Following the dire results of Des Haslerโs now notorious back ended deals, the Bulldogs are currently undertaking one of the most substantial rebuilds in the history of the NRL under rookie head coach Dean Pay, and boy could they use the help of some of the names on this list.
Having struggled to forge an identity and playing extremely dire football in the last few months of Haslerโs reign, the Bulldogs have predominantly gone away from the previous policy of attracting big name high earners to the club.
With second-year coach Dean Pay wanting to bring back the old โDogs of Warโ moniker, through recruiting a slew of young cut-price talent such as Nick Meaney, Sauaso Sue, Jack Cogger, Corey Harawira Naera and Christian Crichton and simultaneously letting go a host of proven first graders. Here is the top 10 players the Bulldogs have let go, not re-signed or released in the past decade.
1. David Klemmer
Much like the departure of Josh Reynolds, this loss cut deep for the Bulldogs faithful. While losing an Origin and international calibre player, not to mention probably the best prop in the game hurts enough, losing a local junior who bled blue and white made it all the worse.
After a well publicised and decorated junior career, Klemmer was signed to a $1 million, three-year deal by his junior club before he had even made his NRL debut. He would go onto feature 113 times for the Bulldogs, as well as 12 Origins and 17 Tests.
With the Bulldogs undoubtedly in a rebuilding phase heading into the 2018 season, the club and their fanbase were blindsided when favourite son Klemmer requested a release ahead of the 2019 pre-season, citing off-field issues and a desire to get out of Sydney for his reasoning to depart the only club he had ever known.
While the Bulldogs did the right thing by Klemmer, honouring his wishes and allowing the fiercely protective family man to raise his children in an environment he deemed appropriate, that will do little to console Doggies fans who have watched another outstanding local junior walk out the door to join a rival club.
