Dogs of War: 1985-1994 /

One of the most feared sides in the competition's history, the 'Dogs of War' claimed multiple Premierships to finish off the 1980s. 

Heading into the 1990s saw a minor rebuild, however the side, under the tutelage of Chris Anderson, was on its way to etching its own piece of history of their own. 

• 1985 - Back To Back
• 1986 - The Tryless Grand Final
• 1987 - Ryan Resigns
• 1988 - Turvey Goes Out on Top
• 1989 - Bring in the Cavalry
• 1990 - Lamb and Anderson Step Up
• 1991 - The McGrady Masterclass
• 1992 - Building the Future
• 1993 - The Bounce Back
• 1994 - So Close, Yet So Far

1985 - Back To Back

The signatures of Manly International Phil Sigsworth and the return of 1980 Grand Final hero Steve Gearin put the Bulldogs in stead for another tilt at the title in their 50-year anniversary.

It was an inconsistent start to the season with just five wins and two draws from their first eleven matches, described by Head Coach Warren Ryan as 'substandard'.

But, as the great teams do, the boys from Belmore recovered in the second half of the season, finishing in third place after losing just two of their remaining matches. 

An Andrew Farrar try in the dying stages sealed a hard-fought victory in their opening finals match to Balmain, while favourites St George proved to be too strong the following week, with a nasty injury to star talisman Terry Lamb adding insult to injury.

Coming up against Grand Final foes Parramatta, Ryan's Bulldogs fired with a dominant 26-nil victory, earning them the right to continue their Premiership defence against the Dragons in the decider. 

Relishing their underdog status with St George instilled as heavy favourites and without Lamb, Ryan and Captain Steve Mortimer - who guided NSW to their first series victory earlier that year - plotted the perfect gameplay to kick the Dragons out of the match and execute a 7-6 win. 

It proved to be one of the greatest gameplays devised as the Bulldogs recorded back-to-back titles for the very first time. 

Season Snapshot: 

• The season marked 50 years of Canterbury-Bankstown, with a 50th Year Anniversary team announced. 
• Manly International Phil Sigsworth and 1980 Grand final hero Steve Gearin, returning to the Club, were the two major signings. 
• An inconsistent start with five wins and two draws from the opening eleven matches saw Head Coach Warren Ryan claim: “The team performances in the first round were substandard”.
• Consistent football during the second half of the season resulted in only losing two matches and finishing the regular season in third position.
• A tough-fought win over Balmain in the first week of finals saw the Bulldogs face Minor Premiers St George. 
• St George proved too strong, winning 17-6, pitting Canterbury against rivals Parramatta. The win proved bitter-sweet with a worrying leg injury to star five-eighth Terry Lamb who left the field after just fourteen minutes.
• The Bulldogs dominated Parramatta 26-0, earning the right to defend their Premiership against Minor Premiers St George.
• Coming in as underdogs, Warren Ryan’s game plan to pepper St George with bombs, executed by Steve Mortimer, saw the Bulldogs win a thrilling 7-6 encounter. 
• It marked the Club's fifth title, and the first time recording back-to-back Premierships. 
• Captain Steve Mortimer led the NSW Blues to a first series win against Queensland in the 1985 State of Origin series.
• Reserve Grade reached the finals, while and the Under 23 failed to qualify for the finals series.

Debutants: Phil Sigsworth, Chris Doyle, Matthew Callinan, Jason Alchin, Darren Meredith

1986 - The Tryless Grand Final

The 1986 season presented an opportunity for the Bulldogs to achieve what few clubs had done in the game's near-80-year history; win three Premierships in a row.

The side was bolstered by Paul Dunn and Tony Currie, both of whom would be state and International representatives within two years.

Continuing their momentum, the Bulldogs won the first eight of twelve matches and drew one, however, a massive injury toll threatened to derail their hopes of a threepeat, with just seven wins to finish in a respectable third place. 

Warren Ryan's side flexed their muscles in the first week, disposing of second-place Souths 16-2, booking another date with arch rivals and Minor Premiers, Parramatta.

