Canterbury are set to be slapped with a fine of up to $50,000 for their late arrival at Sunday’s NRL grand final against South Sydney.
In a classic Des Hasler tactic, the Bulldogs coach held his players back five minutes from running out onto the ANZ Stadium turf on Sunday.
The Bulldogs players could be seen on the stadium big screen still preparing in their changeroom, minutes after the Rabbitohs had taken the field.
So long was the wait that Souths began another warm-up, running through a number of ball handling drills as they waited for Canterbury.
Chief executive Raelene Castle reportedly gave the NRL a statement in writing that the Bulldogs would follow the Rabbitohs immediately onto the field.
But that didn’t happen.
The tactic didn’t upset the Rabbitohs though who raced away to a 30-6 win to claim their first premiership since 1971.