Why disillusioned Bulldogs fans should cheer Mick Potter’s appointment
Old recruitment guru Peter Mulholland will be watching down on Mick Potter’s Bulldogs appointment with a great big smile on his face. Paul Crawley reveals why.
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This is the proof nice guys don’t have to finish last in rugby league.
Only days ago Mick Potter was knee-high in swamp and using a whipper snipper to cut down overgrown grass at the property of the late Peter Mulholland.
This Friday night he’ll be coaching the Bulldogs against the club that shafted him eight years ago.
And if disillusioned Canterbury fans are looking for a reason to cheer their team after all that has gone wrong this week, well here it is.
You see, Potter is one of those rare breeds in our game.
One of the most humble and kindest men you will ever meet, yet with a CV that stacks up against the best of them.
And somewhere up there today the old recruitment guru would be watching down with a great big smile on his face.
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Mulholland was like a father to Potter - and the man responsible from taking him as a wayward teenager and turning him into one of great players and blokes this game has ever produced.
They’d first come together back in the 1970s when Mulholland was coaching at St Gregory’s at Campbelltown and Potter was growing up in Camden.
“Mate, you are 100 per cent right,” said Mulholland’s brother Wayne, after learning of Potter’s appointment to take over from Trent Barrett.
“Pottsie wasn’t off the rails but he had a pretty tough upbringing and Peter got him over to St Gregs.”
Mulholland’s wife Mel added: “Pottsie didn’t live with his mum and dad, he lived with his best mate when he was at school.
“And Pete got him at the pub one night and asked him if he wanted to go to St Gregs. I think Pottsie gave him a bit of a spray.”
But from there a lifelong friendship was born.
And right up until Mulholland’s death just before Christmas last year Potter would still turn up unannounced with his wife Megs to do whatever work needed to be done.
“Last time he came up was only the other day,” Mel said.
“We’ve had a water problem because we have got a big hill behind us. And I have been pumping water since the rain started basically.
“And Pottsie is like, ‘What can I do for you, Mel?’ So I got him to whipper snip this knee high grass that was in swamp.”
And when Mulholland needed a lift to the doctors or the hospital it was Potter who would often be driving him. Sitting with him for hours on end and never once thinking he was doing Mulholland any favours.
But the other side of Potter is what you’ll never hear him talk about.
And the reason the Bulldogs could do a lot worse than consider this former club champion as the long term replacement to take over from Barrett.
As humble as he is, Potter also won premierships at the Bulldogs in 1984 and ’85, while he played in grand finals for St George in 1992 and ’93.
“He won two Dally M Medals, he won three Dally M fullback awards, and it was either one or two Dally M captain awards,” Wayne added.
“I’ll never forget. He worked in the pits at Tahmoor when he was starting out playing first grade at Canterbury, and the strength in his legs came from running up a 1.6km drift.
“To get into the coal mines you go down a drift, and he was an electrician there. And when he was working night shift he used to run up the drift nearly every bloody night.”
And when his playing career was over, Potter turned his hand to coaching in the Super League mainly, at Catalans, Bradford and St Helens.
He was the Super League coach of the year in 2008 and took St Helens to a grand final, before taking over at Tigers in 2013.
But you talk about the game chewing up and spitting out a good man.
When Potter turned up at the Tigers the joint was already in disarray and he just got swallowed up by bad blood and agendas that made it such a toxic environment for pretty much the last decade.
It wasn’t that Potter couldn’t coach, it was that he was never given a fair go.
But only rugby league could deliver such irony, that Potter is now back in the big time with his first game against the Tigers this Friday night.
The thing about Potter was even when the Tigers did the wrong thing by him, he never became bitter.
He just went away and did what he could to stay involved in the game, with his latest gig coaching Mounties in NSW Cup, while donating the rest of his time just to being a good citizen.
“That’s why Peter loved him so much, because he was just such a genuine guy,” Wayne added.
“I wish that they would bloody look at him long term (as the Bulldogs next head coach) because he has got the potential and he has got the respect.”
Bulldogs turn to club hero to save season
- David Riccio
Canterbury have appointed Michael Potter as interim head coach until the end of the season in the wake of Trent Barrett’s sudden departure.
Potter, who was coaching NSW Cup side Mounties - one of the Bulldogs’ feeder clubs - will move into the Bulldogs role immediately, the club announced on Wednesday morning.
The Daily Telegraph reported on Monday that Potter was the early favourite to fill the void left by the departure of Barrett, following Canterbury’s 16-6 Magic Round loss to Newcastle.