Undeterred by their 28-6 defeat at the hands of the Eels, the Bulldogs had to detour against Balmain to qualify for their fourth decider since 1980, and did so convincingly with a 28-16 victory.

The two powerhouses of the decade clashed in another fierce battle, creating history in the only try-less Grand Final in history, with Parramatta prevailing 4-2. It brought an end for cult hero Geoff Robinson in his time in Blue and White, his 139th and final first-grade match for the Club.

While the defeat was crushing, there was individual reward, however, with Terry Lamb, Steven Folkes, Paul Langmack, Chris Mortimer and Paul Dunn named in the Kangaroo Tour to England and France.

Season Snapshot: 

• Forward Paul Dunn arrived via Eastern Suburbs, while Queenslander Tonie Currie joined mid-season.
• Eight wins and a draw from their first twelve matches was compounded by a severe injury toll, winning seven of the final twelve matches for a third-place finish. 
• In the first semi-final, the Bulldogs faced Souths and had a convincing win 16-2 win.
• The Bulldogs the following week had an appointment with archrivals and Minor Premiers Parramatta, defeated 28-6. 
• Prevailing 28-16 against the Balmain Tigers, the Bulldogs qualified for the Grand Final. 
• The 1986 NSWRL Grand Final was the only decider in history with no tries, with Parramatta winning 4-2. 
• Cult hero and 1980 and 1984 Premiership-winner Geoff Robinson retired after the Grand Final following 139 first-grade games. 
• The highlight of the year saw the Bulldogs defeat South Sydney 26-2 in Round 8 on ANZAC Day, down to twelve men for a majority of the match after Peter Kelly was sent off after the first tackle. 
• Tragically, David Gillespie lost a finger in a work accident late in the season and was unavailable for the final series.
• Belmore Sports Ground had new lighting installed ahead of the Round 21 clash against South Sydney in Round 21.
• Terry Lamb, Steven Folkes, Paul Langmack, Chris Mortimer and Paul Dunn were all named in the Kangaroo Tour to England and France.
• Like the year prior, reserve grade qualified for semi-finals, while the Under 23s failed to do so. 

Debutants: John Elias, Paul Dunn, Sandy Campbell, Greg Whitbread, Mark Sargent, David Boyd, Glen Frendo, Tony Currie

1987 - Ryan Resigns

International prop Pat Jarvis was the only notable addition to the side, taking over the void left by the ever-popular Geoff Robinson. 

After three consecutive Grand Final appearances, fatigue kicked in hard and fast for the Bulldogs; a slow start saw them win just six wins from the opening twelve matches. 

A 16-14 loss in the final match of the regular season to rivals St George relegated the side to sixth position, missing the finals for the first time since 1982. 

Tensions came to a head between major figures, resulting in the departure of Head Coach Warren Ryan at the end of the season.

Major changes in the playing roster were had as well; Club Legends Chris Mortimer and Peter Kelly found themselves at Penrith, while Peter Mortimer announced his retirement. 

Season Snapshot: 

• International prop Pat Jarvis arrived via St George.
• Inconsistency proved to be a major hurdle for the side, winning just six of their opening twelve matches, resulting in a sixth-place finish and missing the finals for the first time since 1982. 
• Club legends Chris Mortimer and Peter Kelly departed at season's end to  Penrith, while Peter Mortimer retired following 191 first-grade games across eleven seasons at Belmore. 
• The season was also Warren Ryan's last at the Club, joining Balmain the following season. 
• For a third season in a row, reserve grade reached the finals, while the Under 23s failed to qualify. 

Debutants: Scott Bennett, James Donnelly, Michael Reid, Eddie Muller, Pat Jarvis, Darren McCarthy, Colin Whitfield, Paul Dixon, Henry Raymond

1988 - Turvey Goes Out on Top

With the NSWRL announcing the addition of the Brisbane Broncos, Gold Coast-Tweed Giants and Newcastle Knights, the competition expanded to sixteen clubs in 1988.

