Bulldogs News
DOGS PLAYMAKER TO FACE ANOTHER WEEK OUT
There was another blow for the Bulldogs yesterday after their hard-fought loss to Newcastle on Friday night, with playmaker Braith Anasta all but ruling himself out of an early comeback.
The Belmore side had hoped to have the 21-year-old international returning from a sternum injury for the game against St George Illawarra next Saturday night. Team spokesman Brad Clyde said on Thursday Anasta had even made a bid to play against the Knights.
But yesterday the five-eighth poured cold water on expectations he would take on the Dragons, saying: "I don't think so. I had hoped to be back next week but I went to see the doctor and he said the best I could aim for would be the Canberra game [in two weeks].
"I haven't even done any contact work at training yet.
"I'm hoping I can do some by next Wednesday but it's no use if I'm just going to make it worse. So I'm aiming for the Canberra game."
Anasta was part of the 22,212 crowd which saw the Knights edge out the Dogs 12-6 in an incredibly tense opening to round five.
"It was a tough game - if we could have held on to the ball a bit more, we might have got away with it," he said. "It sucks watching - I wish I could be out there."
All but two of the points in the game were scored in the first half, with tries to the Dogs' Willie Talau after 34 minutes and the Knights' Robbie O'Davis (19th minute) and Timana Tahu (33rd).
But the second period was no less exciting. The ball was lost over the line several times, so refereeing decisions were crucial.
Knights skipper Andrew Johns did everything in his power to engineer a victory.
Despite having been out for three weeks with a broken wrist, Newcastle lock Ben Kennedy played the whole 80 minutes and won the man-of-the-match award.
"In all the games last week, there were probably 50 or 60 [points] scored in each game," Bulldogs coach Steve Folkes said. "Tonight there were only three tries.
"The defences were pretty good. I know we had a fair bit of ball on their line and I think they defended exceptionally well."
Halfback Johns said: "It was lightning fast and physical - no team gave an inch. We just cancelled each other out in the end. I was just that happy we didn't go to golden point."
The Knights were given the weekend off before preparing for their game against Cronulla at Toyota Park next Sunday. The Sharks won the corresponding game 64-14 last year.
NEWCASTLE 12 (R O'Davis, T Tahu tries; A Johns 2 goals) beat BULLDOGS 6 (W Talau try; H El Masri goal) at EnergyAustralia Stadium. Referee: B Harrigan. Crowd: 22,212.
BULLDOGS TO RE-SIGN PLAYERS
The Bulldogs are
set to close the book on the most dramatic chapter in the National Rugby League
club's 66-year history with the retention of star backs Nigel Vagana and Brent
Sherwin.
Bulldogs boss Steve Mortimer revealed the club was in the advanced stages of
talks with Vagana and Sherwin to secure their services at Canterbury for the
rest of their careers.
Vagana, the premiership's Centre of the Year and leading try scorer in 2002, and
Sherwin, last season's Dally M medal runner-up, as well as Willie Talau, Luke
Patten and Travis Norton were all off contract at the end of this season.
But Mortimer said rival club's could forget about securing any of them because
the Bulldogs had no plan to let the classy quintet off its leash.
"We're committed to keeping all of those guys," Mortimer said.
"We've started negotiations with Nigel, Shifty (Sherwin) and Luke Patten and
we'll get to Willie and Travis Norton very soon.
"I'd like to think we'll reach an agreement with all of them before (the) June
30 (anti-tampering) deadline.
"It's a priority for us."
The promising news would be welcome relief to the Bulldogs faithful after the
club's devastating expulsion from last year's finals series for salary-cap
cheating.
The Bulldogs were forced to apply an across-the-board eight per cent pay cut to
keep their record-breaking class of 2002 in tact and Vagana and Co. were likely
to be asked to accept less money than they could receive elsewhere in order to
stay with the current premiership favourites.
"Money is important, but they want to stay at the
Bulldogs because of what we, as a club, can offer them outside of football,"
Mortimer said.
"We are looking at ways with tax etc. at making sure they can stay with us.
"I'm very hopeful they will."
The retention of Vagana, Sherwin, Patten, Talau and Norton whose birthday is on
Saturday - all 27 or under - would secure coach Steve Folkes' entire 2002
playing roster for next year and beyond in what would be a massive boost to
morale at the "family" club.
"We're looking at three or four year deals," Mortimer said.
The Bulldogs chief executive said no Bulldogs apart from the five off contract
this season had plans to leave or retire.
EL MASRI BACK TO WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
El Magic. The story of Hazem El Masri's rise to the top certainly has a touch of that about it. And the nine months since he kicked that last-gasp goal against tonight's opponents, Newcastle, have been just as extraordinary.
Among the sights on the road from Beirut to Tripoli, snaking along the eastern Mediterranean coastline, are a 10-metre-high shopping trolley, complete with gargantuan groceries, and a graveyard for armoured personnel carriers.
As you near the city where Hazem ElMasri was born 27 years and one week ago, there is a turn-off for the road to Damascus and, after four or five hours driving through Syria, you could find yourself in Iraq.
El Masri left Tripoli at the age of 10 and returned for the first time last November, when Lebanon played France in the Middle East's first major rugby league game. Watching the news now is a sobering experience for those who joined ElMasri in Lebanon last year. So close ...
"You never think about it," El Masri says after yesterday's Belmore training session, as he plans for another two-hour trip up the highway - the F3 to Newcastle. "We went, we came back ... that's the main thing."
Tonight's Newcastle-Bulldogs game to open round five of the NRL Premiership is a rematch of last season's best game, in which El Masri landed a sideline conversion to seal a 22-21 victory.
It has only been nine months since that Sunday afternoon - but for him it might as well have been a lifetime.
In the intervening period, the man known as "El Magic" has:
Four weeks into the new season, the Bulldogs have won three games, El Masri has 50 points and is back on top of the points-scorers' table, where he finished last year with 254.
If he keeps going, he will get the chance to donate $100 - provided by NRL sponsor X-Box - for every goal he has kicked by the end of the year to the charity of his choice.
"If things go my way, I just thought I might split it between a charity and a local junior team or two," he says. "Or if it all goes to charity, then maybe a youth centre or something like that. There's plenty of good causes, I guess."
El Masri's generosity and compassion for kids in south-western Sydney is well-known. But he answers some questions about his ethnicity and his religion uneasily, wary of how he will be portrayed. One famous headline from a few years ago hailed his arrival in first grade with the slogan, "Wham! Bam! Thank you, Koran!".
El Masri is already a figurehead and a hero - he does not want to be a spokesman.
"It is very hard at times," he says. "I try, as much as I can, not to get involved in these type of things - the politics and all that. I'm a footballer, I'm a sportsman ... people take things the wrong way. They start using my name and I don't like that.
"From now on, I just talk about what I know best: playing footy. Once, they said I was taking on Bob Carr in a speech. I wasn't. I was just trying to get the point across that we're not all the same and treat everyone as an individual and don't blame their religion or their community for what they are."
When El Masri was considering leaving the Bulldogs last year, fans were aghast. There is arguably not one player in the competition more closely associated with his club and its supporter base. El Masri and his agent believed he was copping a raw deal from the new management in comparison to other players, that the regime which had taken over the Bulldogs did not appreciate his worth.
"A lot people commented, 'You've got to look after yourself and we'll support you whatever you want to do'," El Masri recalls. "You get other people who say, 'You can't leave ... [for] ... money'. I said, 'If it was about money, I would have left. It's not about money, it's about principles'."
