tremendous underachievers, they won five premierships and made four more grand finals during his time, much of it built on the Bullfrog’s shrewd eye in the cattle trade.

In the 24 seasons since Bullfrog stepped down, passing away in 2000, the Bulldogs have won one premiership and finished last twice.

This lack of success drove the boardroom massacre two seasons ago when the board, once considered the most stable assembly of men in the country, were voted out and a collection of familiar surnames were elected in.

The new school was going old school, and they apologised to no one.

That is as good a way as any to explain this week’s madness when news broke of the extraordinary 10-year $10 million deal the Bulldogs secretly offered the Rooster Latrell Mitchell.

Chief executive Andrew Hill claimed no knowledge of the deal. Coach Dean Pay said he knew nothing.

Hill fronted several club officials saying that if it was happening he needed to know because he will need to speak to it. But Hill was met with blank looks.

Mitchell’s manager Wayde Rushton knew nothing, same as Roosters chairman Nick Politis. Mitchell also claimed no knowledge.

It all looked like a lot of hot air except for one small fact: it was true.

The offer was made in Taree by someone no longer officially connected to the club. He maintains connections with the club, though, and this is where he might have had encouragement to make the offer.

Also there was Anthony Mundine, who has known the Mitchell family for much of his life and has adopted a mentoring role with Mitchell. Others mentoring Mitchell have approached Mundine’s former manager, Khoder Nasser, to take over his management but has knocked them back.

It has so many hallmarks of Bullfrog subtlety the man might as well have been doing it himself.

Signing Mitchell brings value beyond what he can do for the football team.

Bullfrog’s shadow remains large over the club, as evidenced by the recent boardroom election. Every failing and every win at the club seems to be measured against how Bullfrog might have done it.

So far, this board has come up remarkably light.

Its stumbles have been attributed to the former board or former coach Des Hasler, former chairman Ray Dib or former chief executive Raelene Castle.

The small wins have been too small and too far in between.

The board has failed in some election promises. One of those promises was to never let juniors go to other clubs.

It was a ridiculous statement because it was impossible to uphold. But it was brilliant because it resonated with frustrated members who cared little for detail. Pining for days long gone, it was rhetoric that sounded right enough.

When local junior Jacob Kiraz, who plays for Lebanon on Saturday, was on the verge of signing with North Queensland and fielding interest from Newcastle, Melbourne and Parramatta the Bulldogs came in late after showing no early interest.

Some wonder whether the interest was even genuine or, with the next election eight months away, merely a face-saver.

The new board was elected because Canterbury members got sentimental. They wanted the old days, the Bullfrog days, when the Dogs averaged a grand final every three years.

The new board set out to deliver that with Chris Anderson filling the role. His hands are on everything.

Board member John Khoury was given responsibility for the juniors. When Andrew Patmore was sacked last month a subcommittee was formed to find his replacement.

Hill, Pay and Khoury were supposed to be the subcommittee. Anderson removed Khoury to take the place himself.

Mark Hughes, a superb scout with a keen eye, was reappointed to run recruitment but much of what he does remains answerable to Anderson, who was in the meeting with Kiraz and his manager.

The shadow of Bullfrog …

Anderson is being accused of the same dictatorial behaviour that Moore was known for and did so successfully and which also, ironically, cost Dib his job as chairman after similar allegations.

The struggle has become how do competent men employed to do a job actually do that job if they are not allowed?

An offer to a superstar like Mitchell and the coach and chief executive do not even know?

It has led to an environment of unrest. Sponsors unhappy with this new direction have left. Tony Touma poured $600,000 into the club as sponsor Park View but now sponsors the Rabbitohs.

He has told the club he will return when a different board is in place.

Other sponsors have also indicated they plan to leave once their deals have ended.

So whispers of a board room challenge have begun.

Nothing more than conversations have happened so far. Again, public sentiment is the key.

Some disgruntled members already want to challenge but believe the timing is wrong. They fear the defence for the current board can easily be shaped around the message that they have had only two years to fix the disaster they inherited and, anyway, do we really need a change now?

The details would not matter to a voting group easily swayed by bold statements.

Constant referrals to the club’s salary cap problems will buy time.

