Hansen trying to help Bulldogs
RUGBY LEAGUE
AUCKLAND: Former All Black coach Steve Hansen has implored the Canterbury Bulldogs to own their struggles as the club looks to turn its fortunes around.
The Bulldogs have been in an underwhelming period for the past few years, having not qualified for the playoffs since 2016 and ending the season in secondlast a year ago.
Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, Hansen, who joined the club as a high performance consultant late last year, said the slump the Bulldogs were currently in was not something that could be changed overnight.
‘‘Everybody in the Bulldogs would say they're not where they want to be, but you can't just snap your fingers and get there,’’ Hansen said.
The Bulldogs have been convincingly beaten in all five of their games this season, their closest result a 3216 loss to the Newcastle Knights in the opening round. In those five games, they have been held scoreless three times.
It has not been an easy start to the campaign for the Bulldogs, with competition favourites in the Melbourne Storm, Penrith
Panthers and South Sydney Rabbitohs among their opponents.
However, they were also thumped 240 by the Brisbane Broncos, the only team to finish lower than the Bulldogs last year.
‘‘They've had a rough start,’’ Hansen said.
‘‘When you're trying to change something and you've been struggling, the positive of having these tough games is they're getting a true reflection of where they are against the best.
‘‘While Hansen is still based in New Zealand, the Telegraph reports he and Bulldogs coach Trent Barret are in contact every week, Hansen getting in touch soon after each game. — The New Zealand Herald