El Masri signed, has another year-and-a-half left on his contract at Belmore and wants to stay. After that, his aim is to "get away" from public life for a while. But his future is in sport, not politics.
"Development and recruitment, coaching ... as long as I can help someone. When I was a kid, I never had anyone to guide me the right way in rugby league. I only played a short time in junior rugby league, I'd always played soccer.
"I'd like to be around and help those kids and develop them mentally and physically to take that next step."
One of the teenagers El Masri met in Tripoli proudly declared he was "the best prop in Syria".
The youngster crossed the border twice a week for training with Balamand University. He and his teammates sat transfixed by what they saw at Tripoli Olympic Stadium on November 1. Like 14 of El Masri's relatives, they had never seen the game that had made this local kid famous on the other side of the world.
"My uncles ... when I finished they were like, 'I don't know about this game, you'll have to be playing soccer when you come back'," El Masri laughs. "They liked the physical contact but they thought it looked a bit dangerous."
His mother, Amal, agreed. She had not seen her son play live until that night and she hasn't been back since.
But she'll be glued to her television tonight. El Masri's story is one of the great immigrant tales, the sort loved so much by the Americans.
"Rugby league has given me a great opportunity to be someone and do something," El Masri concludes. "I want to put something back into rugby league and into the community."
Most people who have had anything to do with him would argue Hazem El Masri has already done that. And more.
SHERWIN READY FOR KNIGHTS CLASH
Bulldogs
five-eighth Brent Sherwin has declared himself up to the task of containing the
powerful Newcastle pack in Friday night's National Rugby League showdown at
EnergyAustralia Stadium.
Sherwin's defence has been identified as a potential weakness in the clash of
two genuine premiership heavyweights.
While Sherwin was widely considered the Bulldogs' best in last Friday night's
crushing win over Parramatta, the diminutive No.6's eight missed tackles didn't
go unnoticed.
Sherwin has now missed 13 tackles for the season, leading to suggestions he may
be hidden in defence against the Knights.
But the 25-year-old is high on confidence after being selected in NSW's
preliminary State of Origin squad and said he wouldn't dwell on the past.
He blamed his high defensive error rate against the Eels on the wet weather and
said he'd overcome the tackling deficiencies that hindered his early premiership
progression.
"It was pretty slippery (against Parramatta). I'd half get them and kind of
slide off," Sherwin said.
"It was just on the night, I guess.
"In the first couple of seasons in first grade, I struggled a little bit in
defence.
"But last year I was a lot better and this year I'm hoping to do the same."
Sherwin said he expected to be targeted by a Newcastle pack bolstered by the
return of Test second rower Ben Kennedy and led by giant prop Matt Parsons, who
was almost unstoppable in last Saturday's win over Melbourne.
But Sherwin won't be hiding.
"Obviously I'm going to have to make a few tackles. They run at the smaller
blokes," he said.
"I'll put my body in front of them and hopefully I'll be able to stop them.
"I've got my spot (in the defensive line). I swap a little bit, but that depends
where a scrum is, or a penalty, and where I am when we turn the ball over.
It doesn't really bother me if anyone wants to think like that. The Bulldogs are
happy with my defence, so I'm still going to do the same as I have been."
Sherwin's great early-season form is a continuation from 2002 when he was
runner-up in the Dally M Medal stakes.
He lost out to Andrew Johns - the man he goes head-to-head with on Friday night.
Sherwin's inclusion in the 30-man Blues squad, ahead of incumbent Test half
Brett Kimmorley, elevated him to second behind Johns in the NSW No.7 pecking
order.
"I've never even dreamt of playing for NSW, so it's a nice pat on the back for
me for what I've done."
It's what he does against Newcastle that will be of more importance to Bulldogs
and Knights fans, who haven't forgotten Hazem El Masri's after-the-bell sideline
conversion that gave the Canterbury side a heart-stopping 22-21 in the
corresponding fixture last year.
Johns certainly hasn't forgotten.
"I'm really looking forward to (tomorrow), especially after last year's game -
they're the ones you remember forever," the Newcastle captain said.
"Where they are and where we are is totally different and we have to lift for
them this week, which we will."
The Bulldogs are third on the ladder with three wins from four, while the
Knights (2-2) are seventh and with Johns searching for his best form.
The champion half said he was happy with his kicking, but admitted to being
impatient with other aspects of his game.
"I'm still not where I'd like to be," Johns said.
"I'm getting closer and closer but I had a slow off-season, so I'm not worried.
"But I definitely need an improvement."
SIX DOGS PLAYERS MAKE NSW 30 TEAM
THURSTON TACKLES SHREK TO GET A CALL UP
INTERVIEW WITH STEVE PRICE
Steve Folkes was quoted last weekend
as saying that the Bulldogs had a lot of improvement left in them following your
win against the Wests Tigers on Saturday. What did you think of the team’s
performance on the weekend and so far this season?
Steve: Our performance last weekend was the best
we’ve had this year. We did some really good things in the two previous games,
but even though we were creating plenty of opportunities, we weren’t finishing
things off. We spoke about it before Saturday’s game and felt it was more of an
attitude adjustment than anything else.
We probably put a little too much pressure on ourselves with last year, but as
soon as we relaxed and started to enjoy our training and playing again, we
showed how we could play. We had to turn it up against the Wests Tigers as
they’re a team that has shown in the first round against St George they can win
- so I was really happy with the teams performance right across the board.
You played a solid game with 21 out of a total of 90 hit ups for the
Bulldogs. How does your body recover from that each round and what do you do to
motivate yourself to put your body on the line each week.
Steve: What motivates you each week is the team
that you’re playing and the players you play against. This week it’s obviously
Nathan Cayless and Michael Vella in the forward pack. Its my job to do the hit
ups and try to create the opportunities for our outside backs like the Nigel
Vagana’s. If these guys are scoring tries then that mean’s me and Mark O’Meley
are doing our job and its really important for us to do our job well.
The thing about your body is, its how you look after yourself. We train really
hard so your body’s prepared for the week-in, week-out stuff. Its more mental
these days and I think the key to me performing every week is being relaxed and
enjoying my football - and I seem to be playing a lot better.
A 17-match winning streak in 2002 was an incredible effort and massive
expectation to live up this year. What you see as the key to getting your team
to back on top in 2003?
Steve: The 17 wins in
a row last year was a result of each bloke enjoying playing together as a team.
Anybody who came into the team whether it was through injury or from
representative honours, performed at the level of the guy that was previously
there – they really filled the void and that was the key. We had 25-30 players
who played for us last year and every one of them performed really well.
When you enjoy your football you seem to play a lot better and we weren’t
focused on winning or loosing last year, we were just focused on playing as well
as we could. And if we did, we knew that we’d be in with a chance of winning the
game. That was why we probably struggled a little bit with the first two games
this year - we were worried more about winning. Everyone was talking about last
years 17 wins and as soon as we took that away from the whole scenario last
weekend, we enjoyed our football at lot more and came up with a good result.
You were voted the Dally M “Captain of the Year” last year. What does it take
to be a great leader both on and off the field?
Steve: I think you’ve just got to be yourself both
on and off the field and if people like that, well that’s good. That’s the way I
was bought up and I haven’t changed since I’ve been captain.
I love the challenge. There’s a bit more responsibility on your shoulders which
I really enjoy, but it takes a bit of pressure off my game because I’m more
worried about the other boys and how their going to play rather than myself. I
seem to go out and enjoy how I’m playing and hope that the other boys are
enjoying themselves on the field too, because at the end of the day it’s a sport
and if you enjoy it, you play a lot better.
