Bulldogs united at farewell for Folkes
MOST of Canterbury’s 2004 premiership- winning squad have been among about 1200 people who farewelled club legend Steve Folkes at Belmore Sportsground.
Folkes, 59, died from a heart attack last Tuesday, departing as just one of two people to win a Bulldogs premiership as both a player and coach.
Premiership players Luke Patten, Hazem El Masri, Braith Anasta, Andrew Ryan, Willie Mason, Willie Tonga, Matt Utai and club captain Steve Price attended the service yesterday.
Also paying their tribute were former Bulldogs teammates Paul Langmack, Garry Hughes and Darryl Brohman as well as rugby league identities Steve Roach and Wayne Pearce.
NRL chief executive and former Bulldogs boss Todd Greenberg was present, as were recent ex- Bulldogs Josh Reynolds, Trent Hodkinson and Martin Taupau, and former chairman Ray Dib.
Former Bulldogs player Peter Mortimer spoke fondly of Folkes’ playing career at the club, which included four premierships in what was remembered as the “Dogs of War” era.
Price said Folkes was one of the keys to their 2004 triumph over the Sydney Roosters.
“He was the biggest supporter of all the players with what we were going through and the reason why that group of boys won the comp that year was because of him,” Price said.
“When you’ve got a coach who you think the world of and know he’s going to have your back, no matter what you’ll do anything for him.
“And that particular year, you look at how the year started and finished, there wouldn’t have been many teams that would’ve been able to achieve that.”