I have to give my opinion on Des because I strongly disagree with a number of what I deem to be misconceptions.
Misconception no.1
Des is past it and/or hasn't "moved with the times".
In case you haven't noticed, it's bloody hard to win a competition. Everything has to go right to get there in the first place and the planets have to align to win it on the big day. The fact that he has taken the club to two GF's in 5 years tells me he is doing something right. Bellamy couldn't clinch the big one this year but I don't think anyone is doubting his coaching ability. Every year 15 coaches don't take out the premiership.
This idea that he hasn't moved the times is rubbish too...to think that we (and the media) can sit in the lounge room and see that the game has evolved but two time premiership winning coach just happened to have his eyes shut for three years is hilarious. Bennett has been playing the same tune for 25 years and he made the GF last year. Rugby League is a simple game and Des is no fool, it's just that some other teams played better this year.
I remember Manly were shot ducks under Des in 2010 and finished 8th before being thrashed in the first week of the finals...I wonder what 2011 would have looked like if we sacked him after that 8th place finish?!
Misconception 2.
Des doesn't have the cattle.
Jesus Christ; a team with both the Morris boys (Origin and Internationals, Hoppa (Origin), Perrett (International), one of the brightest young halves in Mbye, and a monster pack containing Kasiano (international), Graham (International Captain), Eastwood (International), Josh Jackson (Origin), Klemmer (Origin and International).
However, just because you have good players and a good coach, the competition is still hard to win. The Cowboys have the best player in the game, the most destructive forward in the game, and a ton of other talent and a good coach...did they win the competition this year?
Misconception 3.
Des doesn't get the Bulldogs DNA.
What DNA? Trashing stadiums, burning seats, tipping paint on cars and banging drums? That's a DNA I don't want to know anything about. All Des is doing is coaching some meat head footballers, not conducting a crime commission. **** off Canterbury.
In conclusion, Des is a great coach, Des has the cattle, but competitions are bloody hard to win.
Competitions are hard to win when you have a team playing one out hit ups and are very predictable .
Telegraph ...
An emotional Steve Mortimer has vowed to walk away from his position on the Bulldogs’ board if Des Hasler is handed a new two-year contract extension at Friday’s emergency meeting.
In what’s shaping up as a showdown between the man regarded as the Bulldogs’ greatest ever player and one of the best coaches of the modern game, Mortimer declared: “If they want me to resign, I will resign.
“As a director I will go the best way I can in supporting (whatever decision is made).
“But if I had to be asked to renew the new two-year contract I would say, ‘I am sorry, I will have to walk away’.”
While many fans and rugby league experts are struggling to comprehend how Hasler could be fighting to save his future after taking the Bulldogs to two grand finals in his five years at the club, Mortimer did not back away from his belief it is time for change.
He also revealed how he fronted Hasler at a recent board meeting to express his concerns about the lack of passion displayed in the disappointing finals loss to Penrith.
“I spoke at the last directors’ meeting,” Mortimer said.
“Des Hasler was there. I got some things off my chest. Maybe I said too much but irrespective of that. I was at the meeting, Des was there also.
“Des came up and said stats about this and all that sort of stuff.
“I did say the last game we played, the first half was pretty good, but at the end of the game I saw 13 players playing individually.
“There was no passion. There was no helping each other in that second half. And I complained.”
Mortimer is adamant the seven directors who will decide Hasler’s fate on Friday all have the club’s best interests at heart. And he said whatever decision they come up with he won’t dispute.
“We have a seven directors and nothing will split any of those,” he said.
“They all have business acumen which is great, but they all have brains as well in respect to where the club is going.”
Asked if all the directors were on the same page, Mortimer said: “I would like to say that I believe that we are.”
Mortimer also revealed how he offered his resignation on Wednesday to senior director Arthur Coorey
after he declared the club was “losing its DNA” under Hasler.
Mortimer made a point of saying he did not aim his criticism at chief executive Raelene Castle.
“Look, I really like Raelene,” Mortimer said.
“Her father was a coach at Turvey Park years ago and she is a very astute and good person. Maybe Raelene and I disagree about Des’s value, but that doesn’t matter, I still have respect for our CEO.”
Asked if Coorey was unhappy with his comments, Mortimer said: “No. He was fine.”
Coorey was reluctant to talk when contacted.
“We are having a meeting on Friday. I have nothing to say,” he said.
Asked about Mortimer’s comments, Coorey added: “He is entitled to say what he wants, it is up to him.
“Everyone is free to say what they want to say.”
Coorey denied Hasler was going to be pushed out of the club.
“Nobody has said that. Where did you get that from?” he questioned.
“Turvey didn’t say that. I know what Turvey said. He is talking about his future. That is it.”