Getting “Captain of the Year” was enormous particularly with the players that
are captains of other clubs – Andrew Johns, Brad Fittler, Nathan Cayless.
They’re all inspirational players and to be voted above those guys was pretty
special.
Its been said that you need to have great halves to win a premiership and the
bulldogs certainly have a pretty invincible combination with Anasta, Sherwin and
Norton. Do you see any other team in the competition with as strong a playmaking
combination as the Bulldogs?
Steve: Obviously all the top sides do. Newcastle is
probably unique in that they’ve got a fantastic dummy half and halfback – and a
lot of stuff happens around your dummy half as well as your halfback.
The Broncos have Shaun Berrigan, Ben Ikin's back this year and they’ve got
Richard Swain. The Roosters have Craig Wing, Brett Finch and Brad Fittler.
Stacey Jones and Lance O’Hohaia at the Warriors.
Many sides have a great combination around the halves and its important because
they direct the play, they create opportunities, they know when the backs want
the ball and when the forwards need to go forward.
For any side to be a consistently high performer in this comp, they’ve got to
have great halves - and we’ve got to try to keep those guys on the field.
Braith’s out for six weeks now and that’s disappointing, but that’s going to
test our depth and the next guy that comes in is going to have to perform to
take over that role.
2002 was a great year for you in terms of form and you were recalled to the
Queensland State of Origin side after an absence of two years. What are your
expectations for yourself this year and do feel confident about another
representative berth?
Steve: It’s every players dream, but I learnt a
couple of years ago when I was dropped that you can’t focus wholey and solely on
that. You’ve got to concentrate on your club football because if you’re not
playing good club football your not going to be in the first grade side so you
don’t have to worry about rep football.
It took me a few years to get back in there and I didn’t think that I was going
to get a run as you get to a certain age and the selectors start to look at
younger players.
It was sensational and I probably enjoyed it more than the first time because I
knew what it was all about. It’s the best football to be involved with but I
haven’t lost focus on my club football and if I’m really enjoying that and I’m
playing well then hopefully those things will come.
Your clash with the Eels is tipped to be one of the biggest games of the
fourth round. How are you feeling heading into this weekends game and what are
you expecting from Brian Smith after the Eels win against the Knights?
Steve: It was a monkey off their back winning their
first game of the season. It’s really tough when you haven’t won a couple of
games and the pressures on both the coach and the players.
I love playing Parramatta - and I know Parramatta love playing Canterbury. As a
kid I was a Parramatta supporter because of Ray Price, for name-sake. And
obviously during the eighties Canterbury and Parramatta were big rivals and I
really enjoyed those games and now I’m actually playing for the Bulldogs against
Parramatta!
I probably enjoy playing against them more than any other side. Canterbury and
Parramatta supporters are very passionate and very vocal - and you always know
there’s going to be a bit of fire on the hill as well as on the field.
They’re pretty clean tough close games and that’s what every player enjoys -
games with big atmosphere where anything can happen on the day.
We’re keen to get as many points as we can - but Parramatta’s no different. It’s
going to be a big crowd and a really good game and hopefully we’ll be on top at
the end.
COREY WEARS SIX
TEAM OF THE 80s DOGS OR EELS
Bitter
rivals Parramatta and the Bulldogs have both laid claim to the tag of champion
team of the 1980s.
Parramatta won premierships in 1981-82-83 and 1986 and were beaten grand
finalists in 1984.
The Bulldogs took the crown in 1980, 1984-85 and 1988 and lost to the Eels in the 1986 decider.
With four premierships each and runners-up medals in a fifth there was clearly nothing between them.
Match statistics from that decade show the clubs were close to line-ball.
From 255 games played the Bulldogs won 156, lost 91 and drew eight while the Eels figures were 158, 93 and four.
They first met in the 1947 season and Friday night at Telstra Stadium another momentous chapter in their 56-year history will be written.
Which team had the better players during the 1980s?
If a composite team were to be named which club would hold down most positions?
The Bulldogs have launched a promotion to answer this question with the results announced on Friday night.
In tomorrow's Daily Telegraph will be the first of two coupons allowing readers the chance to vote on a combined team for the two clubs from the 1980s. The first coupon will cover positions from fullback to halfback.
The second coupon will run on Friday with candidates for lock to prop plus the coach.
Alternatively, Thursday night's Footy Show on Channel 9
will give viewers the chance to SMS their votes through a mobile phone number.
ANASTA SIX AND OUT
Braith Anasta could
miss more than a month of rugby league after being diagnosed with a fractured
sternum.
Anasta initially thought he suffered only a bruised sternum in the Dogs' 38-6
win over Wests Tigers in the NRL encounter on Saturday night.
But X-rays today confirmed it was a fracture and, depending on his recovery
rate, Anasta may not play until round seven against Canberra at best.
The 21-year-old said he did not believe the injury would harm his chances of
cracking a spot in the NSW Origin side with a preliminary 30-man squad to be
named next Monday.
"I've still got plenty of time to make the side. I'm probably just trying to get
back as quick as I can so I can play some good footy and make an impression," he
said tonight.
The Bulldogs suddenly face a severe shortage of five-eighths, with Jonathan
Thurston (shoulder injury) still a week away from returning.
Coach Steve Folkes is likely to shift Corey Hughes from hooker to five-eighth
and hand Adam Perry the No.9 jersey for Friday night's clash with Parramatta at
Telstra Stadium.
FOLKES SAYS DOGS CAN DO MUCH BETTER
Bulldogs coach
Steve Folkes issued an ominous warning that the NRL premiership favourites had a
lot of improvement left in them following their 38-6 thrashing of Wests Tigers
at Campbelltown Stadium.
Their victory was highlighted by a hat-trick of tries to Kiwi Test centre Nigel
Vagana and a brace to five-eighth Braith Anasta, who left the field in the 34th
minute with a bruised sternum thanks to a stray knee from Ben Galea.
The match was effectively over as a contest by halftime as the Bulldogs racked
up 28 unanswered points through tries to Anasta, second-rower Glen Hughes,
Vagana and his fellow Kiwi centre Willie Talau.
"The last couple of weeks have been well below the standards we've set
ourselves," said Folkes after his side's scrappy win over South Sydney and a
narrow loss to New Zealand Warriors.
"Tonight was a hell of a lot better but we've still got a lot of improvement."
Anasta, who should be fit for Friday night's clash with Parramatta at Telstra
Stadium, said the 'Dogs were close to the form they showed last season when they
won 17 straight matches.
"I don't think we're too far off but we've still got a lot to improve on. We
dropped off in the start of that second half," Anasta said.
"We wanted to make a goal that if we got on top this year we'd go on with it and
finish sides off because last year we sort of let a few sides back in.
"We also made a goal that if we lost, not to lose two weeks in a row and make
sure we win the next week. We achieved both those goals tonight."
EL MAGIC STILL ON TARGET
PATTEN BACK FOR TIGERS MATCH
PRICE AND SHERWIN READY FOR THE CHALLENGE
MASON BACK ON BENCH
Willie Mason will
make his return from the Bulldogs' bench after being named in coach Steve Folkes
squad to play the New Zealand Warriors on Sunday.
Mason was overlooked for the National Rugby League club's opening game of the
season against South Sydney after turning up late for some pre-season training
sessions.
The 22-year-old said Folkes had also been unimpressed with his attitude.