So challenge now, and risk losing and affecting their credibility, or wait until a more opportune time?

In the meantime, as conversations are held, the club fights shadows.

A left-field signing like Mitchell would certainly restore the faith of members looking for a sprinkle of Bullfrog magic to return to the club.

It was his kind of play.

But final proof that times have changed came seven weeks ago when Farrar was sacked as football manager, ending an association that began on a schoolboy trip to England 40 years ago.

The Family Club let one of their own go, in pursuit of success.

It makes you wonder what is true anymore.

 

[Alan79]

The shadow of Andrew Farrar, among others, haunts and taunts Canterbury.

Most know the Farrar story and will forgive the telling again for those that don’t.

Farrar, all sharp elbows and mean intent, was once the best schoolboy footballer in the country. In 1979 he was preparing to fly to England for the Australian Schoolboy Tour and all the big teams were trying to sign him.

This guy could change everything, they believed.

Eventually the money being offered got crazy.

Canterbury boss Peter Moore rang his rival club secretaries and, his voice rising from the gravel pit where it came, called the money insane and warned they would all go broke if they continued making bidding wars for the likes of Farrar, still a schoolboy.

Let’s leave it alone, Bullfrog told them, and all go for a Chinese meal instead.

Beautiful.

The club bosses arrived for their prawn dumplings at the NSW Rugby Leagues Club that Friday, each aware that the first rule of rugby league was to never knock back a free lunch, and as they looked around they realised they were all there except for the Bullfrog.

He was landing in England, where he signed Farrar to Canterbury.

He ran the Bulldogs for 26 years, his way. Tremendous underachievers, they won five premierships and made four more grand finals during his time, much of it built on the Bullfrog’s shrewd eye in the cattle trade.

In the 24 seasons since Bullfrog stepped down, passing away in 2000, the Bulldogs have won one premiership and finished last twice.

This lack of success drove the boardroom massacre two seasons ago when the board, once considered the most stable assembly of men in the country, were voted out and a collection of familiar surnames were elected in.

The new school was going old school, and they apologised to no one.

That is as good a way as any to explain this week’s madness when news broke of the extraordinary 10-year $10 million deal the Bulldogs secretly offered the Rooster Latrell Mitchell.

Chief executive Andrew Hill claimed no knowledge of the deal. Coach Dean Pay said he knew nothing.

Hill fronted several club officials saying that if it was happening he needed to know because he will need to speak to it. But Hill was met with blank looks.

Mitchell’s manager Wayde Rushton knew nothing, same as Roosters chairman Nick Politis. Mitchell also claimed no knowledge.

It all looked like a lot of hot air except for one small fact: it was true.

The offer was made in Taree by someone no longer officially connected to the club. He maintains connections with the club, though, and this is where he might have had encouragement to make the offer.

Also there was Anthony Mundine, who has known the Mitchell family for much of his life and has adopted a mentoring role with Mitchell. Others mentoring Mitchell have approached Mundine’s former manager, Khoder Nasser, to take over his management but has knocked them back.

It has so many hallmarks of Bullfrog subtlety the man might as well have been doing it himself.

Signing Mitchell brings value beyond what he can do for the football team.

Bullfrog’s shadow remains large over the club, as evidenced by the recent boardroom election. Every failing and every win at the club seems to be measured against how Bullfrog might have done it.

So far, this board has come up remarkably light.

Its stumbles have been attributed to the former board or former coach Des Hasler, former chairman Ray Dib or former chief executive Raelene Castle.

The small wins have been too small and too far in between.

The board has failed in some election promises. One of those promises was to never let juniors go to other clubs.

It was a ridiculous statement because it was impossible to uphold. But it was brilliant because it resonated with frustrated members who cared little for detail. Pining for days long gone, it was rhetoric that sounded right enough.

When local junior Jacob Kiraz, who plays for Lebanon on Saturday, was on the verge of signing with North Queensland and fielding interest from Newcastle, Melbourne and Parramatta the Bulldogs came in late after showing no early interest.

Some wonder whether the interest was even genuine or, with the next election eight months away, merely a face-saver.

The new board was elected because Canterbury members got sentimental. They wanted the old days, the Bullfrog days, when the Dogs averaged a grand final every three years.

