The Unwinnable Premiership: The Story of the '95 Dogs

Season 1995 provided the very best moments and toughest challenges in the Club's illustrious history. To finish as it did with a Premiership underlined the quality and tenacity of the Bulldogs spirit.

After the Club had aligned itself to the Super League came the defection of four key members of the team to the ARL - Dean Pay, Jim Dymock, Jason Smith and Jarrod McCracken. The Bulldogs faced potential disaster.

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With the code's future uncertain and an expected schism, the Club made two major changes to its identity ahead of kick-off in order to help ensure their survival: the first was a name change to the 'Sydney Bulldogs', the other to move home games to Parramatta Stadium. Neither change lasted beyond the season.

Head Coach Chris Anderson made his intentions clear: "There was a heavy atmosphere around at the time and an atmosphere of not being together, but we never tried to hide the problem. I got on with trying to win football games."

While the Club had a chink in its armour, there was still the unyielding pride in their unity and an ability to withstand storms, face up to realities and get on with life. And that's exactly what they did. 

Following a shock 42-nil loss to Newcastle in Round 13, CEO Peter Moore brought matters into his own hands, taking the playing squad on a harbour cruise to ease tensions.

He mustered his troops with a stirring Churchillian-like speech, highlighting the significance of sending off Club legend Terry Lamb a winner in his final season after thirteen years at Belmore.

We owe him the right to hold the Winfield Cup on his last game. Think about it. Let's get back to doing what we do best. Let's do it for Terry.

While full speech lasted three minutes, it was the prologue to a remarkable story that would have the perfect ending.

A three match streak ensued, and the Bulldogs lost only two of the remaining 13 matches of the season, concluding the regular season with what remains as Club's biggest win - a 66-4 thrashing of North Queensland.

The move to take their final home game back to Belmore was one that inspired the five-star performance.

As they had done so in previous finals campaigns, the Bulldogs lifted the intensity; defeating old foes St George 12-8 in a dramatic victory at the SFS before knocking out heavyweights Brisbane 24-10. 

Perhaps the sweetest victory aside from the Grand Final came in the Preliminary Final, where they avenged their defeat from the previous year's decider against the Canberra Raiders in style, 25-6.

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Afterwards Moore simply stated: "That was one of our great wins". 

The miracle was realised against Minor Premiers Manly, who were runaway favourites after just two losses throughout the season. 

But in the 17-4 boilover, the Bulldogs' defensive masterclass kept the Sea Eagles try-less for the first time that season. In a further testament to their fortitude, their tenacity and willingness to work for one another, the only points they conceded were from two first-half penalty goals.

Headgear-clad forward Steve Price opened the scoring off the back of some well-timed offloads, while youngster Glen Hughes finished off a movement on the left corridor with his first touch of the ball.