Meet the new breed of Bulldog

[Dogaholic]

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/sport/nrl/story/0,26799,24981357-5006066,00.html

By Hannah Ireland | January 30, 2009 12:00am



Back Row: Hazem El Masri, Daniel Harrison, Chris Armit, Robert Worsley, Charlie Leaeno, Jamal Idris, John Kite, Tileen Gordon, Brent Crisp, Gary Warburton, Matthew Utai
Middle Row: David Stagg, Michael Hodgson, Heka Nanai, Benjamin Barba, Ben Roberts, Josh Morris, Lee Te Maari, Bryson Goodwin, Tim Winitana, Conrad Ta'akimoeka, Brett Kimmorley, Michael Ennis
Front Row: Daryl Millard, Michael Sullivan, Nick Kouparitsas, Daniel Holdsworth, Andrew Ryan (C), Kevin Moore (Coach), Fred Briggs, Ben Hannant, Danny Williams, Luke Patten, Brad Morrin

MEET the new breed of Bulldog - dedicated, hard-working and free of off-field drama.

At least that's what the once-mighty club is hoping for in 2009.
Just four players remain from the team that tasted premiership success in 2004 - Hazem El Masri, Luke Patten, Matt Utai and Andrew Ryan.
There to replace the club's former bad boys such as Willie Mason and Reni Maitua are the fresh faces of Brett Kimmorley, Josh Morris, Michael Ennis and Ben Hannant.

And, of course, they are led by a new coach in Kevin Moore.
"It's a fantastic mix," Moore said yesterday of the 2009 squad.
"We have experienced players and we have young guys.
"Then we have recruited new people to the club."

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While this group photograph demonstrates the team's physical overhaul, the raucous laughter heard in between the flicker of the camera shutter at yesterday's official photo shoot best sums up the club's new outlook. "To be honest, it's been easy for us to draw a line in the sand and just move on," Moore said, referring to the Bulldogs' infamous past problems.

Ryan, one of the few who has been there through the good times and bad, insists the overhaul was needed.

"For a while there, there was a very similar roster and coaching staff but that has all been changed and it feels like a completely different joint at the moment," he said.

"Everything feels different. Training has been really different. I'm just really excited about this year."

Star recruit Kimmorley said the Dogs' new playing roster was the perfect blend to provide a fresh start for the club.

"We are only about building on the future," he said. "We all realise that there is no use dwelling on the past, so none of us are really worried about it.

"There has just been excitement here from day day one. We are feeling strong and confident."

Former Bronco Hannant, who was yesterday bowled for a duck in a team Twenty20 match, insists his lacklustre batting has been the only hiccup in his pre-season preparation.

"We've all been training really hard," he said.

"It's a new start for the club.

"I wasn't here last year but there hasn't been any talk of it.

"We are all just excited to play football again.

"I'm getting a really good feeling about how this is all going."

Bulldog fans won't have to wait long to see whether the confidence in the camp is justified.

"We meet Manly in round one," Moore said.

"But we are excited. They will give us a pretty good benchmark of where we are at."

[Blue_n_gold_army]

The yellow "Camp Quality" sponsorship at the front stands out too much, and spoils the jersey a bit. It would be much better if the sponsorship was a different colour.

[Nathan B]

Originally Posted by Blue_n_gold_army

The yellow "Camp Quality" sponsorship at the front stands out too much, and spoils the jersey a bit. It would be much better if the sponsorship was a different colour.

I agree... I think yellow and blue together sucks!

Gee, these articles get me fired up for the coming year. I think I might start raising some expectations. (Of course, I've warned myself 1000 times against doing this.)

[Nathan B]

How on Earth did Kimmorley score himself a spot in the second row?!?

I guess they don't call him Noddy for nothing.

[buzz07]

Originally Posted by Blue_n_gold_army

The yellow "Camp Quality" sponsorship at the front stands out too much, and spoils the jersey a bit. It would be much better if the sponsorship was a different colour.

YellowBelly

[Rod.K]

Originally Posted by buzz07

YellowBelly

As long it's not red LOL