Canterbury Bulldogs

Sean Fagan of RL1908.com

Aside from the founding clubs in 1908, Canterbury were the quickest club ever to win a premiership after admission to the competition (until Melbourne in 1999). After entering the premiership in 1935, Canterbury won the 1938 Final over Eastern Suburbs.

That Easts side of the late 1930s was one of the greatest ever seen and Canterbury's win over them established much needed credibility for the young club. Only three seasons earlier, Easts put on over 150 points in two matches against Canterbury.

That first season - without a home ground - was a horror for Canterbury. The club was also defeated by St George 91-6 (a premiership record) and Wests 65-11.

Star Canterbury forward Frank Sponberg recalled the Dragons match: "We won the first two scrums and St George scored a try both times. It was just an orgy of tries and goals from the kick-off with only the clock preventing them reaching the ton. Fair dinkum, the only thing that kept us going that year was the feeling of belonging to our district and a sense of humour."

Canterbury's entry into the Sydney competition had come as a surprise to many. The club had no home ground and its training facilities were woefully below standard. The neighbouring clubs of St George, Newtown and Wests were also concerned about loss of juniors and support.

However those difficulties were overcome when the Mayor of Canterbury, Ald S. E. Parry, convinced the NSWRL that the two rapidly growing municipalities of Bankstown and Canterbury warranted a team. He also guaranteed that his council would establish a proper football field and erect a grandstand at Belmore Oval. This was done with the grandstand coming from the SCG. It had been demolished to make way for the M. A. Noble Stand and Alderman Parry arranged to have it removed brick by brick to Belmore.

Once Belmore Oval became Canterbury's home ground in 1936, they made great gains on the field. Bolstered by arrival of Allan Brady from Wests and numerous quality players from regional NSW clubs - Henry Porter, Tommy Kirk and Aub Mitchell - the club snared Frank Burge as coach. Canterbury surprised many pundits by making the 1936 semi-finals.

In 1938 Canterbury snared Newcastle hooker Roy Kirkaldy to play alongside props Porter and Eddie Burns. This front row combination gave Canterbury a firm foundation and better than even share of possession throughout the next 11 seasons. Fast earning the tag of 'country bumpkins' for their penchant for securing the services of players from outside Sydney, Canterbury also signed Edgar Newham, Jim Champion and Ted Anderson.

Canterbury began 1938 in hot form - once they flogged Easts in the fifth game of the season by 28-9 they set their sights on reaching the Final. Finishing as minor premiers meant they would have to be defeated twice to prevent them winning their first premiership.

Easts were their opponents in the Final. Canterbury though once again proved they now had their measure, winning by 19-6 on the back of great teamwork and the benefit of having the greater number of supporters.

A re-match in the 1940 decider saw a youthful Eastern Suburbs side defeat the favoured Canterbury for the premiership title. Canterbury beat Balmain in 1942 in a play-off for the minor premiers' position for the semi-finals. This gave Canterbury a second chance if defeated - and they needed it after losing to St George.

The two clubs met again in the Grand Final where a wet and muddy field favoured the more rugged Canterbury forwards - slightly. Canterbury dominated the game, but with three minutes left they were behind 9-6. Then their captain, Test centre Ron Bailey, made a break from inside their 25 and he put winger Bob Jackson in under the posts for a try - Canterbury had won 11-9 and secured their second premiership.

The club was hit hard by players called away on WW2 duties in 1943 - as many clubs were - and fell to the bottom of the table. Canterbury were also forced by the ban of multi-threaded jerseys into wearing a one colour (maroon) jersey overlayed with a (blue) V until 1946.

Canterbury yet again in the Final in 1946 where they faced up to Balmain. The match provided an inspirational performance from the Canterbury as they battled on for most of the game with just 12 men. Eddie Burns was forced off early with injury, yet the men in blue and white held a 7-6 lead late in the day. A controversial penalty against Canterbury for 'passing off the ground while tackled' was given right in front of their posts near fulltime. Balmain kicked the goal and won 8-7.

Canterbury were minor premiers in 1947, but lost the Final and Grand Final to Balmain. In Grand Final Canterbury lead 9-4 in the second half, but were overrun by the speedy Tigers 25-19.

The club then into a very lean period. In 1967 Canterbury had talented fullback Les Johns in his prime and were captain-coached by Kevin Ryan who had moved over from St George who had the past 11 titles. Canterbury met the Dragons in the Final for a place in the decider. In a thrilling match the Berries toppled the Saints 12-11 to end their reign as masters of the competition. That in itself marked 1967 as a success for Canterbury, but they still had a shot at the title to consider.

