Bulldogs have lost their bite

Bulldogs coach Steve Folkes has treated the media with contempt for most of his career so don't expect him to fall on his sword now just because the headline writers are demanding it.

Following the Dogs' humiliating 58-18 loss to Canberra last Saturday - one of the heaviest defeats in the club's 74-year history - it is clear the players have given up on 'doing it for Folkesy'.

They missed 52 tackles and conceded 12 line breaks in a performance Folkes described as a 'black day' for the once proud blue and whites.

Some teams have off days and get belted - that's footy.

Others turn it up early and get belted - that was Canterbury on Saturday night.

They didn't care, they didn't have a dig and they got what they deserved.

Even a normally wholehearted performer like Andrew Ryan looked like he'd rather be anywhere else than a near-empty ANZ Stadium.

Yeah, they had players missing. The Raiders had just as many in the sick bay and usually travel as well as cheap wine.

That they were able to post 11 tries speaks volumes for the Dogs' lack of desire.

And while the players deserve a ton of criticism, Folkes can't escape the fact he has long squeezed the last bit of juice from this lemon.

He looks lost for answers and has admitted as much.

He should hand in his swipe card at the front desk and immediately give the reins to 2009 coach and brother-in-law Kevin Moore.

But he won't.

The Dogs will trot out the usual garbage about adversity galvanising them and how when the going gets tough the tough get going.

Dogs of War and all that.

It's a tired image of a tired football club.

Canterbury no longer intimidates.

No club fears them anymore. It is the schoolyard bully who stood still while his peers outgrew and outwitted him.

The Dogs should have changed coach long ago but it's not their go to punt one of their own (with the notable exceptions of Garry and Corey Hughes).

Loyalty is admirable but it has come at a price.

It's left them clinging to a coach whose use-by-date expired long ago.

Kevin Moore will have to be some sort of miracle worker to turn this rabble around.

The Family Club is making The Munsters look functional.

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