Bulldogs chairman George Peponis questions loyalty of rebel board ticket
GEORGE Peponis, one of Canterbury’s most respected figures, has taken a direct shot at the Lynne and Chris Anderson-led rival ‘Reform’ ticket by questioning their loyalty towards the club.
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GEORGE Peponis, one of Canterbury’s most respected figures and incoming ARL Commissioner, has launched an emotional and direct shot at the Lynne and Chris Anderson-led rival ‘Reform’ ticket by questioning their loyalty towards the club.
Ahead of Sunday’s day of reckoning for the Bulldogs, where months of blame, finger-pointing and political back-stabbing culminates with a certain-to-be emotional Annual General Meeting, Peponis spoke to almost 100 people, including many of the current playing group, at a football club members forum at the Belmore RSL on Thursday night.
The former club and Test captain used his 12-minute speech to scuttle accusations from the Anderson-led ‘Reform’ ticket that under the current leadership led by chairman Ray Dib, disunity runs free.
“We’re united, so why would you want to destabilise that,?” Peponis said.
“No one on this board has played for three clubs against the Bulldogs.
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“No one on this board has ever been a CEO of another club wanting to beat the Bulldogs.
“No one on this board has ever coached three NRL clubs to play against and defeat the Bulldogs.
“And no one on this board has worked as an administrator for another NRL club.
“Steve Mortimer and I are one-club people and so is everyone on this board.
“This board would never contemplate working for an opposition club.’’
Peponis was making clear reference to rival ticket members Lynne Anderson, who was a director of the Gold Coast Titans, Paul Dunn, who played for the Bulldogs, Panthers, Eels and Roosters and was a former CEO of South Sydney and also Chris Anderson, a former coach of Melbourne, Cronulla and Roosters.
Peponis, who led the club to its first premiership in 1980, also said that despite personally telling Dib “in no uncertain terms” he’d made “mistakes” over the re-signing and eventual sacking of Des Hasler — he was adamant the incumbent board should remain in charge.
“It’s pleasing to hear Ray admits that this board has made some errors and have made some mistakes,” Peponis said.
“I was the first person to tell him that about 12 to 18 months ago in no uncertain terms. I’m also very pleased to hear they’ve made some changes and those changes for the better and we’ll reap the benefits of that over the next 12 to 18 to 24 months.”
“I think Ray, Arthur (board member Arthur Coorey) and this board have done tremendous things but people have forgotten what they have done.
“All they are thinking about is what has happened the last 12 months. You have to look at what has happened the last five or six years. It’s the whole picture. Don’t look down a narrow corridor, look at the whole picture.
“If it wasn’t for Ray, Arthur (Coorey) and their board we wouldn’t be back at Belmore now. They deserve the credit for bringing the Bulldogs back to Belmore. They knocked on doors. They kicked down doors and they didn’t take no for an answer.
“They persevered … it allowed the Bulldogs to come back to Belmore, the heartland of the Bulldogs. This is where the Bulldogs started. This is where they should be, this is where they will be forever.”
“This board is blue and white through their veins.’’
Considered one of the most hotly contested Annual General Meeting’s in 20 years at the club, Dib and the current board join Anderson and her six rival ticket members, plus four independents, to make up the 18 candidates on the ballot paper.
Football club members can begin voting from 8am.