DIEHARD
03-09-12, 11:05 AM
How Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs transformed 2008 wooden spooners into minor premiership winners
This is Canterbury-Bankstown's official team photo from 2008.
They finished with the wooden spoon and not one of the 26 players in the picture is still at Belmore.
No other club in the NRL has undergone such a massive shake-up.
Sonny Bill Williams disappeared in July of that year, Reni Maitua was sacked and the rest moved on for various reasons.
It illustrates what a remarkable job CEO Todd Greenberg, a stable board and coach Des Hasler have done to win the minor premiership in the NRL, Toyota Cup and NSW Cup.
Not even Ben Barba, who debuted at the back end of 2008, is in the picture because he was still in the under-20s.
The rebuilding of the Bulldogs has been an absolutely wonderful rugby league story.
I can still clearly remember Greenberg arriving at our Surry Hills offices in 2009 with coach Kevin Moore, Luke Patten, marketing and PR staff, to take us through his plans to renovate and repair the club's image.
They were starting again from ground zero. Not one company wanted to be on the front of their jersey.
Fast forward four years to ANZ Stadium on Saturday night. Greenberg couldn't have been prouder as his skipper Michael Ennis walked on to the stage to collect the J.J. Giltinan Shield.
Obviously, the job is not done yet and the big one is still four weeks away.
But the Bulldogs boss took time out to reflect.
"It's incredible to think back to '08," he says. "We made a very conscious decision that we don't just recruit on skill and talent.
"We recruit on character and values. That's how normal people in the business world hire the best personnel.
"Why should we be any different. I know we've got to win footy games but ultimately you are building a club and a team."
One by one players left of their own accord or were moved on.
Ennis, Brett Kimmorley, Josh Morris, Ben Hannant, David Stagg, Aiden Tolman, James Graham, Greg Eastwood, Frank Pritchard, Trent Hodkinson, Steve Turner, Krisnan Inu and Sam Perrett signed up.
"These guys were obviously extremely talented footballers but they are also genuinely good men with strong family values," Greenberg said. "They come with a dedication to work in the community.
"We research and do a detailed analysis before we sign anyone. That's what builds your club over a sustainable long period of time."
Still, there are more challenges ahead.
The grudge match against Dessie Hasler's old club Manly is the next step.
The refurbishment is still to be completed but the Dogs have very proudly come a long way.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/league/nrl-premiership
This is Canterbury-Bankstown's official team photo from 2008.
They finished with the wooden spoon and not one of the 26 players in the picture is still at Belmore.
No other club in the NRL has undergone such a massive shake-up.
Sonny Bill Williams disappeared in July of that year, Reni Maitua was sacked and the rest moved on for various reasons.
It illustrates what a remarkable job CEO Todd Greenberg, a stable board and coach Des Hasler have done to win the minor premiership in the NRL, Toyota Cup and NSW Cup.
Not even Ben Barba, who debuted at the back end of 2008, is in the picture because he was still in the under-20s.
The rebuilding of the Bulldogs has been an absolutely wonderful rugby league story.
I can still clearly remember Greenberg arriving at our Surry Hills offices in 2009 with coach Kevin Moore, Luke Patten, marketing and PR staff, to take us through his plans to renovate and repair the club's image.
They were starting again from ground zero. Not one company wanted to be on the front of their jersey.
Fast forward four years to ANZ Stadium on Saturday night. Greenberg couldn't have been prouder as his skipper Michael Ennis walked on to the stage to collect the J.J. Giltinan Shield.
Obviously, the job is not done yet and the big one is still four weeks away.
But the Bulldogs boss took time out to reflect.
"It's incredible to think back to '08," he says. "We made a very conscious decision that we don't just recruit on skill and talent.
"We recruit on character and values. That's how normal people in the business world hire the best personnel.
"Why should we be any different. I know we've got to win footy games but ultimately you are building a club and a team."
One by one players left of their own accord or were moved on.
Ennis, Brett Kimmorley, Josh Morris, Ben Hannant, David Stagg, Aiden Tolman, James Graham, Greg Eastwood, Frank Pritchard, Trent Hodkinson, Steve Turner, Krisnan Inu and Sam Perrett signed up.
"These guys were obviously extremely talented footballers but they are also genuinely good men with strong family values," Greenberg said. "They come with a dedication to work in the community.
"We research and do a detailed analysis before we sign anyone. That's what builds your club over a sustainable long period of time."
Still, there are more challenges ahead.
The grudge match against Dessie Hasler's old club Manly is the next step.
The refurbishment is still to be completed but the Dogs have very proudly come a long way.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/league/nrl-premiership