New Bulldogs coach Kevin Moore promises a new era

parragirl · New Bulldogs coach Kevin Moore promises a new era

New broom ... Kevin Moore at the Bulldogs' Olympic Park headquarters. Photograph: Gregg Porteous / The Daily Telegraph

By Josh Massoud | April 15, 2008 12:00am

KEVIN Moore has promised to stamp his "own personality" on the Bulldogs after winning a virtual no-contest for next year's coaching job.

Long touted as Steve Folkes' successor, the son of club legend Peter "Bullfrog" Moore was publicly appointed yesterday as the Bulldogs revealed they did not even interview another candidate.

The family's deep roots at Belmore were pivotal in delivering the prize to Moore, who played his first game for the Bulldogs in 1983 and has been Folkes' assistant for the past five seasons.

But despite cutting his teeth under his outgoing brother-in-law, Moore last night insisted he would be a different coach to the one who has led the team for the past 11 years.

"You bring your own personality to the job, and I've thought about that a fair bit," he said.

"I've certainly got my own ideas.

"I know the players appreciate the knowledge I've passed on to them.

"I've had tremendous support from the first grade squad since this coaching job came up for grabs."

Indeed, Moore was easily the leading pick when CEO Todd Greenberg asked senior players for their preference early last week.

But rusted-on support from the new-look Bulldogs board was the telling factor.

Moore sided with former teammates Paul Dunn, Barry Ward and Andrew Farrar before February's election, and his faith was always going to be repaid when they were voted in.

Although there was an earlier push for Wayne Bennett from some quarters, Moore also enjoyed the support of another two directors.

So when the nine-man board cast an informal vote recently, he narrowly won.

"We didn't interview anyone else," Greenberg said.

"When you go through that sort of process you realise that someone like Kevin Moore has everything we needed."

Moore was first informed as the Bulldogs boarded their flight to Auckland last Friday.

Players were told after the loss to New Zealand on Sunday night, and toasted his appointment with a team dinner at the hotel.

Moore, however, will have to wait a little longer to celebrate with his wife and children, who are currently holidaying at Disneyland.

He admitted he would have been "disappointed" if the job went to someone from outside the Bulldogs, who also announced former grand final hero Jim Dymock as the new assistant.

"I've obviously had my heart set on this," Moore said.

"In the last three or four years it's something I've aspired to and it means something to me.

"The message they are sending is that if you are passionate to the club, if you are loyal to the club, if you work hard and have success you will be rewarded and you will be recognised."

Moore stressed he was not eyeing a head-start this year, with Folkes already gone for 2009.

But he will play an immediate recruitment role as the cashed-up Bulldogs seek to tick off a shopping list that includes Carl Webb, Josh Morris, David Shillington and Jeff Lima.

On the other hand, Moore is desperate to retain fallen star Reni Maitua.

Maitua's manager Gavin Orr has called a meeting with Greenberg to discuss the former international's reported desire to quit the club and continue his career Interstate or abroad.

http://www.news.com.au/dailyteleg.../0,26799,23540741-5012650,00.html