The new board set out to deliver that with Chris Anderson filling the role. His hands are on everything.

Board member John Khoury was given responsibility for the juniors. When Andrew Patmore was sacked last month a subcommittee was formed to find his replacement.

Hill, Pay and Khoury were supposed to be the subcommittee. Anderson removed Khoury to take the place himself.

Mark Hughes, a superb scout with a keen eye, was reappointed to run recruitment but much of what he does remains answerable to Anderson, who was in the meeting with Kiraz and his manager.

The shadow of Bullfrog …

Anderson is being accused of the same dictatorial behaviour that Moore was known for and did so successfully and which also, ironically, cost Dib his job as chairman after similar allegations.

The struggle has become how do competent men employed to do a job actually do that job if they are not allowed?

An offer to a superstar like Mitchell and the coach and chief executive do not even know?

It has led to an environment of unrest. Sponsors unhappy with this new direction have left. Tony Touma poured $600,000 into the club as sponsor Park View but now sponsors the Rabbitohs.

He has told the club he will return when a different board is in place.

Other sponsors have also indicated they plan to leave once their deals have ended.

So whispers of a board room challenge have begun.

Nothing more than conversations have happened so far. Again, public sentiment is the key.

Some disgruntled members already want to challenge but believe the timing is wrong. They fear the defence for the current board can easily be shaped around the message that they have had only two years to fix the disaster they inherited and, anyway, do we really need a change now?

The details would not matter to a voting group easily swayed by bold statements.

Constant referrals to the club’s salary cap problems will buy time.

So challenge now, and risk losing and affecting their credibility, or wait until a more opportune time?

In the meantime, as conversations are held, the club fights shadows.

A left-field signing like Mitchell would certainly restore the faith of members looking for a sprinkle of Bullfrog magic to return to the club.

It was his kind of play.

But final proof that times have changed came seven weeks ago when Farrar was sacked as football manager, ending an association that began on a schoolboy trip to England 40 years ago.

The Family Club let one of their own go, in pursuit of success.

It makes you wonder what is true anymore.

Anything to destabilize the club. If you tried wiping your ass with the daily telegraph it would be dirtier when you finished than when you began.

 

[Tassie Devil]

Looks as though journos have been reading on here once again ....

The game is played on a knife's edge. If the board, or Anderson let's say, were to pull off the extremely unlikely signing of Mitchel then everyone would be talking about Bullfrog, and how Anderson magnificently pulled the wool over everyones' eyes etc etc.

If it doesn't come off, then people slag him off for not going through the proper channels etc etc.

The reality is ... I want a board that has the balls to make such moves. I want a board that is audacious and thinks outside the box to get things done. I'm impressed by their approach to getting Mitchel on board as the standard way simply would've have got us anywhere. It's clear that this interest IS real. Bravo to them for making the move.

Concern is though ... WTF are they doing about the coach? Do they honestly think that the fundamental problem at our club is the standard of the players? I certainly hope they pull a rabbit out of the hat soon when it comes to Pay because I personally am not interested so much in new signings other than signing a new fucking coach.

Oh, as for Farrar ... what had he done as football manager? Was he successful in his position? We should keep an underperforming staff member to keep our 'family tradition' alive? Suck me sideways what stupid thinking! Journos these days are simply looking for ways to get attention rather than actually making sense, and reporting news.

 

[Spoonman84]

Looks as though journos have been reading on here once again ....

The game is played on a knife's edge. If the board, or Anderson let's say, were to pull off the extremely unlikely signing of Mitchel then everyone would be talking about Bullfrog, and how Anderson magnificently pulled the wool over everyones' eyes etc etc.

If it doesn't come off, then people slag him off for not going through the proper channels etc etc.

The reality is ... I want a board that has the balls to make such moves. I want a board that is audacious and thinks outside the box to get things done. I'm impressed by their approach to getting Mitchel on board as the standard way simply would've have got us anywhere. It's clear that this interest IS real. Bravo to them for making the move.

Concern is though ... WTF are they doing about the coach? Do they honestly think that the fundamental problem at our club is the standard of the players? I certainly hope they pull a rabbit out of the hat soon when it comes to Pay because I personally am not interested so much in new signings other than signing a new fucking coach.

