On March 28th, 2019, the Bulldogs extended Dean Pay's contract by 12 months. At the time I thought this was an interesting decision considering the Bulldogs sat 0-2 having lost their first 2 games 40-6 and 36-16. Just over a month later, it seems my criticism has been justified.
With the Bulldogs just 2-6 and languishing in last place, it now appears Pay has lost the locker room. This usually spells the end for many coaches, most recently Jason Taylor, Mick Potter and Tim Sheens, who all coached the Tigers. Maybe I was being a bit picky here since it has also happened to Anthony Griffin, Matthew Elliot and Ivan Henjak.
So how has Pay responded to this? Maybe he organised a team meeting where he emphasised to the players about his goals for the club? Did he call in the team leaders to discuss their concerns? Did he have a board meeting to get there backing?
No. He dropped their three best players, Lachlan Lewis, Rhyse Martin and Kerrod Holland, on the eve of an almost must-win game against fellow battlers Newcastle. Whilst Lewis can be somewhat justified due to the return of Kieran Foran, there is no way that Pay can seriously believe Jack Cogger is the better man to play the 6.
The other two decisions are even more absurd. Martin and Holland are the two best goal kickers the club has, and have been in great form to start the season. It is now likely that Kieran Foran, making his return from ankle surgery, will be the man to kick. Remembering this kick (https://youtu.be/MDVqMLS5fqs) as well as these stats, I don't like those odds.
This is also the second time this season Pay has stood Martin down, having played him in the NSW Cup for the first two rounds of the season. There is a definite rift between the pair, and this most likely extends to the others dropped and potentially the rest of the team.
When a coach loses the locker room, his days in that role are usually numbered. I feel this will be the case for Pay as well. With Trent Barret, Anthony Griffin, Jim Dymock and Laurie Daley all without a head coaching role, the Bulldogs should move quickly to ensure that they can acquire an upgrade.
Only time will tell what the Bulldogs do. Hopefully it eases the pain of their loving fan base who has had to sit through 4 years of absolute torment.
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There are plenty of other good coaches also not coaching at the moment, such as Tooves – just saying. I wonder if – and if not why not – does the contract look and sound like Browns in Newcastle whereby they can get rid of him at any time for any reason without a rediculous pay-out…
Sadly Dean Pay is not his own man and he has tried to emulate Ricky Stuart in arrogance and placing certain individuals under mental duress. Nobody should ever forget the low mental (suicidal) state that Ricky Stuart had Reni Matua in. This in itself was an appalling act of mental thuggery, and Ricky should never have been allowed to coach at any level ever again, but he was and tried exactly the same level of mental intimidation with Blake Austin!
I gave dean pay support at the start of the year but now heโs lost it with the decision heโs making.
First Dropping Ogden wtf!! Now Martin & if Harper canโt get a run over Montoya well thatโs enough for me bring on that spoon
Dean Pay was never a first grade coach to start with. All the noise coming from the Bulldogs to start the season was how fit and ready they are after they finished 2018 reasonably well and instead they started this year terribly and it hasnโt gotten better. Secondly Dean Pay has these mind games with the players and I think parrasylum makes a good point comparing him to Ricky. The Bulldogs have a few young exciting backs, 1 quite good young half, 1 very over paid half and a couple other utility options and a forward pack fill with second rowers or front rowers that donโt work hard well together.
This year was Dean Pays year to really start fresh at the Bulldogs, they got behind and supported him well and he got signings and now heโs just making a fool of the club. I think they should sign some promising youngsters that deserve a crack (R.Robson, B.Hamlin-Uele, B.Lamb) and get a new coach in to bring out the best in the young players. Iโd say Laurie Daley would be a good shout.
1. Meaney
2. Okunbar
3. Holland
4. Hopoate
5. Smith
6. Lewis
7. Lamb
8. Napa
9. Robson
10. Ogden
11. Jackson
12. Martin
13. Tolman
14. Marshall-King
15. Hamlin-Uele
16. Haraweira-Naera
17. Tualau