Bulldogs bent on bringing back bite
RUGBY LEAGUE 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 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.
It’s been 14 years since Ryan hoisted the Provan-Summons trophy after the Bulldogs emerged triumphant against the Roosters they’re ready drought.
Back-row enforcer Adam Elliott says the playing group has bought into the bid to restore the club to glory, and that supporters can expect a newlook game plan 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,” he 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.” in 2004, and to end the
When Des Hasler took over as head coach in 2012, he ushered in a successful game plan centred around versatile, ballplaying forwards.
The strategy took the Dogs to a grand final in his first season and again in 2014, before
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
becoming stale at the back end of his tenure with the club.
Elliott said the focus for the upcoming season had shifted to an old-school approach, with a run first pass 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 and 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 ballplaying lock.
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