Oh, as for Farrar ... what had he done as football manager? Was he successful in his position? We should keep an underperforming staff member to keep our 'family tradition' alive? Suck me sideways what stupid thinking! Journos these days are simply looking for ways to get attention rather than actually making sense, and reporting news.

I agree but the concern is Anderson sticking his nose in everything. A dictator like that can work and it can also be a disaster. Time will tell what happens with this. The article certainly has a agenda behind it and why the Pay thing is tricky. These type of articles will increase 10 fold when he’s sacked so it has to be carefully orchestrated.

 

[Tassie Devil]

I agree but the concern is Anderson sticking his nose in everything. A dictator like that can work and it can also be a disaster. Time will tell what happens with this. The article certainly has a agenda behind it and why the Pay thing is tricky. These type of articles will increase 10 fold when he’s sacked so it has to be carefully orchestrated.

Speaking sense and I see what you're saying. Think you're right in many ways, but I really don't know the whole picture when it comes to Anderson and his impact on the club at the present time. Whether he's a good influence or not only time will tell, but it'll be judged on onfield performances and .... that's not looking too good so far.

So ... looking at the Mitchell case only. The club can't approach him as they haven't been given permission, and if they were to officially approach him with knowledge of the board etc. then they all would be culpable. No? So, the reality is the only way the club has any chance of snaring this player is to be snide which is what clubs like the Roosters etc. have been doing for years. Let's be honest now. I personally have no issue at all, if the whole story is true, with how we approached Mitchell. I applaud that move, I really do. And to me it shows we may have some balls to play with the big boys.

Some will disagree and say it shows desperation, we overplayed our hand, smacks of 2nd rate club getting a tattoed lebo and Mundine to get the ball rolling ... Business is about adapting to the situation and doing what needs to be done to get it done. That's simply what they were doing. If it doesn't work ... shit ... it still sends a note out that this club is ambitious and looking to get back with the big boys which can only be a good thing.

But sack the coach first for fucks sake!

 

[Spoonman84]

Speaking sense and I see what you're saying. Think you're right in many ways, but I really don't know the whole picture when it comes to Anderson and his impact on the club at the present time. Whether he's a good influence or not only time will tell, but it'll be judged on onfield performances and .... that's not looking too good so far.

So ... looking at the Mitchell case only. The club can't approach him as they haven't been given permission, and if they were to officially approach him with knowledge of the board etc. then they all would be culpable. No? So, the reality is the only way the club has any chance of snaring this player is to be snide which is what clubs like the Roosters etc. have been doing for years. Let's be honest now. I personally have no issue at all, if the whole story is true, with how we approached Mitchell. I applaud that move, I really do. And to me it shows we may have some balls to play with the big boys.

Some will disagree and say it shows desperation, we overplayed our hand, smacks of 2nd rate club getting a tattoed lebo and Mundine to get the ball rolling ... Business is about adapting to the situation and doing what needs to be done to get it done. That's simply what they were doing. If it doesn't work ... shit ... it still sends a note out that this club is ambitious and looking to get back with the big boys which can only be a good thing.

But sack the coach first for fucks sake!

That’s the thing with Anderson if he wants to be the big dog calling all the shots then his margin for error is tiny. I’m in two minds about this because I could see Anderson doing it but it’s a Telegraph article with an agenda so I think Anderson would be sticking his nose in but I’m not sure it would be to the extent this article says.

I agree with pretty much everything you said about Latrell but a few things concern me and that is it’s already got out into the public after one meeting and was this meeting done with the whole support of the board. If Anderson went rouge without putting it to the board it sets a dangerous precedent. Also I’m not really that keen on Mundine being our middle man.

In a funny way articles like this can be good as it does put some heat on the board so let’s see what they produce between now and the end of the year.

 

[B-Train]

We really shouldn't allow anyone to post any sort of information on here. Then the Telecrap wouldn't be able to write any articles..

What the fuck was that story? You have to love how when we try and sign a young star for once, from a glamour/cartel club, the media have to rip the club apart for having the audacity to trying to do so...

