Canterbury rookie Dean Britt following dad Darren’s path at the Bulldogs
It has been almost 20 years since Darren Britt ended his stellar career at Canterbury and in 2020, son Dean looks set to continue the family legacy at Belmore.
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Dean Britt has already dreamt what it will be like putting on the Bulldogs jersey for the first time.
It will be 19 years since a Britt last took the field for Canterbury when Dean follows in his club legend dad Darren’s footsteps next season.
Darren captained the club during his 168-game stint and featured in Canterbury’s 1995 grand final win.
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“I’ve thought about,” Dean said of his Bulldogs debut. “If I get the chance, hopefully dad can give me my jersey and we will see if he gets emotional. He is not emotional, so it’ll be interesting to see.”
Dean, naturally, grew up as an avid Bulldogs fan. His first memories were watching his dad train at Belmore and visiting the dressing rooms after the game. The Belmore dressing room is a bit different these days but his dad’s impact on the club is there for the 25-year-old to see every day.
“Every locker has a club legend’s photo and their playing stats,” Dean said. “I’ve got my old man on my locker. It was Corey Harawira-Naera’s locker but he moved for me. At first it was a little weird, but it is very special.
“Dad stayed out of all my negotiations. I kept him updated but he left it to me. I know my nan is very happy I’m here.”
Dean has taken the long road back to Belmore. Stress fractures in his back as 16-year-old cruelled him from taking the field in Canterbury’s Harold Matthews squad. Two years later he was overlooked by the Bulldogs for their under-18 SG Ball side.
So he took a punt and signed a long-term deal with the Storm, where he was coached by now Bulldogs coach Dean Pay in the under-20s.
“I had the HSC, I finished my last exam and went straight to Melbourne the next day,” Britt said. “Mum called me about a week later and told me I went too early and I missed an exam. One of her mates was a supervisor and rings and asks, ‘Where’s Dean’.”
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Britt played just one game for the Storm in 2017 before joining South Sydney that same year. When the Rabbitohs told him this year he wasn’t guaranteed a long-term deal, he knew immediately where he wanted to sign.
“I said to my manager, ‘Can you speak to Dean (Pay) to see if there was a spot there,’” Britt said. “The Dogs were interested. That’s when Souths said they wanted me to stay, too, but they only offered me one year and the Dogs offered me two.
“I would’ve liked to have stayed my whole career at the Dogs but it didn’t happen. I’ve only played 17 games. I want to keep playing first grade.
“I’ve wanted to play NRL my whole life and get a spot in the 17 in round one.”
Originally published as Canterbury rookie Dean Britt following dad Darren’s path at the Bulldogs
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