For the first time in 20 years Canterbury were back in a Grand FInal. Against South Sydney the match was level at 10-all with four minutes to go.

Then a penalty was awarded against Canterbury's half-back for an incorrect scrum 'feed 45m out from the posts. It was close enough for the Rabbitohs' Eric Simms to convert and Souths won the game 12-10.

After winning the Wills Cup in 1970, the Berries returned to the Grand Final in 1974. In a tough match Canterbury went down to Easts by 19-4. With less than 15 minutes to go Canterbury were behind by 7-4. The club again featured in the 1975 and 1976 semis. The 1978 season saw the club become the Bulldogs and the rise in the career of young Riverina import Steve Mortimer.

The 1979 season was inspirational as it saw the rise of a new Canterbury side styled by the TV as 'the entertainers' - they could score some magnificent tries. The side was well beaten by Manly in the final round of the season, but managed to hold onto 5th place for the semi-finals - little was expected though. They then dismissed the challenges of Western Suburbs, Cronulla and Parramatta to be the first team of the Final 5 era to reach the Grand FInal from outside the top three positions.

The Grand Final of 1979 seemed all but over when the Dragons led 17-2 at half-time. But the young Bulldogs showed a hint of the new spirit within the club when they refused to believe the game was gone. Canterbury fought back to a 17-13 deficit before the final siren brought an end to their charge.

It had been 40 seasons since Canterbury had last won a premiership - since then they had lost all five of the deciders they had been in. The club's strike rate was looking decidedly poor.

However, the '80s decade would see the Bulldogs in five more Grand Finals - winning them all except one. A new aura surrounded Canterbury, as the club developed a toughness for producing results at the business end of the season. Along with Parramatta, the Bulldogs would be the most successful club of the '80s decade winning four premierships - 1980, 1984, 1985 and 1988.

In 1980 Canterbury returned to the Grand Final for yet another match-up against Eastern Suburbs. Both clubs were at the top of the table and it was no surprise when they met in 'the big one'. The bulk of the 1979 side returned including George Peponis, Steve Mortimer, Chris Anderson, Graeme Hughes, Greg Brentnall and Steve Gearin. The Bulldogs kept the Roosters tryless, sealing the 19-4 win with a spectacular try to Gearin from a high Brentnall kick that was caught.

The Bulldogs reached the Final in 1983 as 'the entertainers' gave way to a more traditional Canterbury foundation built on tough and hard defenders. New coach in 1984 Warren Ryan continued the hardline Canterbury attitude, believing that defence and intensity were the key to winning big matches.

The club's new signings for 1984 gave away no secrets about the Bulldogs would take on the big guns of Parramatta and Manly. They signed Peter Tunks, Brian Battese, Terry Lamb, Peter Kelly, Mark Bugden and Daryl Brohman. Two juniors also quickly rose - fullback Michael Potter and backrower Paul Langmack.

The Bulldogs finished four points clear at the top of the 1984 ladder and eventually met Parramatta - looking for their fourth title in a row - in the Grand FInal. Canterbury won the game by 6-4 thanks to a Mark Bugden try from dummy-half and an ability to 'out-resolve' the Eels in a match of attrition.

St George, the minor premiers in 1985, were first into the Grand Final that year after they easily beat Canterbury. The Bulldogs thrashed Parramatta in the Final - and the scene was set for Canterbury to achieve 'back-to-back' titles. Canterbury smothered the Saints attack all day. The only try of the first half belonged to the Bulldogs after a Kelly pass sent Peter Mortimer on an open run. Andrew Farrer kicked a field goal for a 7-0 lead before the Dragons finally broke the shackles of the Canterbury defence in the last quarter. The one point gap was enough though as Canterbury held firm to take the Grand Final.

The 'teams of the '80s' met in their one and only Grand Final of the decade in 1986. The last six premierships had seen both win three of them. The showdown of 1986 produced the first ever tryless Grand Final. With the Eels ahead 4-2 Canterbury were down to 12 men after Phil Sigsworth was sent off for a high tackle. The Bulldogs refused to yield and the Eels could not score the match winning try. Late in the game Canterbury's Terry Lamb missed a long range penalty goal and Mark Bugden was tackled on the Parramatta try line. The siren sounded and Parramatta had won.

The defence orientated Grand Final saw the NSWRL impress on referees to adopt a 'wider' 5m rule interpretation in 1987. While Parramatta and Canterbury gave way to the clubs suited to the new style of play, the Bulldogs quickly took stock of the situation and returned to the top in 1988.

