‘There’s something here if I want it’: Mick Potter set to stay at the Bulldogs

He didn’t get the full-time coaching gig, but Mick Potter’s future is clearer after a positive meeting with the new coach.

Mick Potter looks set to stay on as an assistant in 2023. Picture: Ashley Feder/Getty Images

Bulldogs interim coach Mick Potter has revealed that he’s spoken with incoming coach Cameron Ciraldo about a possible role at the club next year after he helped turn their attack around following Trent Barrett’s departure.

Canterbury averaged around 15.4 points per game in 2021 and that number dipped to just 9.6 through the opening 10 rounds before Barrett and the club parted ways.

Their dull style of play has gone out the window with Potter at the helm, with recruits Matt Burton and Josh Addo-Carr playing a lot more freely once the shackles were released.

It’s why many people wanted Potter to get the coaching role full-time from 2023 before Ciraldo was confirmed on a five-year deal.

The Bulldogs hope Cameron Ciraldo can lift them back into the top eight. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Potter has been asked about his future weekly and he’s often indicated that he wants to stay at the club. Now it looks likely after an encouraging meeting with the Panthers assistant.

“I had a chat with Cameron and I think there’ll be something here if I want to take it up. It’s a positive, but there’s nothing specific. I’m looking forward to being part of the team,” Potter said.

“It’s a great club and I love being here. The positive vibe with the players and the staff that are here, I think there’s a bright future for the club. Under Cameron and Gus (Phil Gould), I think it’s going to move forward fairly quickly.”

Potter said he and Ciraldo just spoke about footy and future plans around the club weren’t really discussed, although he was happy that their philosophies aligned as the pair look to make the Bulldogs competitive again.

“It wasn’t a Churchillian speech he was giving,” Potter said.

“It was just down to earth about where he wants to take the club and the potential in the organisation and the structure that’s going to be in place behind him.”

The Bulldogs have conceded 84 points in their past two games. Picture; Matt Blyth/Getty Images

The Bulldogs have won four games since Potter took over, but like many of the clubs out of finals contention, they were belted over the weekend by a team with top-four aspirations.

Potter said shortening the season wasn’t the answer as the NRL looks to address blowouts late in the year, and he warned that struggling clubs might find it difficult again in 2023 because the World Cup would disrupt summer training schedules.

“Getting your players to the fitness in pre-season that you want them to is so important,” he said.

“This year is going to be challenging for all clubs with the World Cup and then everyone has 6-8 weeks off, so it’s hard to actually get improvement for next year when you’re running down the bottom.

“It’s probably a bit easier when you’re cruising in the top six or top four and you’ve got those players who have matured into a good level of fitness.

“It’ll be challenging again this year, but a shorter competition, I’m not sure the fans will want that.”

Potter was adamant that his players didn’t give up in the big loss to Parramatta on Saturday and said the hunger to win at all times is what makes Bulldogs players who they are.

“The biggest challenge is for their own personal pride but also knowing who they’re playing for,” he said.

“The club that they play for is really important, and having pride in the jersey is really important.

“When you step across the white line, you should be a different person. You should be a competitor that wants to win every single battle that he’s in. That’s the sort of people we want at the Bulldogs.

“Whether that’s the back end of the year, the start of the year or the grand final, we want them to win.”