Three-time premiership winner Andrew Farrar says Canterbury are capable of creating another Bulldogs dynasty under super coach Des Hasler – comments echoed by title winning captains Steve Price and Terry Lamb.
Farrar was a part of premiership winning Bulldogs sides in 1984, 1985 and 1988 in a decade of rugby league dominated by blue and white. And the former grand final co-coach with St George Illawarra predicted the Bulldogs could be on the cusp of another era of rugby league dominance.
“It is a bit scary when you consider the inexperience in the team how they could actually get if this main group of players stay together,” Farrar said on Friday at the Bulldogs annual grand final luncheon.
“Not just consistency over a year but also consistency over a few years. It would be a great thing for the club.
“They are only young players, it is a young squad, there is a lot of room for a lot of improvement. It’s a great thing for this group of players they can make their own history.”
Canterbury’s last premiership winning captain in 2004, Steve Price, said the `Dogs squad always had the makings of greatness.
“I’m not surprised at all at what they have done this year.” he said.
“The club was equal eighth last year and had they not had the circumstances during the year they had they probably would have been in the semi-finals.
“They had a good squad and it’s just that things were not quite sweet, to bring in a guy like Des is just what they needed.
“They are young and enthusiastic and they are not scared to throw caution to the wind.”
Those comments were echoed by Bulldogs 1995 premiership winning skipper Terry Lamb.
“This team has almost been together for the last four years, the potential was always there,” he said.
“Des should be proud of his coaching staff and what they have done. I think they will win and win well.”