Stunning NRL coup as Steve Hansen joins the Bulldogs

Former All Blacks World Cup-winning coach Steve Hansen has been backed to bring a winning mentality to rugby league’s Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs after being named high performance consultant at the NRL club. He will work with the NRL outfit while remaining director of rugby with Toyota Verblitz in Japan’s Top League, according to journalist Rich Freeman. 

This news has been well received by Bulldogs fans, who recognise what Hansen has achieved in the game of union and the reputation he has forged. 

Bulldogs chief executive Andrew Hill even referred to the Kiwi as “one of the most highly respected figures throughout all of sports” and “a major driving force behind one of the most successful sporting brands in history”. 

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During his 16 years with the All Blacks between 2004 and 2019 as both assistant coach and head coach, Hansen built one of the greatest dynasties union has ever seen. 

He won the 2011 RWC working under Graham Henry and retained the Webb Ellis Cup as head coach in 2015, the All Blacks becoming the first team to do so. 

? Former @AllBlacks & 2015 @RugbyWorldCup winning coach joins The Pack.#proudtobeabulldog

— Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (@NRL_Bulldogs) October 28, 2020

The concept of the All Blacks’ culture has frequently been mentioned online since the 61-year-old’s appointment was announced on Wednesday, something that separates his native country from many others in rugby – or any other sport in fact. 

The history and heritage that comes with the All Blacks jersey is unique, and Henry and Hansen built upon that to create a winning culture. With an 88.79 per cent win record with the All Blacks as head coach and 85.43 per cent as an assistant, few – if any – can rival Hansen’s dominance in either code. 

Having finished the 2020 NRL season with three wins from 20 matches, the Bulldogs were only spared from finishing bottom thanks to their points difference. But Hansen’s appointment has certainly been viewed as a step in the right direction. 

Love the work lately @NRL_Bulldogs another great signing! Hopefully, Steve can bring some of that All Black culture to us

— Mitchell Laver (@mitchlaverr) October 28, 2020

Massive…Sir Steve. I suggest you go read up on this bloke and get a clue. No nonsense professional. Im not even a dog’s fan but am an all blacks fan hes instilled a culture , mana and aura into that jersey jersey that any club would kill for. Well played Baz

— jj (@kire_zyzz) October 28, 2020

Wow! Pretty huge! Maybe he can put his stamp on the club culture a bit and point it in a winners direction

— Kent Hawkins (@Khawk1975) October 28, 2020

This is massive @NRL_Bulldogs! I'm shocked but so excited to have Steve join us. He's a winner in every sense of the word and that leadership guiding Baz and our coaching staff will only lead to one result and that's a return to glory for the blue and white #proudtobeabulldog https://t.co/w3wGS22Sdn

— Trevor T (@trevajct) October 28, 2020

This is an excellent coup for the club. Someone who has been at the top and coached one of the winningest teams in sport in the last decade. Excited by this. https://t.co/Llyhn2n7x8

— Josh Howe (@JoshO567) October 28, 2020