Canterbury-Bankstown also went with new blood, appointing former player Phil Gould as first-grade coach just two years after his playing career and four years since his involvement in the 1984 season. 

While the externally the appointment was scrutinised, Gould immediately made an impact; his first big move coming with appointing Peter Tunks as Captain after Round 5. 

Nine wins from their opening twelve matches put the Bulldogs back on track and in good stead to make another tilt for the title, finishing the year in second place thanks to their newfound flair in attack. 

Talismanic five-eighth Terry Lamb was the hero in the first week of finals, a late field goal sinking 1987 Grand Finalists Canberra. 

The Bulldogs crunched Minor Premiers Cronulla 26-8 in a one-way affair to qualify for their fifth decider of the decade, ironically coming up against Warren Ryan's new team, Balmain. 

In a dramatic encounter at the newly-built Sydney Football Stadium, that saw Captain Tunks sent to the sin-bin and Balmain star Ellery Hanley injured, Gould's Bulldogs prevailed 24-12.

Front rower Paul Dunn took home the Clive Churchill Medal as man of the match, while Gould's great inaugural season netted him the Dally M Coach of the Year Award.

Coming off the interchange bench after injury sidelined him in the second half of the season, champion halfback Steve Mortimer called it a day; winning his fourth title for the Club with the curtains closing on a glittering 13-year career in Blue and White. 

Season Snapshot: 

• Promising recruits Joe Thomas, Glen Nissen, Brandon Lee and Robin Thorne joined the Club. 
• The Bulldogs appointed former player Phil Gould as their first-grade coach.
• From Round 6, Peter Tunks was appointed Captain, with Steve Mortimer relinquishing the role. 
• After winning nine of twelve opening matches, the Bulldogs finished in second place after the regular season. 
• Terry Lamb was the hero in the first semi-final, kicking the winning field goal in the hard-fought 19-18 win over the Canberra Raiders. 
• The Bulldogs qualified for their fifth Grand Final of the decade with a convincing 26-8 win over Minor Premiers Cronulla. 
• The Warren Ryan-coached Balmain side set up a Grand Final meeting with the Bulldogs after defeating Cronulla. 
• Played at the newly opened Sydney Football Stadium, the 1988 Grand Final was a controversial contest that saw Captain Peter Tunks sin binned and Great Britain International Ellery Hanley injured in the Bulldogs' 24-12 win. 
• The 1988 Grand Final was Steve Mortimer's final appearance for the Club. 
• Front rower Paul Dunn won the Clive Churchill Medal as player of the match.
• Phil Gould was awarded the Dally M Coach of the Year.
• Both the reserve grade and Under 21s sides failed to qualify for finals.
• After spending 40 days in a coma after being knocked out in an Under 21s match, Greg Buckley miraculously woke up on Grand Final day. 
• The NSWRL introduced the Brisbane Broncos, Gold Coast-Tweed Giants and Newcastle Knights to the competition. 

Debutants: Glen Nissen, Martin Ebb, Robin Thorne, Brandon Lee, Peter Davies, Joe Thomas, Theo Anast, Greg Barwick, Graham Pearce, Simon Gillies

1989 - Bring in the Cavalry

Despite a raft of changes for the roster, Premiership hopes were high in Belmore heading into the final year of the 1980s. 

While three wins on the trot to start their campaign was promising, one of the heaviest injury tolls in Club history resulted in a massive nineteen players making their first-grade debut throughout the year.

Inconsistency with line ups and combinations resulted in a ninth-placed finish with just ten wins from 22 matches, with two draws. 

Still, the season had its memorable moments; a 10-4 win over Grand Finalists Balmain at Belmore in Round 8 and an 18-all draw against Minor Premiers South Sydney in the final match proved that the Bulldogs still had plenty of firepower. 