But the towering Test forward was told by Folkes he would be part of the squad
to meet the Warriors at Ericsson Stadium after improving his attitude.
The Bulldogs will also have Queensland lock Travis Norton (hamstring) on deck
after he played in a Premier League trial at the weekend.
Norton has come straight into the starting side in place of the injured Tony
Grimaldi, with Jamie Feeney moving into the second row.
Mason's return has forced Roy Asotasi out of the 17.
Team: Luke Patten, Hazem El Masri, Nigel Vagana, Willie Talau, Matt Utai, Braith
Anasta, Brent Sherwin, Mark O'Meley, Corey Hughes, Steve Price, Glen Hughes,
Jamie Feeney, Travis Norton. Interchange: Andrew Ryan, Willie Mason, Adam Perry,
Dennis Scott.
WHO'S AT THE VETS
EL MASRI TO WEAR ONE GREEN BOOT
Australian Test
winger Hazem El Masri will break new ground on Saturday night when he becomes
the first player to wear two different coloured boots into the second match of
the opening round Double Header.
El Masri will wear a green right boot while a standard colour boot on his left
foot. The aim of it all is for an NRL promotion. Xbox will donate $100 for every
goal landed by the 2003 leading pointscorer. El Masri was the 2002 leading
pointscorer with 254 points including 103 goals.
The Bulldogs wizard said, "I'm not an attention-seeking person but as long as
people know it's for charity then that's the main thing.
"Normally this sort of thing would not be my go but it's for a good cause so I'm
happy to help. Hopefully I'll kick all the goals, I'll have to tell the boys to
score them next to the posts."
Different coloured boots have had a nortorious history with St George Immortal
Graeme Langlands first wearing white boots in the 1975 Grand Final. The Dragons
lost 38-0 against a rampant Easts side and coloured boots became more of a jinx
than anything else.
Former Great Britain International Martin Offiah was one player who often wore
white boots including his debut game for Easts in 1989 where he scored a try
with his first touch of the football.
Wendell Sailor was going to wear different coloured boots for the 2000 Grand
Final but the memories of 1975 saw Sailor stick to his traditional boots.
Andrew Johns, Gorden Tallis and Justin Hodges in recent years have worn
different coloured boots with good success.
El Masri however is taking the wearing of football boots to a new extreme. His
goal kicking will be monitored closely but it's all for a good cause and
promotion.
BULLDOGS BUDGET PLAN
Canterbury
Leagues Club has plans to implement an austerity program that could affect the
level of financial grants to the Bulldogs football club.
Peponis - we are going to cut expenses.
|
If cuts are made the club's ability to retain star players for next year could be affected.
In the wake of last year's salary cap scandal the new leagues club board is determined to rein in expenditure.
Leagues club general manager John Ballesty says in the club's annual report that the club's expenditure has blown out.
"The Liverpool project, our new extension at Belmore and the demands of our sporting clubs have been expensive items," he said.
"The board has determined that the approach through the next several years will have to be much more conservative, with a real effort to reduce a $37 million debt on our new building to less than $20million in a very short time.
"Grants to our football and basketball teams will be kept within strict limits.
"Both clubs are working hard to ensure that they have the necessary thrust in marketing and sponsorship to make them less reliant on league club funds."
Bulldogs chairman George Peponis, who is also vice-chairman of the leagues club, says grants to the football club for this year have already been made.
"What happens next year is yet to be negotiated," Peponis said.
"We are putting budgets together and producing strategic plans where we are going to become more profitable.
"We're going to cut expenses because in years gone they (football club management) were probably less than prudent.
"This year we've increased sponsorship by $300,000 and there are other areas where we can improve income and decrease expenses. The club has a merchandising department that has been losing money for several years.
"It has been losing $80,000 a year and there's no reason why it can't be profitable."
Peponis pointed out that the football club was well represented on the leagues club board and those directors would play a pivotal role in deciding the level of financial support for next year.
Bulldogs players agreed to take an eight per cent pay cut to help the club stay under the salary cap for this season.
But next year commitments such as incentive payments and bonuses for representative football appearances come into play.
Bulldogs chief executive Steve Mortimer has consistently said the club has a plan to ensure key players coming off contract will be retained.
They include Brent Sherwin, Nigel Vagana, Willie Talau,
Travis Norton and Luke Patten.
BETTER TO BE BIG BLOKE THAN BIG HEAD
If ever a
rugby league player captured the imagination of the fans, he's the guy with the
golliwog hairdo, big Willie Mason.
Can't say "golliwog" any more? Politically incorrect?
How about Afro? The full woolly? Curlylocks? Who cares?
Last season, Willie and his haircut took the game by storm.
Rampaging down the middle like a telegraph pole on legs, Willie brushed aside defenders like he was swatting flies.
Wind him up, slip him the short ball and let him go. Willie was excitement on a stick, or should I say, a fence paling.
Kids love him.
Willie's the friendly giant they meet in their dreams. When they're lost in the forest getting chased by the monster, big Willie will take him on and chop off his head.
That being the case, what's going on?
At the start of the season, what's big Willie doing, shooting off his mouth at the Bulldogs, the club that projected him to superstardom?
Actually, it's not so much the club, but rather the coach, who's the subject of Willie's displeasure.
Steve Folkes, a no-nonsense character who looks like he should be wearing a trenchcoat in a Bogart movie, sacked Willie for next Saturday night's opener against Souths.
Why? Bad attitude, according to Folkes.
While no one was saying too much, I would have liked to hear Willie's side of the story.
But suddenly I'm hearing it. And I'm in sympathy with Folkes.
Suddenly, Willie's "attitude" is crystal clear.
Defying a media ban imposed on him by the club as it attempts to hose down the problem, Willie comes out and declares, "I didn't sign for three years to play reserve grade."
Asked if he'd sorted things out with the coach, he went on to warn the club, "We'll see what happens next week.
"It depends on how the boys go and whether I'm in the side next week, whether there'll be another blow-up or not."
Willie, it's no use going around issuing threats.
It's no use mouthing off stuff like, "I'm doing it for the team -- if we're at full strength, I'm in the side."
You might be big, Willie.
But no one is bigger than the team.
If the coach says you have a "bad attitude", surely the smart thing to do would be to sit down with him and talk it out, rather than bluster to the media about "another blow-up" next week.
The one way to ensure you'll get dropped again next week is to go around threatening what you'll do if it happens.
I've seen you play for a season or two.
When Folkes was playing, I watched him go around for years.
He was hard, tough and fair. As a secondrower, there wasn't much of him.
But I'll tell you what, Willie - he took on blokes your size, week after week.
Hey, I can understand. When you're 22 years of age, like Willie, when you suddenly find that you're famous and your face is splashed all over town from Belmore to Blacktown, there's any number of dills who'll start blowing down your ear.
Don't listen to them. Give them the big fend.
Listen to a bloke like Steve Mortimer, the Bulldogs CEO, who pulled you aside for a quiet word on Monday.
Steve, who stepped in to help save the club during the salary cap scandal, speaks immeasurably more common sense than any of those back-slappers and bulldust merchants who are telling you what you should do.
Willie's career is just beginning. Bulldogs fans love him. He could become one of the great players in the game.
It's all up to Willie.
RYAN IS READY TO RUMBLE
MASON RE-OPENS DOGS WAR
The rift
between Bulldogs coach Steve Folkes and Test forward Willie Mason was reportedly
healed yesterday but the real test of their relationship will come next week
after explosive comments by the Test forward last night.