Yet if they don't try and sign anyone, the media hammer the club for having no ambition and they question where all the money is being spent, we have no talent, we need to go on a recruiting drive etc..

I'm sick to death of the Roosters, Broncos, Souths etc controlling the media to the point where propaganda like this is written on their behalf on a daily basis and every negative story is covered up to protect their pristine image. God forbid they lose some talent to the other clubs for once. They can't allow that...

 

[Tassie Devil]

That’s the thing with Anderson if he wants to be the big dog calling all the shots then his margin for error is tiny. I’m in two minds about this because I could see Anderson doing it but it’s a Telegraph article with an agenda so I think Anderson would be sticking his nose in but I’m not sure it would be to the extent this article says.

I agree with pretty much everything you said about Latrell but a few things concern me and that is it’s already got out into the public after one meeting and was this meeting done with the whole support of the board. If Anderson went rouge without putting it to the board it sets a dangerous precedent. Also I’m not really that keen on Mundine being our middle man.

In a funny way articles like this can be good as it does put some heat on the board so let’s see what they produce between now and the end of the year.

Again, well said and agree. Honestly refuse to read the DT and didn't really realise it was an article from them until you said it ....

The DT is a fucking vile newspaper that's spat on our club long enough so ... yeah ...

That being said,all that matters is results. It's great that we're being active, but something needs to come from it. Only time will tell if this was just a random roll of the dice or a shift in policy. I think the later but ...

 

[CrittaMagic69]

Who wrote the article? Still don't trust this board either way.

 

[Tassie Devil]

We really shouldn't allow anyone to post any sort of information on here. Then the Telecrap wouldn't be able to write any articles..

What the fuck was that story? You have to love how we try and sign a young star for once and the media have to rip the club apart for having the audacity to try sign a player from one of the glamour clubs...

Yet if they don't try and sign anyone, the media hammer the club for having no ambition and they question where all the money is being spent, we have no talent, we need to go on a recruiting drive etc..

I'm sick to death of the Roosters, Broncos, Souths etc controlling the media to the point where propaganda like this is written on their behalf on a daily basis.

Agree if I'm honest. Actually annoyed at myself for not realising it's an article from the DT as if I had I wouldn't have commented. Around the world, journalism has just decayed rapidly and in Australia the DT is the prime example. Will never ever buy that paper, and up until now never read an article either.

That being said ...

 

[Tassie Devil]

I see the DT being close to the same level as the S*n in England. Scumbag reporters.

 

[bowleggedwog]

Seinfeld story.

 

[B-Train]

Agree if I'm honest. Actually annoyed at myself for not realising it's an article from the DT as if I had I wouldn't have commented. Around the world, journalism has just decayed rapidly and in Australia the DT is the prime example. Will never ever buy that paper, and up until now never read an article either.

That being said ...

It's just pathetic and so transparent. News Corp have their own vested interests and will run smear campaigns like this against those clubs that try and spoil the party as they weren't invited and don't belong.

I don't think I've ever read one article questioning the Roosters books and whether they're over the cap. The Roosters and News Corp are just pissed because this Latrell offer, or talk of it, will put the spotlight on them for once.

So like any sleazy politician would (which Politis is the definition of) they go on the offensive and attack their opposition relentlessly through the media until they have no credibility left.

 

[B-Train]

Who wrote the article? Still don't trust this board either way.

The Kennel wrote it for them with the information leaked on here and some cum bucket at the Telegraph just pieced it all together with random Bullfrog stories and sloppy references to the family club thrown in for effect.

It was maybe the worst and most all over the place article they've written yet. Which is saying a lot..

 

[beastwood89]

The Kennel wrote it for them with the information leaked on here and some cum bucket at the Telegraph just pieced it all together with random Bullfrog stories and sloppy references to the family club thrown in for effect.

It was maybe the worst and most all over the place article they've written yet. Which is saying a lot..

Cum stain Paul Kent wrote the article.

 

[Wolfmother]

Nepotism is the worst criteria for job selection.

The board should have been selected on merit based on Bullfrogs principles..

 

[B-Train]

Cum stain Paul Kent wrote the article.

Haha. Makes sense with all of the shots at the new board. He and Crawley have such a hard on for Dib and Hasler it's not funny and they just won't let it go.