Season Snapshot:

• A raft of changes to the squad saw the retirement of Steve Mortimer as well as Tony Currie, Michael Hagan, Michael Potter, Steve O’Brien and Mark Bugden depart the Club. 
• Kiwi international Mark Elia signed for the Club, playing nine games in his one and only season at the Club.  
• After winning their first three matches, injury and inconsistency saw the Club debut a mammoth 19 players across the season.
• With ten wins and two draws, the Bulldogs finished in ninth position.
• Highlights of the season defeating Grand Finalists Balmain 10-4 at Belmore in Round 9 and an 18 all draw with Minor Premiers Souths in Round 22.
• For a second consecutive season, the reserve grade and Under 21s teams failed to qualify for the finals.

Debutants: Darren Currie, Brett Ross, Greg Mackey, Jamie Corcoran, Grant Ellis, Kevin Moore, Bal Numapo, Mark Elia, Glen Haggath, Geordi Peats, Mark Watson, David McCann, Darren Blythe, Kyle White, David Ebeling, Jamie Thompson, Dean Pay, Matthew Fuller, Paul Akkary

1990 - Lamb and Anderson Step Up

The departure of Phil Gould and Peter Tunks to Penrith saw the positions of Head Coach and Captain filled in by 1980 Premiership-winner Chris Anderson and five-eighth Terry Lamb.

The changing face of the game coincided with the mass changes at Belmore, with a heavy emphasis on recruitment from Queensland and New South Wales' country leading to the signings of soon-to-be fan favourites Darren & Jason Smith, Matt Ryan and Ewan McGrady.

The season began in magnificent fashion with seven wins and a draw from the opening nine matches, but flipped on its head as another heavy injury toll resulted in just a solitary win in the following nine games.

Despite recovering to win their final four matches, the Bulldogs were consigned to a seventh-placed finish.

Highlights of the season included a tense 6-2 win over Premiers Canberra at Bruce Stadium in Round 3, as well as defeating Grand Finalists Penrith 24-2 at Penrith in Round 9.

Season Snapshot: 

• Former winger and 1980 Premiership winner Chris Anderson was appointed as Head Coach following Phil Gould's departure to Penrith.
• With Peter Tunks following Gould out west, Terry Lamb was appointed Captain. 
• 1990 marked the first year of brothers Darren & Jason Smith, Matt Ryan and Ewan McGrady at the Club. 
• Despite winning seven of their first nine matches, the Bulldogs finished in seventh place. 
• Highlights of the season included wins over Premiers Canberra at Bruce Stadium in Round 3 (6-2) and Grand Finalists the Panthers 24-2 at Penrith in Round 9.
• New recruit Darren Smith was named as Bulldogs Player of the Year.
• While the reserve grade side failed to qualify for the finals, the Under 21s finished as semi-finalists. 

Debutants: Mark Robinson, Mark Brokenshire, Mitch Newton, Craig Dean, Darren Smith, Matthew Ryan, Michael Simpson, Brad Cowell, Perry Smith, Ewan McGrady, Mark Ryan, Jason McLean, David Seidenkamp, Andrew Patmore, Michael Appleby, Scott Barrett, Craig McKeough, Barry Ward, Jason Smith

1991 - The McGrady Masterclass

Another wave of players departed the Club heading into the 1991 season, including Premiership quartet David Gillespie, Andrew Farrar, Paul Langmack and Joe Thomas to Wests, Paul Dunn to Penrith and Jason Alchin to St George.

However, much like they had done many times in the past, the Club made up for the losses with new young talent in the form of Jarrod McCracken and Craig Polla-Mounter. Experienced additions such as International Bruce McGuire, prodigal son Steve Folkes (returning from a stint with Hull FC in England), Souths duo Darren Brown and Steve Mavin, Scott Tronc from Brisbane and Welsh Wizard Jonathan Davies added plenty of firepower to the side. 

Anderson had gotten the side on track with eight wins and a solitary draw from their first thirteens starts, and off the back of scintillating form from McCracken and Davies.

But arguably the star of the show was speedster Ewan McGrady playing all 23 matches and scoring fourteen tries en route to claiming the Rothmans Medal as the competition's Best and Fairest player. 