Mason wants to be reinstated to the first-grade team after being left out for the opening round of the season due to a conflict with Folkes.
But the towering Test forward did little to resolve the issue last night.
"I didn't sign for three years to play reserve grade," he told AAP last night.
When asked if he had sorted out his differences with the coach Mason said: "We'll see what happens next week.
"It depends on how the boys go and whether I'm in the side next week whether there'll be another blow-up or not."
Mason was excluded from the Bulldogs squad to meet Souths at Telstra Stadium on Saturday because Folkes was unhappy with his attitude to training.
When the team was named last Friday, Mason said he wasn't in the squad because of a thigh injury.
It's understood he was told to say that to the media in the hope of covering up the truth but by Sunday it had backfired.
Yesterday Mason spoke to chief executive Steve Mortimer who said the issue had been resolved.
Mason agreed that Mortimer spoke to him as "more like a mate and a former footy player than a CEO in a player meeting" but he was still distraught.
"You train the whole pre-season and then a week out [from the premiership] you get told you're not playing so it's pretty heart-breaking," Mason said.
"But Folkesy thinks it's going to be better for me and better for the team so if that's the case I'm just going to have to cop it on the chin."
Mortimer said: "Steve [Folkes] was concerned about Willie's level of enthusiasm to training.
"I had a good talk with Willie and told him this episode would make him a better person and a better footballer.
"After speaking to the coach and the player I know there won't be a problem in the future.
"I know this issue will in no way harm team morale."
Meanwhile, police from Coffs Harbour interviewed a number of Bulldogs players yesterday following last week's sexual assault allegations from a woman.
Mortimer said police had spoken to the players, the management and the club's disciplinary committee.
"I'm quietly confident the matter will be resolved within the next two or three weeks," Mortimer said.
"And I believe our players will be cleared."
Meanwhile, Dragons prop Jason Ryles has passed a medical examination on his injured foot and will be named to play against Wests Tigers on Saturday night.
The news is not expected to be as good for five-eighth Trent Barrett who is yet to recover from a leg injury.
The Sharks are expected to name Jason Kent in the centres while another rookie Nick Youngquest is expected to be named on the wing.
Newcastle's Ben Kennedy will play at lock for the clash
with New Zealand next Sunday following the retirement of Bill Peden.
MILITANT MASON PLANS WORK-TO-RULE
Bulldogs cult hero Willie Mason says he will adopt a work-to-rule attitude to football if he is not picked in first grade for the round-two game against the Warriors.
"I'm doing it for the team - if we're at full strength, I'm in the side," he said last night in apparent defiance of a media ban.
Mason, an international for Australia and Tonga and one of the game's most high-profile players, said his dispute with coach Steve Folkes had been resolved "for now".
Mason was overlooked for Saturday's clash with South Sydney because of his alleged "bad attitude". He said he had a "personality clash" with the coach but insisted the pair got on well most of the time.
But when asked if the issue would flare again if he was
overlooked for the March 23 trip to Auckland, he told the Herald:
"Oh, for sure. I only signed to play first grade. If I'm not in first grade
in round two, we'll see what happens then.
"I'm just going to change my attitude. I'm not going to say much at training anymore. I'm going to just go out there, get the job done and go home. Obviously, that's what he [Folkes] wants. I'm going to have to give him what he wants."
Mason's defiant words are certain to cause rancour at Belmore, where the Bulldogs have made a tradition of handling such disputes in-house.
Mason continued: "It's a waste of time, a waste of money when you're sitting down, not playing.
"I'm doing it for the team. It's not going to be good for the team. If we're full strength, I'm in the side."
Mason last week claimed a leg strain was the reason he was not playing against the Rabbitohs at Telstra Stadium. "Everybody knows I'm not playing at the weekend," he said. "Folkesy hasn't been happy with my attitude ... there's no big drama between me and Steve, me and Steve get along pretty good.
"It was sort of like a personality clash. He just wasn't happy with my attitude and I've probably got to look at myself and cop it on the chin and just wear it for the week and we'll see next week ... I can't come out and bag him or anything like that. I've got to watch what I say. I don't really want to see [it written] that he hates me and I hate him. It's not like that."
Chief executive Steve Mortimer said he was confident the issue would resolve itself after a meeting with Mason at Belmore yesterday morning.
"We sat down and ... there are a lot of similarities with me when I came to this joint, too," Mortimer said.
"It was a good chat and it's going to make him a better footballer and a better person in life. He's fortunate in that area.
"He's had a meteoric rise in the last 12 months. He's so accessible to the kids and people get in his ear ... I think it's been a valuable lesson in life for him.
"I spoke with Folkesy last week. He might have said [Mason] could improve his attitude a bit or whatever. I never thought much more of it."
Mortimer said it would be "insulting" to suggest Mason would seek a release from the club.
VETERAN DOGGIE LOOKS TO GREENER PASTURES
After 14 seasons with the Bulldogs, Steve Reardon is finally heading back to Temora for good at the end of this year.
The longest-serving player at any NRL club, Reardon has been threatening to return home virtually ever since he made his top-grade debut in 1991, alongside Bulldogs coach Steve Folkes.
For the past five seasons, the 31-year-old back-rower has been on year-by-year contracts and he began making plans for his retirement 12 months ago when he and partner Lisa bought 404 hectares next door to the farm he grew up on, now owned by his brother.
But the death of his father, John, last month from cancer on his 75th birthday, and the birth of son, Billy, four months ago convinced Reardon that no matter how well he was playing, this season would be his last.
"I was thinking of going to England, but I don't
think I will now," Reardon said as he prepared for the Bulldogs opening
game against South Sydney next Saturday.
" I'm still enjoying it but I think I'm just going to go home at the end of the season.
"I've got a farm there so I go home as much as I can. It's only 3 hours [from his home in Campbelltown] and I look forward to it every time."
With the drought having affected Temora as badly as anywhere in Australia, Reardon has been virtually subsidising with his football earnings the wheat, canola, barley and oats he grows.
The value of fat lambs and wool has helped.
"We've been a bit lucky that the sheep have been going OK," he said.
"Although we haven't made any money, we haven't lost any like other people."
Ask Reardon about the Bulldogs' salary cap scandal of last season and you'll get a similar response.
Being kicked out of the NRL final series after winning 17 consecutive games and leading the premiership all season was hard to accept, but life could have been a lot worse.
"My nephew actually lost his leg in a farm accident six weeks before so that put it in perspective for me," he said.
"After all, it's only a game that we love playing. We could have been in Bali. I'm not dirty on anyone."
Still, Reardon said the Bulldogs had a strong resolve to make amends for the disappointment of 2002.
And with virtually the same side as last season and the success they achieved, he said confidence in the club was sky high.
"We don't want to get over- confident, but we think we'll go pretty good," he said. "We had a lot of good trial games last year."
Regardless of what happens, though, Reardon is satisfied that he will be able to reflect on his career next year from Temora with pride.
"I've never been an outstanding player but other players like playing with me and that's very satisfying," he said.
"It's all been a bit of a ride, and I've really enjoyed it.
"When I first came it was all bushie blokes here and everyone has been real good to me so it's made my stay easier.
"I'm not a real big fan of the city. I've got used to it, but I won't be staying."
BEWARE HAIR OF THE DOGGIES
The
hangover. That's what people talk about now with the Bulldogs. How much the
events of last year will impact on this season.
