It is a signing the Wests Tigers hope will lead to a slew of player re-signings. Kelly Egan, the right-hand man of Des Hasler for almost a decade, will join the joint-venture outfit as its new general manager of football.

Canterbury have poached veteran Wests Tigers recruiter Warren McDonnell as part of a major overhaul aimed at delivering an elusive premiership.

Frank Pritchard could make a shock NRL return at Parramatta.

• COMMENT

The coach is safe for now ... but how will Hasler turn the club's diabolical attack into something worth watching next year?

Former Canterbury mentor Warren Ryan says the club has put "unnecessary pressure" on Des Hasler, but believes the two-time premiership-winning coach is capable of making the changes required to transform the Bulldogs back into genuine title contenders next year.

Canterbury CEO Raelene Castle concedes the club is unlikely to achieve its stated goal of winning two premierships by 2019, but remains adamant Des Hasler represents its best chance of breaking a concerning title drought.

Des Hasler has survived to coach Canterbury in 2017, with club legend Steve Mortimer instead the casualty at Friday's emergency four-hour board meeting called to resolve the club's future.

The Canberra Raiders aren't surprised assistant Dean Pay has emerged as a Bulldogs coaching candidate.

Canberra's Josh Papalii has been ruled out of the Kangaroos' Four Nations campaign.

"We should not look back," Des Hasler said at Canterbury's season launch back in February, "Unless it is to derive useful lessons from past errors and for the purpose of profiting by dear-bought experience."

Outspoken Canterbury sponsor Gary Johnston believes it would be "insane" to sack Des Hasler, but his support is unlikely to prevent the club from parting ways with the two-time premiership-winning coach by the end of the week.

Canterbury legend and director Steve Mortimer fears the Bulldogs are "losing our DNA" under Des Hasler ahead of a critical meeting that could determine the coach's future at the club.

There are some strange things going on at Belmore and it might not be the place where finals specialist Des Hasler should be plying his trade.

The shame of what he forced his family to endure amid allegations of domestic violence almost tormented Ben Barba to the point of no return.

NRL referees boss Tony Archer has conceded his whistleblowers blundered in not referring the controversial Josh Morris no-call to the multi-million dollar Bunker in the Bulldogs' season-ending loss to the Panthers on Sunday.

Cronulla are in advanced negotiations to bring Canterbury forward Tony Williams to the club next season.

Canterbury, as their record attests, are September specialists. They can meander through the final rounds of the regular season, knowing they had already done enough to make the eight, and then flick the switch when it matters.

Tim Browne knows "something special" is building at the foot of the Blue Mountains – he just hopes the Panthers' revolution is not quite ready to hit top gear just yet.

Brett Morris' stunning debut season at fullback last year has him ready for his return to the custodian role in place of Will Hopoate, according to Canterbury coach Des Hasler.