Canterbury dismissed the challenge of the inexperienced 1988 Cronulla side (who had finished as minor premiers) and took their place in the Grand Final. The Phil Gould coached Bulldogs were opposed by former coach Ryan's Balmain Tigers who had fought through from a 5th placed play-off game.

In the end the Bulldogs won easily 24-12 with Michael Hagan, David Gillespie, Terry Lamb and Glen Nissen bagging tries.

The 1993 Bulldogs finished as minor premiers with a sparkling team coached by Chris Anderson. Amongst the crop were Lamb, Brett Dallas, Craig Polla-Mounter, Jarrod McCracken, Jim Dymock and English import Gary Connolly. The side stumbled in the play-offs, losing the Final to eventual winners Brisbane.

Canterbury were again minor premiers in 1994 and this time fought their way to the Grand Final. A disaster ensued - practically from the kick off - as Canberra demolished the Bulldogs.

The 1995 season saw the first impacts of the Super League war. Canterbury had aligned themselves to the News Ltd side and when the issue hit the headlines in April there were calls for the Bulldogs immediate expulsion from the competition (along with the other non-ARL clubs). By mid-season the club was in turmoil with players in court and a thrashing by Newcastle that seemed to mark the end of that year's campaign.

Fortunately, the ARL had instituted a Top 8 finals system and Canterbury jagged a spot - though at odds of 50-1 to take the title. Lead by a resurgent Terry Lamb the Bulldogs accounted for all-comers as they reached the Grand Final. With the chance to redeem themselves for the disappointments of '93 and '94 suddenly available - and an ARL team as their opponent - Canterbury shut down the high flying Manly side with a comprehensive defence.

Canterbury took its part in the 1997 Super League and World Club Challenge competitions, though it didn't feature in either of the Finals. The following season saw the formation of the NRL and a new era at Canterbury under coach Steve Folkes. They were still though every bit a 'September team' as events would prove.

In a repeat of 1995, the Bulldogs scrapped into the Top 8. In the first three weeks of the finals they came from behind to defeat Saints and Newcastle, along with a demolition of North Sydney - all elimination games. By the time they arrived in the Final against Parramatta few gave them a chance. Virtually no one gave them any hope when they were down 18-2 with fifteen minutes left.

While comebacks of such magnitude have now become less improbable, in 1998, and in a Final, the Eels could have been excused for looking ahead to the Grand Final. They didn't get there. The Bulldogs produced three tries, the last leaving winger Daryl Halligan with a sideline conversion to force extra time. The ball swung through the posts and the Eels fate was sealed - in extra time the Bulldogs ran away with the match winning 32-20.

Not many teams could match the 1998 Brisbane side. The Broncos had played well all season and produced an awesome performance to take the game 38-12.

The club shifted home to the Homebush precinct, playing games at the Sydney Showground and the Olympic Stadium. The Bulldogs most promising season was 2002 when they were certain minor premiers weeks ahead of the semi-finals after a 17 match winning streak.

Canterbury though had been found to have been breaching the salary cap. The events of season 2002 soon fell into the shadows as the front-running Bulldogs salary cap crisis escalated.

The game had never seen anything to rival the Canterbury club's fall from grace. The NRL penalised the Canterbury club 37 competition points that handed them the wooden spoon for "a quite deliberate, elaborate system of payments to players designed to avoid detection".

A new management team took over, led by Steve Mortimer and George Peponis, and the Bulldogs manoeuvred to secure all their key players and keep under the salary cap. For 2003 the club was able to retain its players and looked to repeat its on-field performances of 2002. In the month before the play-offs the 'Doggies' were touted as certain Grand Finalists as they routed all comers by monster scorelines.

But the semi-finals proved to be barren territory as they went off the boil. The year long battle by the players to put the pain of the 2002 penalty behind them, and to stay positive, seemed to have finally effected its unmerciful toll. The impending departure of players such as Nigel Vagana due to the salary cap added to the feeling that an opportunity for a premiership had passed the Bulldogs by.

However, the Bulldogs can never be underestimated. In 2004 the club spent the majority of the season at the head of the NRL table with the Roosters. A surprise loss in the opening semi-final against North Queensland was quickly put behind. Canterbury defeated Melbourne and Penrith to reach their first Grand Final since 1998.

The Bulldogs overcame the loss of injured captain Steven Price for the Grand Final with barely a ripple - it demonstrated how comfortable and proficient each player in the team was with their role. Canterbury held out the Roosters to claim their eighth premiership, moving into a clear 5th place in the all-time tally.

Copyright © 2006 - Sean Fagan. All rights reserved - the article above may not be reproduced (in full or part) in any form without written permission.