They got back to training after an eight-week break, a long one since they had
no semi-finals to play, and for all the talk there was outside and around
football there was little talk within camp about what had been.
"I'd only say there would be a hangover if we lost all our games after the decision came down (to cut the club from the finals after the salary cap scandal)," says the skipper, Steve Price.
"But we didn't."
That's the thing about the Bulldogs. About last year and the year before that and the year before that. Always, the Dogs have been the one side as hard as a coffin nail.
And over the summer they have been working on small improvements, another shell to their crusty souls. Like they did last year.
Coach Steve Folkes isolated different areas of their game he wanted changed or improved and the club has gone about fine-tuning them.
"Started from scratch like we do every off-season," Price says.
"That's what we spoke about.
"A good preparation can set you up for the season really nicely, and that was the lesson we learned through last year. It can shape a season."
So that's where the Dogs' emphasis has been, not on what might have been, or could have.
Helping that is an appreciation that for all the accolades last season's 17-match winning streak brought, and for the near chance of a premiership, the reality was that there also came games where the streak was threatened, or the scoreboard looked like getting away from them, and when only their persistence paid off.
That's when the Dogs played tough. Something they do better than anybody else.
"All you can do is play the best footy you can and prepare the right way," Price says. <
"A lot of the younger guys, in particular, learned a lot last season.
"You can't do anything about Brisbane in three weeks or the Roosters in two weeks.
"You can only do something about Manly this week.
"The thing that is going to be tough is the expectation. Everybody's expectations are going to be high."
"So if we don't win more than three-quarters of our games they're going to ask questions."
But the players can't help what questions other people ask.
They can only worry about themselves, which is all they are worrying about.
On paper, the salary cap drama hasn't harmed the Bulldogs for 2003.
The club has shed some back-up men but managed to retain all its topliners, as well as the up-and-comers like Jonathan Thurston and Matt Riddle.
And somehow, they even managed to sign a top-class
forward, Parramatta's Andrew Ryan, who will significantly boost the back-row
strength.
MASON TO STAY DESPITE FEUD
Bulldogs
chief executive Steve Mortimer yesterday said he will not be granting his star
forward Willie Mason a release from his contract because of a falling out with
coach Steve Folkes.
Mason - no release from his contract.
|
It emerged yesterday the high-profile forward had been dropped for the first game of the season against South Sydney on Saturday night because of an attitude problem -- not a quadriceps injury as was reported by the club.
Mortimer said the situation had been blown out of proportion but added he backed the judgment of his coach.
"There will be no release," Mortimer said. "I like the bloke and he'll make mistakes like I did along the way and, I tell you, this is going to make him a stronger, more resilient, better person.
"I'm going to have a chance to speak to all the boys individually this week leading up to our first game and I'm 100 per cent behind my coach.
"Steve Folkes was a tough competitor as a player, he was mentally tough and all that sort of stuff and if the boys want to stay in first grade they've got to show the right attitude. Willie's young, he's still learning and this is going to make him a better person."
Mason told AAP last night that his quadriceps injury was a factor in his omission from the team but it wouldn't have been bad enough to sideline him for the season-opener.
"I pulled my quad on Monday so (Folkes) hasn't even considered me because I can't even run," Mason said.
"I could probably play but I wouldn't be cleared until Friday. If it was a grand final I'd play but first round against Souths, there's not too much to worry about."
The fall-out between the two could not come at a worse time for the club, who are being investigated by police for an alleged sexual assault in Coffs Harbour following the club's trial against Manly.
The club was stripped of 37 premiership points last season and fined $500,000 by the NRL for deliberately breaching the salary cap.
FLEGG ROLL ON WHILE BALL SLIP AGAIN
The Mitsubishi Electric Bulldogs have
again received some mixed results in their junior representative matches with
the Jersey Flegg recording a solid 28-22 victory over the Illawarra Steelers
while the S.G. Ball were again unlucky to go down 28-26.
On Friday night at WIN Stadium the S.G. Ball side got off on the wrong foot to
allow the Steelers to score in the first minute. Solid good football got the
team back in front and while they let the Steelers in for a try just before the
break they still went into half time leading 14-12.
A slow start to the second half allowed the Steelers to cross for three tries
before the young pups could respond. A late fight back by the resurgent visitors
almost stole the game however the clock again rang too early for the Bulldogs.
Best on the park for the Bulldogs was young second rower Steve Willis who never
stopped trying in a courageous display.
The Jersey Flegg team found themselves under siege in the first ten minutes of
their game against the highly fancied Steelers side. Some excellent defence
however meant that their line was not breached and they were soon able to pour
on some pressure of their own which resulted in some early points.
A commanding performance in the first half saw the side leave the field with an
18-6 lead. Sadly, the team did not return with the same vigour or execution and
some poor handling kept the home side in the match. Some flashes of individual
brilliance by Trent Cutler kept the score ticking over, however the side will
certainly need to learn from its second half performance.
With Cutler and half back Michael Tesoriero shining on the field, the team was
also ably supported by some great performances off the bench.
SHOW MIGHT BE OVER FOR MASON
Bulldogs star forward Willie Mason is feuding with coach Steve Folkes and is considering walking out on the club.
Mason is fit to play against Souths in the first round on Saturday night, but has been left out of the Bulldogs line-up because Folkes says he has a "bad attitude".
Folkes can still change the side he has named, but if Mason is left out of first grade in round two he will instruct his management group AMI to start looking for a new club.
It is understood he is fed up with the way Folkes is treating him and wants to bring the matter to a head. Teammates are well and truly aware of the situation he is facing and he isn't alone in questioning the approach that Folkes is taking.
One of the few clubs with money left under their salary
cap is Cronulla and they made a big play for Mason last year during the salary
cap scandal. Melbourne and rugby union also showed strong interest.
The news that Mason is restless a week out from the season will rock the Bulldogs, who have been in the spotlight for the past six months and were in the headlines again last week when their players were allegedly involved in an unsavoury incident in Coffs Harbour.
Despite reports to the contrary, Mason has been dropped from the Bulldogs' starting side for their first game of the year because of a "bad attitude", even though the club has directed him to say that he has a quadricep injury.
Mason and Folkes had heated words in front of teammates during the week at training and the pair have hardly said a word to each other since.
Mason told Folkes what he thought of him in no uncertain terms and onlookers were fearing the clash might get physical.
Folkes did try to get a gauge on Mason's feelings in another conversation but got nowhere.
Mason was approached for a comment yesterday and only said: "I've got nothing to say about any of that."
Mason's management team at AMI refused to reveal any details about the dispute.
"I am aware of the situation with Willie at the moment, but I am not prepared to elaborate at this stage," his manager Greg Keenan said.
"All I can say is that unless things change quickly I will be seeking a meeting with the club and things will go from there."
So far Mason has toed the club line and has been quoted as saying he is injured.
But Mason has told those close to him he could play today.
Mason refused to speak to The Sun-Herald about the fall-out with Folkes but he has talked to friends, teammates and private sponsors about what he is going through.
It is clear from those conversations that he is extremely unhappy and can't fathom that he has been branded with a bad attitude.
In the off-season Mason has dropped his weight by four kilograms, increased his speed and is lifting heavier weights.
That's why he is mystified.
Mason has confided in friends that unless he is picked in first grade for the second-round game he will start looking for a way out of the club he stuck by during the salary cap drama.
BULLDOGS HIT OUT
Steve
Folkes sits behind his desk at the Bulldogs' Belmore base, relaxed and
comfortable about the task ahead, answering questions in the no-nonsense manner
which characterised his career as a Canterbury great.
