Plenty of people are calling for change at the Canterbury Bulldogs but coach and Dubbo product Dean Pay has urged everyone give his young side time.
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The Bulldogs slumped to a second loss from as many games on Sunday, going down 36-16 to Parramatta after leading 10-0 at one point early on.
Pay's side has conceded 76 points and 13 tries in just two games and sits last on the ladder.
The results combined with the likes of promising duo Rhyse Martin and Nick Meaney not yet featuring in first grade has many fans and pundits worried.
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Pay knows patience isn't something often seen in the modern game, but he's backing his Dogs to learn from the early season woes.
"We've got the youngest squad in the competition," the former Dubbo CYMS mentor said.
"We are a young team, we're learning how to handle difficult situations and again that's where we need to be patient with these younger players.
"Hopefully they'll learn and get better at handling those situations."
Going into Sunday's game against the Eels, fullback Will Hopoate admitted that positions were on the line and warned that Pay would have to make changes if they once again fell to a heavy loss.
Pay would give no guarantees that he will swing the axe but also failed to say he would keep the faith with the same 17 which has been soundly defeated two weeks in a row.
What he was keen to say was there have been positives to take from the opening two rounds, especially the way his side started the match against Parramatta.
"Our attitude was better towards our football, we've just got to make sure we build on that first 30 minutes and keep getting longer periods of footy where we're playing our own brand of footy," Pay said.
The Bulldogs face the ladder-leading Wests Tigers in round three.
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Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
