Canterbury’s lucky charm, Krisnan Inu, has built a reputation in recent years as a semi-finals specialist – and he’s going to let his teammates in on the secret.
Inu, who has lost just once since his mid-season move from the Warriors, helped Parramatta to the 2009 grand final and was crucial in the Warriors’ march towards last year’s decider.
The 25-year-old has a laid-back demeanour but has shown an ability to change gears when the finals start in recent series – scoring the match-winning try to keep the Warriors season alive in week two last year against Wests Tigers.
And with three-quarters of the Bulldogs’ “spine” readying themselves for their first finals appearance in Friday’s blockbuster against premiership favourites Manly, Inu’s experience will be invaluable to coach Des Hasler.
“The only advice I give them is that it’s just another game,” Inu said.
“You can’t change your prep and you can’t change what’s been working well for us all year.
“It’s no use changing what’s not broken.
“What got us here is how we’ve been preparing and how we’ve been playing. If we just continue doing that things will go well for us.
“… Obviously It’s a big game. Obviously we want to win but it’s finals footy. It’s a whole new competition.
“You can’t afford to make any mistakes, especially against Manly.”
The focus ahead of the ANZ Stadium showdown has been on Bulldogs mentor Des Hasler, who will face the team he abandoned in the off-season, but Inu says he’s not showing any wear and tear.
“He had two coffees today, that’s about (the only difference),” Inu joked.
Inu knows how fortunate he is to be playing football, given that as recently as May he was not only not at the Bulldogs – he wasn’t even playing first grade.
But the centre says he holds no grudge against former Warriors coach Brian McClennan.
He prefers to be thankful for the way the cards have fallen and that he now has the opportunity to work under Hasler.
“It was a bit frustrating but it was the coach’s call,” he said.
“In the end he decides who plays and who doesn’t. It’s out of my hands.
“I just had to do my job and play the footy I can to impress him.
“I’ve watched a few (Warriors games). I still follow the boys and some of the Parra boys too.
“(There’s) no hard feelings, it’s footy.”
