Monday 11 September 2023

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs League Placings : 2000-23

This club has at times had quite an illustrious history but in this century, while it has had some good moments, it hasn't been consistent. The early part of the 20th century has a definite Manhattan skyline look about it as the bar graph shows. 

Local junior Steve Folkes left behind a successful playing career to become the coach in 1998. The eleven years in that post and the 288 games he oversaw was - as mentioned already - an up and down affair. The chart shows they didn't win the minor premiership (I prefer the league title, the term 'minor' degrades the achievement). He is the club's longest serving coach in history but his last season wasn't an ideal way to bow out, with a wooden spoon.

Kevin Moore came in and with some sound recruitment at the club immediately took them to second place in the league and to a losing grand final. The two following years were less than stellar, leading to his being shown the door. 

Des Hassler arrived in 2012 and stayed until 2017 with 166 games under his belt. In the first year, they won the league title but lost the grand final. That year he was named coach of the year. Subsequent years were solid but there were diminishing returns as each season passed. His removal after the 2017 season was settled out of court. 

Dean Pay was brought in but his coaching stint didn't match his playing career. A new coach per season isn't an ideal situation but that's what's been happening lately. Present coach Cameron Ciraldo needs to get on field results happening. As the graph shows, it's been a few years since the club has been a force in the NRL.

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