Dean Pay continues to stave off pressure at the Canterbury Bulldogs, with the weekend's upset win over the Penrith Panthers showing the progress his young side is making.
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The Dubbo product saw his Bulldogs down Penrith 16-8 on Saturday night, putting his side further clear of the last-placed Gold Coast Titans and the dreaded wooden spoon.
Pay has been under the pump for much of the season as his side has struggled for consistency, but he was delighted with the showing against a side which started the year as a genuine premiership contender.
"Really proud of them," Pay said post-game.
"They had a hell of a lot of ball on us and we just kept turning up and wouldn't go away and fought for everything."
The unity Pay has instilled in the club showed on Saturday night, as the young side produced some desperate defence to stave off a Panthers charge.
Pay's men showed plenty of determination in defending 47 plays inside their 20-metre zone to claim the impressive victory.
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Young playmaker Lachlan Lewis put his body on the line to prevent a certain Nathan Cleary try, as did Dallin Watene-Zelezniak on a bigger Liam Martin.
"I think it just speaks volumes about our young blokes, how much the club means to them, how much the group mean to them, and how hard they're willing to work for one another," Pay said.
"I think the determination in their willingness to stop tries and scramble for one another is there for everyone to see.
"We're still going to have our ups and downs. We've still got the youngest group in the comp. But tonight was a real step in the right direction.
"And we just need to make sure... hopefully we can keep building on it."
Watene-Zelezniak was superb in his first match against his former club with 132 metres and four tackle breaks, while Will Hopoate had a team-high 157m.
Star prop Dylan Napa also had one of his best games for the club with 145m, alongside 200-game celebrant Aidan Tolman's 114m.
"It's about our young guys wanting to learn," Pay said.
"Our older guys are such great leaders with (Josh Jackson) and 'Tols'. I thought Dylan had one of his best games for the club tonight. He was really good.
"We just want to keep improving. Whatever happens at the back end of this year, we want to take into next year. That's what we're building towards."
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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.