He knows this season is going to be hard for the team he coaches. Very hard.
As much as the club has moved on from the devastating events of last year, the spotlight will be on the Bulldogs this season.
They will start 2003 as favourites ahead of premiers the Roosters with a fresh slate and a typically fierce desire to succeed.
Testing indicates the players are stronger and faster. Folkes knows they have to be to meet the onslaught.
Speaking openly for the first time about the scandal which engulfed the club, Folkes opens up about that devastating period, the task ahead this season, his thoughts on the NRL and his own goals as an elite coach.
THE SCANDAL
Folkes believes the Bulldogs have put the events of six months ago well and truly behind them.
In his eyes, it's wrong to use the salary cap punishment as motivation. It's not how the Bulldogs operate.
"You can't go to every training session and every game thinking 'they took 37 points off us last year' because it does lose its gloss and lessens the impact on motivation," he said.
"If we need that for motivation, we are struggling.
"Our goal each week over the past few years has been to turn up in the right frame of mind and to get your motivation internally rather than externally."
Folkes isn't bitter about not heading into the new season as premiers and he won't bite when asked if the 2002 Bulldogs who went on a record-breaking 17 consecutive games without defeat would have won the competition.
"The fact is we didn't and we are starting this season the same as we started last season," he said.
"Hopefully we'll be as good as we were last year, even better, and we'll see what happens after that."
Folkes went through many emotions in the lead-up to the tumultuous termination of 37 competition points.
"More than anything, I was disappointed for the players ... that they weren't going to get an opportunity to show how good they could be," he said.
As for the penalty.
"You are always hoping for the best result possible but it was always in the back of your mind they were going to make an example of us," he said.
"We got the death penalty."
The tragedy for Folkes is that he rates last year as his best coaching achievement.
Yet he has nothing in the Belmore trophy cabinet to show for it.
What he does have is the improvement in players like Brent Sherwin, a part-time first-grader who has become one of the NRL's top three halfbacks.
Then there's Willie Mason, who won a Test jersey last season thanks to Folkes' development, and the rise and rise of star five-eighth Braith Anasta.
"As a coach I've probably improved in a number of areas," he said.
Folkes watched "bits and pieces" of the finals and only the second half of the grand final.
"Obviously I was wishing we were a part of it but it wasn't going to happen," he said. "The Roosters haven't won a comp for a while and Ricky is a good mate, so it was pleasing.
"People say he brought some of the Bulldogs to the Roosters but people who say that are down-playing Ricky's individual input into the win."
FRESH START, SAME ATTITUDE
While some important things have changed at Belmore -- such as a new board and administration staff -- others remain the same.
The team is no different and neither is their attitude to success.
"We are obviously happy with the decision the members made at the AGM in regard to retaining the board put in place," Folkes said.
"But it's our job to concentrate on the footy. I
never worry about things that aren't in my control.
"I'm no more determined this year than I was this time last year," he said.
"We have a team capable of being really competitive. Our goal is obviously to reproduce our form of last year -- and hopefully add 15 to 20 per cent.
"We know it won't be easy. But it's a good challenge, individually and as a team -- and for the coaching staff."
Folkes knows his team can improve despite the 17 consecutive wins in 2002.
"Results-wise it's going to be hard to improve but a number of those games we got out of and didn't play so well," he said. "Everyone needs a bit of luck if they are going to be doing the lap on grand final day."
PRESSURE, FAVOURITISM
Folkes isn't concerned the Bulldogs are outright favourites.
"I don't think you can put figures on teams before a comp has started," he said.
The Bulldogs have retained virtually the same outfit which dominated 2002 -- possibly for this season only -- but Folkes doesn't believe there is any added pressure to deliver a premiership.
"Players go from every club every year and it's not unique," he said. "We may lose some guys at the end of this year but so will other clubs.
"From my point of view, the players just want to do as well as they can for themselves and whatever happens after that happens."
THE NRL
After watching someone like Sherwin develop, Folkes is a strong believer that clubs should receive salary cap concessions for nurturing local juniors.
"The game needs to work on a draft in hand with the salary cap and some sort of concession for developing players," he said. "Brent Sherwin is a local junior and has been in this district since he was six.
"He has developed to the stage where he is on the verge of rep footy and you may struggle to keep him because his manager hawks him around and some other club has plenty of money to spend.
"If you are trying to promote loyalty and staying at one club, you have to do something.
"The other argument is that clubs will send themselves broke. If they are stupid enough to do that, so be it."
FOLKES' FUTURE
Folkes shies away from talk that he will become a representative coach.
"I don't have any aspirations for that at all," he said. "I love working with the guys on a long-term basis rather than a short couple of weeks.
"I like watching players improve their game and mature and improve in areas you target."
How long can he see himself at Belmore?
"After the events of last week ... they say coaches are either being sacked or about to be sacked," he said.
"As long as you do your job to the best of your ability, you can look yourself in the mirror.
"I don't want to go back to school teaching and I guess the time will come when I have to make a decision if I want to stay in the profession.
"Unless you are Kevin Sheedy or a Wayne Bennett, you will have to move on somewhere."
Folkes' immediate future contains only one goal --
winning his first premiership as an NRL coach and the Bulldogs' eighth.
ANASTA HAPPY TO LOCK IN BEHIND NEW FORWARDS
Braith
Anasta has moved into the forwards, but he's confident his new muscle and an all
new back-row will be a formidable platform for the Bulldogs' National Rugby
League season opener against South Sydney on March 15.
With teenager Johnathon Thurston trialling in the No.6 jersey, Anasta has moved to lock behind new second-rowers Glen Hughes and Tony Grimaldi for the game at Telstra Stadium.
The new-look back row emerged after Willie Mason was ruled out with a quadriceps injury today, joining Travis Norton (hamstring) on the sideline while veteran backrower Darren Smith has moved onto English Super League side St Helens.
Anasta said if Thurston - who has a shoulder injury - proved a success at five-eighth, he could face a long tenure at lock this season.
"It depends on how we start off. If Thurston plays good at five-eighth and I play good at lock then we'll probably keep it there," Anasta said.
"The backrow's not inexperienced, it's just a new combination.
"We'll have to adjust but everyone's been playing really good and training good so I don't think it should be a problem."
Despite a barnstorming off-season, former NSW forward Andrew Ryan, recruited from Parramatta, will start on the bench as he looks to prove himself at his new club.
"I suppose he's earning his spot, I'm sure if he plays good off the bench he'll move into the starting line-up - he's just got to earn his spot in the team," said Anasta.
Anasta has turned fat into muscle and lost some weight since last season.
He believes Souths Sydney will be a dangerous proposition in their season opener, which follows the Wests Tigers clash with St George Illawarra.
"I think things like this pumps up a team, they have got to play good football or else it will be a tough year for them," Anasta said of the Souths' off-season nightmare, which included the sacking of coach Craig Coleman and three practice match beltings.
"I think this is their best chance to go out there and show their supporters they can play footy and can beat the top sides. It's going to be a tough game.
"But as long as we can hold the first 20 minute charge from Souths, then we can probably get away with it in the end."
Mason said while his injury wasn't bad, he'd wait until the second round before making his season debut.
"I didn't really want to push it, I haven't run at all this week and probably won't run `till late next week so there is no point," Mason said today.
Ryan will start on the bench alongside try-scoring back rower Jamie Feeney, ex-Bronco Denis Scott and youngster Roy Asotasi.