Potter played fullback in the Bulldogs’ Premiership-winning 1984 and 1985 teams.
He has held head coaching roles with the Catalan Dragons (2006-08), St Helens (2009-10), Bradford Bulls (2011-12) and the Wests Tigers (2013-14).
“It is great to have a genuine legend returning to the club. Michael has extensive experience in the game and will bring a new voice and new ideas to our players,” Bulldogs general manager of football, Phil Gould, said.
“We really appreciate Michael stepping up to help our club at this time.”
Potter will take charge of the Bulldogs in Friday evening’s clash with 15th-placed Wests Tigers, who on Tuesday completed the shock signing of Canterbury outside back Brent Naden.
In a further twist, Naden is expected to line up against his former teammates after completing one of the quickest transfers in rugby league history.
Potter was away over the weekend as Mounties had a bye in NSW Cup, and has answered the call to step into the role.
“I’m very honoured to be back at the Bulldogs. I wish it were under different circumstances as I’ve known Trent for a long time and I really feel for him,” Potter said.
I will do what I can to help the club at this time.”
Fittler responds to coaching rumours
As a player, Brad Fittler had better footwork than Fred Astaire.
As a coach, he’s just as good.
Fittler has used his famous side step to answer questions pointed directly at him having any interest in taking over Canterbury in the wake of Trent Barrett’s sacking.
Interviewed on SEN radio on Tuesday morning to help promote Penrith legend’s Royce Simmons 300km walk for dementia awareness, the successful NSW State of Origin coach was asked by close mate and Blues advisor Greg Alexander, “Are you a chance to coach the Bulldogs in 2023?”
“I’ll be coaching the Blues in a couple of weeks...I think I’ll stick to the Blues,’’ Fittler replied.
Realising Fittler had failed to answer the question specifically about coaching the Dogs in 2023, host Andrew Voss interjected with a follow-up question, “Is there any chance you will be coaching an NRL side next year?
“Vossy, I’ve got one job at the moment and that’s to walk with Royce and the next one is to coach the Blues in a couple of weeks,’’ Fittler said.
The response led to listeners commenting that Fittler was leaving the door ajar to coach in the NRL.
Fittler has made no secret of his ambition to potentially coach in the NRL again and his name has been included in a number of the leading candidates to take the Dogs job including Shane Flanagan, Kristian Woolf, Paul Green and surprisingly, current Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire.
Bulldogs coaching candidates revealed
- By Paul Crawley
Canterbury should go to Brad Fittler armed with a $1 million offer and not leave until he accepts it.
This is one of the biggest, richest, proudest and most powerful clubs in the game, but for the last six years they have been an absolute basket-case.
They can’t afford another disaster after moving on Des Hasler, Dean Pay and now Barrett in the last five years.
Fittler’s name was mentioned to several sections of the board from powerful members within the club as the Barrett drama unfolded over the weekend.
It has been indicated to me that Fittler has no desire “whatsoever” to be an NRL coach at this point after recently taking up a two-year extension to stay on as the NSW State of Origin coach along with his duties at Channel 9.
But that is not to say the Bulldogs should give up that easily on trying to change his mind, and they are one club with the resources and finances to make it happen.
Fittler’s role as NSW coach would make him a magnet to potential recruits.
While he would also walk into the club with instant respect among the current playing group and help with the retention of players like Matt Burton who may be feeling a little uneasy about the existing climate.
The other positive in relation to chasing Fittler is that he has a lifelong friendship with Phil Gould and together they have had outstanding success as a partnership.
However, if they want Fittler the Bulldogs would have to pay top dollar to make him walk away from his contracts with the Blues and Nine.
Shane Flanagan and Paul Green are the next two most logical options but both come with positives and negatives.
NINE BULLDOGS CANDIDATES
PAUL GREEN
The 48-year-old has been on the lookout for an NRL coaching job since stepping down from the Queensland Origin gig following a 2-1 series loss in 2021.
His record at the Cowboys was 96 wins from 181 games, including two grand finals and the fairytale 2015 premiership, before being sacked in 2020 following a string of disappointing results.
Green was overlooked for the Broncos job that ultimately went to Kevin Walters, and has been thereabouts in discussions whenever a position becomes available.
He would be available to step into the role immediately, and already has a rapport with two assistants at the club, David Furner and David Tangata-Toa, who served as assistants under him at North Queensland.
Crawley says: My most logical choice if the Bulldogs’ can’t tempt Fittler. Green is a premiership winner who knows how to get the job done. He is known to be a bit of a control freak so it would be interesting to see if he could work with Gould who himself likes to take a hands-on approach. But if they could make it work this could potentially be the quickest fix to the current mess.