Reaching a fifth-placed play-off, Canterbury-Bankstown were once again pitted against former mentor Warren Ryan, now with a quartet of former Bulldogs. In a hard-fought battle, the side fell agonisingly short 19-14, ending their finals run before it could start. 

Folkes called it a day following the match, the four-time Premiership winner leaving an indelible mark on the Club, finishing with a record 245 first-grade appearances and becoming the first player to reach 300 Club matches for Canterbury-Bankstown.

Although it was a hard pill to swallow, the future was bright, evidenced by the Premiership-winning President's Cup side, coached by former champion Geoff Robinson. 

Season Snapshot: 

• Speedster Ewan McGrady was awarded the Rothmans Medal as the competition's Best & Fairest. He spearheaded the side's attack with 14 tries in 23 matches
• Departures included David Gillespie, Andrew Farrar, Paul Langmack and Joe Thomas to Wests, Paul Dunn to Penrith and Jason Alchin to St George.
• Promising signings Jarrod McCracken and Craig Polla Mounter joined, along with Bruce McGuire, Steve Folkes, Darren Brown, Steve Mavin, Scott Tronc and mid-season signing Jonathan Davies from England.
• Eight wins and a draw in the first thirteen matches helped propel the side to a playoff for fifth spot against Wests. 
• The hard-fought match resulted in a 19-14 loss, which also marked Steve Folkes' final game for the Club. 
• Under the guidance of Bulldogs great Geoff Robinson, the Under 21s claimed the Premiership, while the reserve grade side failed to qualify for finals. 

Debutants: Darren Brown, Jarrod McCracken, Bruce McGuire, Scott Tronc, Troy Cassell, Paul Doolan, Steve Mavin, Marty Crequer, Jonathan Davies, Steve Reardon, Sean Skelton, Jason McGrady

1992 - Building the Future

With the President's Cup side paving their way to first-grade, the only signatures secured for 1992 were current Kiwi International Jason Williams and future Kiwi International Gavin Hill. 

Injuries proved to be an ongoing issue throughout the season, with the year resulting in a seventh-placed finish with ten wins and two draws. 

However, the future was building; the likes of Brett Dallas, Craig Polla Mounter, Glen Hughes (son of Garry), Robert Relf, Darren Senter and Ben Gillies made their first-grade debuts throughout the season. 

The Blue and Whites still proved to a problem for the competition, even for the more fancied sides; defeating eventual Grand Finalists Brisbane and St George in Round 10 and Round 19 respectively. 

Season Snapshot: 

• Kiwi duo Jason Williams and Gavin Hill were the sole signings for 1992, with a heavy reliance on youth. 
• Injuries contributed to an inconsistent season with ten wins and two draws for a seventh-placed finish. 
• Brett Dallas, Craig Polla Mounter, Glen Hughes, Robert Relf, Darren Senter and Ben Gillies all made their first-grade debuts. 
• Defeats of Premiers Brisbane in Round 10 and Grand Finalists St George in Round 19 proved to be the major highlights for the season. 
• The reserve grade and Under 21s, after claiming the 1991 Premiership, failed to qualify for the final series.

Debutants: Troy Clarke, Glen Hughes, Robert Relf, Gavin Hill, Steve Pickett, Craig Polla-Mounter, Jason Williams, Darren Senter, Ben Gillies, Brett Dallas, Scott Davey, Jeremy Moors

1993 - The Bounce Back

While the first few years of Chris Anderson's tenure as Head Coach proved to have its fair share of challenges, 1993 would bear the fruits of his labour.

A strong recruitment drive saw International forward Martin Bella, crafty hooker Jim Serdaris, promising youngsters Jim Dymock and Luke Goodwin, schoolboy sensation Steve Price and Scott Wilson join the Club, while Great Britain International Gary Connolly arrived mid-season. 

With only five losses across the regular season, Anderson's side captured their first Minor Premiership since 1984 with an impressive seventeen wins. 

Following a week off, the Bulldogs were tasked with facing rivals and bogey side St George - a team they were unable to knock off during the regular season. 

The Dragons proved why they had made the 1992 Grand Final with a 27-12 win, while the boys from Belmore were given a second chance, this time against Premiers Brisbane.

