Des Hasler’s influence at Canterbury can be summed up in one conversation between forward Corey Payne and former hardman Geoff Robinson.

Hasler has astounded the rugby league community by the rapid nature of the Bulldogs turnaround this season – moulding a group that missed last year’s finals into the 2012 minor premiers.

And when asked by Robinson what made Hasler such a special addition to the club, Payne replied: “I don’t think anyone else could’ve done what he’s done here.”

The same is certainly being said of Hasler’s opponent in Sunday’s NRL grand final, the irrepressible Craig Bellamy.

Melbourne players swear that there is no one else who would’ve kept their club afloat following the salary cap heartache of 2010, let alone lift them out of it as ‘Bellyache’ has done.

They were stripped of two premierships, three minor premierships and watched as a host of representative stars, including the brilliant Greg Inglis, walked out the door.

Lesser teams would’ve crumbled – but two years later the Storm will contest a fourth grand final under Bellamy.

“He’s put the club on the map and made it what it is,” second-rower Ryan Hoffman said.

Hasler and Bellamy have contested two grand finals – winning one apiece while Hasler was with Manly – which has made them deeply respectful of the other’s work.

But the two aspects which intertwine the game’s top clipboard holders is their work ethic and their ability to squeeze every ounce of talent from the bottom of their playing rosters.

While Bellamy has the big three of Cooper Cronk, Billy Slater and Cameron Smith at his disposal, few expected the Storm to progress this far with a patched up forward pack boasting lesser names like Richie Fa’aoso, Bryan Norrie and Ryan Hinchcliffe.

It’s a problem Bellamy seemingly faces every 12 months as he farewells half a dozen of his first grade squad to bigger deals elsewhere, before recruiting his next group of cast-offs to mould into premiership contenders.

Likewise at Belmore even the most ardent Bulldogs fan at the start of this year would not have expected to be snapping up grand final tickets to watch Kris Keating and Josh Reynolds lead their team into battle.

Hasler turned Ben Barba into the Dally M medal winner, helped Josh Morris become arguably the game’s top centre and brought the best out of Sam Kasiano, Krisnan Inu and Greg Eastwood.

But as Payne explains, it’s all part of Hasler’s process.

“He’s got a great work ethic and professionalism,” he said.

“Off the back of that it really instilled a sense of belief in the playing group both individually and as a whole.

“What he’s done for blokes like Benny Barba, Greg Eastwood, Josh Morris, Josh Reynolds, James Graham has been outstanding, Kris Keating, the list goes on.

“They’ve all had fantastic seasons and I think that’s based around the work ethic and professionalism.

“Through that they’ve developed a belief within themselves that they can be great players.”

Chief executive Todd Greenberg also deserves praise for turning around the Bulldogs since taking over during their wooden spoon season in 2008 – but his greatest achievement is snaring Hasler from the Sea Eagles at the end of last year.

“The way I would describe it he provides a very good environment for learning and education in a football sense,” Greenberg said.

“It’s a learning environment for everyone within the football program.

“That’s why you’re seeing players like Josh Jackson and Dale Finucane coming through the programs and they’re getting better.

“It’s because they’re learning their trade. That’s the ultimate test of a good coach.”

For Dogs skipper Michael Ennis, the most impressive aspect has been Hasler’s ability to make his systems work in a completely different environment just 12 months after leading Manly to the premiership.

“He deserves every accolade that he gets because the Manly side and our side are two totally different teams and to be able to produce what he has in 12 months with both sides certainly puts him up there with the best coaches in my opinion,” Ennis said.