SHANE FLANAGAN
Flanagan has been linked to just about every vacant NRL position, with good reason.
He’s a premiership-winning coach who has a proven ability to get the best out of a playing group and deal with upheaval _ of which there is plenty at Canterbury.
The 55-year-old has a strike rate of 55 per cent, winning 108 of his 198 games in charge of the Sharks, all while dealing with supplements and salary cap sagas.
He could be reunited with son and halfback Kyle.
Crawley says: Flanagan has the resume but I seriously don’t think the Bulldogs are the right fit for him. First up, he is too experienced to cop having Gus constantly looking over his shoulder. Secondly, the fact he is halfback Kyle’s dad presents a big problem if the Bulldogs want to cut ties with the playmaker down the track. Let’s face it, right now Kyle is struggling and it would be a tough call on Shane Flanagan to sack his son.
KRISTIAN WOOLF
The current St Helens coach, 46, has been building an impressive CV, winning consecutive Super League titles as well as making Tonga an international force with victories over the Kangaroos and Kiwis.
Crawley says: Is destined to coach in the NRL at some point but taking on the Bulldogs could kill his career if he doesn’t get success immediately. We’ve just seen with Barrett he didn’t last two years even though it was obvious from the outset the rebuild was not an overnight fix. I reckon Woolf would be better suited waiting for an opening at an out of Sydney club where the intensity would not be nearly as severe.
CAMERON CIRALDO
Ivan Cleary’s right-hand man and defensive coach has been a key reason behind Penrith’s incredible rise, having brought through a large part of the playing group as the Panthers’ former under-20s coach.
Crawley says: Ciraldo, 36, would have to have rocks in his head to even consider this job. He knows the history at Penrith and the reality of Gould’s past relationships with Ivan Cleary and Anthony Griffin to know the dangers involved here. He is also the most wanted young coach in the game who before too long will get to take his pick at any number of clubs. Why start at rock bottom when you don’t have to?
BRAD FITTLER
The NSW Blues coach has a long history with Phil Gould and the pair share the same manager in Wayne Beavis. But he could only manage a 41 per cent winning record from his 60 games in charge of the Roosters from 2007 to 2009.
Crawley says: Fittler would only have to put his hand up and the job would be his. But the chances of that happening don’t appear real great given he only recently took up a two-year extension with the NSW Origin team and he earns a small fortune having a laugh with Joey, Gus and the gang at Channel 9. But if the Dogs could find a way to appeal to his ego and make him an offer he couldn’t refuse, this could potentially be a brilliant appointment. One thing you can’t deny about Fittler is that he has outstanding success wherever he goes.
JASON RYLES
Trent Robinson’s Roosters assistant has worked under Craig Bellamy at Melbourne — there’s few better places to hone your coaching craft.
Crawley says: Ryles would be a great candidate but is in the first year of a three year agreement at the Roosters and he would have taken on that contract with the understanding he wouldn’t walk out early after what happened previously with Adam O’Brien who quit as Robbo’s assistant to coach the Knights. It would take a brave and silly man to do the wrong thing by Roosters supremo Nick Politis.
JOHN MORRIS
The Souths assistant was sacked by the Sharks last season despite leading them to two final series, although his 46 per cent winning percentage and poor record against top-eight teams counted against him.
Crawley says: I felt sorry for Morris to see him punted the way he was at the Sharks but I can’t see him getting the support to get the job here. He just doesn’t have the pulling power or the right experience to catapult him over some of the other candidates.
STEVE MCNAMARA
The 50-year-old Catalans coach sits second on the UK Super League ladder, coached England for five years and also served under Trent Robinson at the Roosters.
Crawley says: Could be a really good option and he has built an outstanding resume over the years. The trouble is taking on the Bulldogs would come with huge expectation and pressure and I’m just not sure an outsider would be ready to handle that. Look back at how similar pressure absolutely destroyed Anthony Seibold when he took over the Broncos. For that reason and no other I’d be looking elsewhere.
JIM DYMOCK
Justin Holbrook’s assistant on the Gold Coast has worked under Ricky Stuart and Des Hasler and won five of his eight games when interim coach at the Bulldogs in 2011.
Crawley says: You won’t hear anyone in rugby league speak a bad word about this bloke. Was a champion footballer and anyone who has worked with him through his coaching stints at the Bulldogs, Sharks and Titans reckons Dymock knows the game inside out.
Would be a great fit at the Dogs given he is an old boy who has spent more than a decade now learning the coaching trade. Only thing he lacks at the minute is the publicity push.
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