Feared leader of the `Dogs of War’ Peter Tunks says it’s too early for the current Canterbury forwards to be compared to his infamous pack from the 1980s.
Tunks rates the Bulldogs class of 2012 highly but said they had plenty to do before they were compared to the great Canterbury pack that won three comps (1984, 1985, 1988).
“Everyone hypes everybody up but you’ve got to win a comp before you make those comparisons,” Tunks said.
“I answered the same question a few years ago when Canterbury won the comp in 2004 when they had Willie Mason, Roy Asotasi, Sonny Bill Williams … they had a really terrific pack.
“This is a very, very good pack as well but to compare them with us…
“We played in four grand finals in five years and won three of them. Comparisons are always difficult.
“I suppose when they win three comps in five years and make four grand finals maybe they can say there were better than we were.”
Tunks, who formed an intimidating combination with the likes of Peter Kelly and David Gillespie, said Des Hasler’s forwards have impressed him this year – particularly props Sam Kasiano and James Graham and back-rower Frank Pritchard.
“They’re big and they are very mobile and for what you can do these days they are intimidating also,” he said.
“There’s not a lot you can do that we used to be able to do to intimidate teams but what they can do, they do it well.
“I must say Kasiano, Pritchard and Graham, they’re pretty good and I think they’ve done a tremendous job this year.
“They’ve got size and speed and when you put those two things together you are hard to beat.”
Australian and NSW representative Tunks admits he will have mixed emotions when the Bulldogs play his former club South Sydney in Saturday night’s grand final qualifier at ANZ Stadium.
“I played seven years for Souths and the blokes I played with there are still my mates. I’ll be happy if it’s a draw and they have to replay it on Tuesday night,” he said.
“I think the Bulldogs should win but when you’ve got players like Sam Burgess, Greg Inglis and Dave Taylor, anything could happen.”