Unfortunately, the lack of experience from the side proved to be a factor in the 23-16 defeat. 

While it wasn't to be in '93, the season had a number of highlights, including:

• Winning the Club Championship for the first time since 1939
• Chris Anderson awarded Dally M Coach of the Year
• A record crowd of 27,804 packing into Belmore Sports Ground in the Club's Multicultural Round clash against Parramatta who witnessed a thumping 42-6 victory.

Season Snapshot: 

• After hitting the marketplace, the Club secured Martin Bella, Scott Wilson, Jim Serdaris, Jim Dymock, Luke Goodwin, Steve Price for 1993, while Great Britain International Gary Connolly arrived mid-season. 
• Losing just five matches all season, the Bulldogs claimed the Minor Premiership for the first time since 1984. 
• Inexperience showed in the finals however, defeated by Grand Finalists St George (27-12) in their opening match before eventual Premiers Brisbane prevailed 23-16 the following week. 
• The Club won the Club Championship for the first time since 1939. 
• Head Coach Chris Anderson was named Dally M Coach of the Year., 
• A record crowd at Belmore Sports Ground was made in the Round 5 Multicultural Game clash against Parramatta, with 27, 804 packing in to witness the 42-6 win. 
• Reserve Grade finished semi-finalists while the Under 21s failed to qualify for the finals.

Debutants: Luke Goodwin, Jim Dymock, Martin Bella, Jim Serdaris, Scott Wilson, Gary Connolly, Gavin Whittaker, Steven Hughes

1994 - So Close, Yet So Far

After a great bounce back season in 1993, there were many that were optimistic about taking another step closer to a seventh Premiership in 1994.

Key signings including sharpshooter winger Daryl Halligan and tough forward duo Darren Britt and Jason Hetherington proved to be pivotal for the sides' fortunes not only that season, but across the following decade. 

Once again, the Bulldogs began strong with ten wins from their opening dozen matches, with their form securing them the Minor Premiership once again - the first time ever in Club history where back-to-back titles had been claimed. 

After a well-deserved break in the first week of finals, a tense match against powerhouse club Canberra saw an 18-all scoreline at full-time. 

Halligan, in just his fourth season in first-grade, proved to be the hero by slotting a field goal to send Canterbury-Bankstown to their first Grand Final since 1988. 

But the Raiders forced a rematch after defeating North Sydney the following week, and after an error from the kick-off, it was one-way traffic in a demoralising 36-12 defeat for Anderson's side on Grand Final day. 

Halligan claimed the gong as the competition's highest point scorer for the season, while Dean Pay and Jason Smith earned selection for the end-of-year Kangaroo Tour. 

Captain Terry Lamb surpassed the 300-game mark, while a consecutive Club Championship was earned for the first time in history as both the reserve grade and Under 21s finished in the semi-finals. 

Season Snapshot: 

• Daryl Halligan, Darren Britt and Jason Hetherington headlined the major acquisitions for the season. 
• Waratah Stadium in Concord hosted three matches throughout the year.
• A strong start resulted in another Minor Premiership, marking the first time in history that the Club had claimed back-to-back titles. 
• After earning a week off in the first week of finals, Daryl Halligan kicked an extra time field goal to sink Canberra that saw the Bulldogs qualify for their first Grand Final since 1988. 
• Following Canberra's win over Norths, a rematch in the decider saw the Raiders win in convincing fashion, 36-12. 
• Daryl Halligan topped the competition's point-scoring charts with 270 points from twelve tries, 110 goals and two field goals. 
• Dean Pay and Jason Smith earned selection on the end-of-year Kangaroo Tour.
• Captain Terry Lamb reached another personal milestone - 300 first-grade games. 
• For the first time, the Bulldogs won the Club Championship for a second consecutive time. 
• In a strong sign for the future, both the reserve grade and Under 21s sides qualified for the semi-finals. 

Debutants: Daryl Halligan, Jason Hetherington, Darren Britt, Steve Price