Canterbury premiership-winning forward and Dubbo product Dean Pay appears to be getting closer to the Bulldogs’ NRL coaching role.
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According to multiple reports in the Sydney media, Pay was formally interviewed on Tuesday afternoon by the Bulldogs' board in their quest to appoint a replacement for the sacked Des Hasler, who spent six years at the helm.
The Belmore club has also reportedly interviewed former short-term coach Jim Dymock for the role.
Other names to attract attention are North Queensland assistant Todd Payten and former South Sydney coach Michael Maguire.
If Payten is to be interviewed, it may well be next week, given his involvement under Paul Green ahead of the Cowboys' grand-final showdown on Sunday with Melbourne.
But many are reporting it is now and two-horse race between Dymock and Pay, who coached Dubbo CYMS to a Group 11 title in 2007.
Pay, a NSW under-20s coach with an unbeaten record, is currently an assistant at Canberra under Ricky Stuart.
The tough and hard-working forward played in Canterbury's team which won the 1995 premiership while he played 10 tests for Australia.
"I'd be interested in it for sure," Pay told Fairfax Media last week.
"I've done a pretty big apprenticeship, if I'm not ready now I never will be.