BULLDOGS: Luke Patten, Hazem El Masri, Nigel Vagana,
Willie Talau, Matt Utai, Johnathon Thurston, Brent Sherwin, Mark O'Meley, Corey
Hughes, Steve Price, Glen Hughes, Tony Grimaldi, Braith Anasta. Interchange: Roy
Asotasi, Jamie Feeney, Andrew Ryan, Dennis Scott.
MASON OUT OF DOGS OPENER
Willie
Mason is out of the Bulldogs' NRL premiership opener against South Sydney on
March 15.
The 115kg second-rower has been ruled out with a quadriceps injury until at
least the second round, meaning the Bulldogs will boast an all new back row for
the clash with the Rabbitohs.
"I didn't really want to push it, I haven't run at all this week and probably won't run 'till late next week so there is no point," Mason said today.
With Travis Norton also injured (hamstring) and Darren Smith now playing in England, former Hull captain Tony Grimaldi comes into the starting side alongside Glen Hughes with Braith Anasta moving from five-eighth to lock.
Teenager Johnathon Thurston will wear the No.6 jersey for the game at Telstra Stadium, the second of the double header which also features the Wests Tigers and St George.
Former NSW forward Andrew Ryan, recruited from Parramatta in the off-season, will start on the bench alongside try-scoring back rower Jamie Feeney, ex-Bronco Denis Scott and youngster Roy Asotasi.
BULLDOGS: Luke Patten, Hazem El Masri, Nigel Vagana, Willie Talau, Matt Utai, Johnathon Thurston, Brent Sherwin, Mark O'Meley, Corey Hughes, Steve Price, Glen Hughes, Tony Grimaldi, Braith Anasta. Interchange: Roy Asotasi, Jamie Feeney, Andrew Ryan, Dennis Scott.
THURSTON NUDGES ANASTA TO LOCK
The emergence of Queensland teenager Jonathan Thurston has forced Australian international Braith Anasta to lock for the Bulldogs' double-header clash with South Sydney next Saturday. Anasta believes his future lies at the back of the scrum and coach Steve Folkes has deemed it time to make the switch, 19-year-old Thurston grabbing the coveted No.6 shirt. Missing from the squad, as expected, is cult figure Willie Mason. There was some speculation the Kangaroos representative would be left out due to form but he said last night: "I'm not fit to play ... I strained [my leg] at training on Monday and I haven't run one bit so he [Folkes] said he wouldn't consider me." Halfback Brent Sherwin is back from a hand problem.
BULLDOGS ANNOUNCE TEAM FOR ROUND ONE
Mitsubishi Electric Bulldogs coach Steve
Folkes has named his side for the Round One clash with the Rabbitohs next
Saturday (March 15) at Telstra Stadium. Folkes was without Travis Norton and
Willie Mason who both failed late fitness tests. The side is as follows:
1 Luke Patten
2 Hazem El Masri
3 Nigel Vagana
4 Willie Talau
5 Matt Utai
6 Johnathon Thurston
7 Brent Sherwin
8 Mark O'Meley
9 Corey Hughes
10 Steve Price
11 Glen Hughes
12 Tony Grimaldi
13 Braith Anasta
14 Roy Asotasi
15 Jamie Feeney
16 Andrew Ryan
17 Dennis Scott
DOGS HELP POLICE OVER RAPE
Bulldogs
chief executive Steve Mortimer says the National Rugby League club is happy to
assist police with inquiries into an alleged incident involving a player in
Coffs Harbour at the weekend.
A 42-year-old woman alleged she was sexually assaulted by a 19-year-old man in a
hotel room during the early hours of Saturday morning.
Police confirmed today an investigation was underway.
Coffs Harbour police will travel to Sydney this weekend to interview a number of people over the incident.
"We are happy to assist police," Mortimer said.
"I take pride in the behaviour of our players on and off the field. If there is an accusation we're more than happy to help police."
Mortimer said his club had received a "glowing report" from the people of Coffs Harbour, where the club played a pre-season trial against Manly on Friday night.
The Bulldogs are still repairing their battered image
after the club was docked 37 points and fined $500,000 for breaching the NRL's
salary cap last season.
PLAYERS GRAB THE TAROCASH
With clothing designer and retailer
Tarocash joining the Mitsubishi Electric Bulldogs as a sponsor a number of
leading players today helped out with a promotion for their clothing line.
Braith Anasta, Matt Utai and Hazem El Masri joined Wests Tigers players Darren
Senter, Daniel Fitzhenry and Luke O'Donnell for a photo shoot at the Light
Brigade Hotel in Paddington today at midday.
In a change from the training gear which has become well worn over the last few
months the players modelled some of the items in the Tarocash range.
BULLDOGS HONOUR LES JOHNS
Champion Canterbury fullback Les Johns has
been awarded the Peter Moore OAM Award for Outstanding Contribution to the
Canterbury-Bankstown club.
Johns played for Canterbury between 1963-71 where he played 120 in a glittering
but injury-plagued career. Johns played in an era of champion fullbacks such as
Graeme Langlands, Ken Thornett and Keith Barnes but was still good enough to
play 13 Tests despite the injuries. Many good judges believe that only Clive
Churchill and Langlands would rank above Johns.
The Bulldogs club presented Johns with the award on Sunday during the club's
season launch at the Sydney Olympic Park complex. Johns was never able to
receive Life Membership at Canterbury because he didn't play 200 games or 10
successive years but his contribution to Canterbury was better than outstanding.
Johns is rated without any doubts the greatest fullback in Canterbury's history
(Greg Brentnall would be No.2) and is ranked alongside Steve Mortimer and Terry
Lamb as the finest players to wear the Blue & White jersey. Johns in 1999
was ranked as the 36th greatest Australian player in the Daily Telegraph top 100
and is judged by many as one of the top 10 all-time greatest Australian
fullbacks.
Hailing from the South Newcastle club, Johns starred for the Newcastle
representative team against the powerful Great Britain side in their upset
victory at the No.1 Sports Ground in 1962. The performance of Johns prompted
Canterbury to sign him and he was a member of the 1963 Kangaroo Tour.
Johns' finest year was no doubt in 1967 when his brilliance helped Canterbury
end St George's 11-year run and make the Grand Final against South Sydney. Johns
was also a member of the successful Australian Kangaroo Tour side later that
year where he played in all six Tests against Great Britain and France.
The most-deserving honour for Johns came on the same day as the Bulldogs Fans
Day with over 5,000 fans coming throughout the day. Bulldogs Chief Executive
Steve Mortimer was elated with the attendance and just shows that the Bulldogs
can be battered but never destroyed.
Mortimer passed on a message to all the supporters who showed up in great
numbers last Sunday.
"I would personally like to thank all the fans who attended our Fan Day. We
aim to be a Club accessible to our fans and it was great to see so many open the
season with us.
"We had great weather and a great atmosphere to go with it, we look forward
to seeing as many fans as possible again throughout the season at our home games
as we look to create the best atmosphere in the NRL."
As a Bulldogs fan, I would like to thank Steve Mortimer for his work as Chief
Executive and George Peponis in his role as Chairman for making themselves
accessible with the fans. Both Mortimer and Peponis mixed with the supporters
for a couple of hours and have worked harder than anyone else in the last 6-7
months.
Lets hope all Rugby League administrators come from the Mortimer and Peponis
ilk. Not only were they champion Rugby League players, they are terrific people
on top of that who care for the future of our game and in keeping with the great
history of the game.
