It wasn’t that long ago that the Bulldogs won a premiership in the NRL but surely the reign of coach Steve Folkes must be drawing to a close.

It is not often I agree with Gus Gould but during his commentary in this year’s elimination final, when the Dogs were bundled out by the Cowboys, he kept saying that the Dogs were predictable, old school, dated, etc.

In particular, he attacked Brent Sherwin’s kicking game and lack of options.

I can’t remember him saying anything about the coach and his tactics, but he didn’t hold back about the players and Sherwin, in particular.

In my opinion, Sherwin still has a lot to offer to the game, and maybe fans and critics should be looking a bit closer at what is going on at the Dogs.

Direction usually starts at the very top. It is not as if they haven’t got a great playing roster, it’s just how they’re playing.

Someone who agrees with me about Sherwin is Castleford Tigers coach Terry Matterson, who was on the Coast last week for a few days.

He was very clear that the club’s main off-season focus is signing Sherwin for their re-entry into Super League for 2008.

He didn’t go into other specifics and while I am a fan of the former Bronco star, and wish him all the best, the Pommy raids on the NRL should be a real concern to the administrators of the game in Australia, and should be one more reason to have another look at the salary cap in regard to one-club players.

Sherwin has played almost 200 first-grade games for the Dogs.

Surely there should be some salary cap allowances for the club and the player in question.

Kiwis calling for a coup

Some top Kiwi league identities reckon Wayne Bennett should take over the reins from embattled Kiwi coach Gary Kemble, who at the moment is getting hammered on the Kiwi tour of Great Britain.

Getting rid of him so soon after his taking over would be a bit tough.

The team he is trying to coach is only a pasty shadow of the team that won the 2004 Tri-Nations.

It is one thing to instill passion into a side but talent is a bit harder to come by, particularly with the list of Kiwi players who have either retired or are injured.

They must think that Wayne is Merlin the Magician if they believe he can beat either the Poms or Australia with the team that Kemble is trying to work with.

On the other hand, it would make next year’s World Cup interesting if Bennett was the coach, particularly when they played Australia.

Missing Mum’s cooking

Don’t be surprised if a top-line, high-profile lifesaving star lobs back on the Coast in the near future.

I heard a rumour that the star in question doesn’t like the hectic surroundings of the club he has joined – the traffic, the big city mentality, etc.

Probably, if the truth be known, it may be more about Mum’s cooking.

Ashleigh’s a real star

I went along to the Nambour High Schools Sports Awards the other night and it certainly was an eye-opener.

Initially I was there to support teacher Chris Little, who with the help of Phil Price has done a wonderful job with rugby league in the school.

My job was to award the rugby league player of the year, which went to Shane Rushton.

I just hope his promising career isn’t brought to a grinding halt because he won a trophy with my name on it.

I was amazed with the talented pupils in all types of sports but the standout and sports star of the year was Ashleigh Anderson, whose list of achievements included member of regional water polo champion team; rugby union player; rugby league open girls’ best back; rugby league nine-a-side player of the tournament; member of regional hockey champion team; open girls netball most valuable player and netballer of the year; Sunshine Coast open girls netball representative; 2007 swimming, athletics and cross country age Champion; two “five in a row” awards for athletics and swimming (winning age champion in year 8, 9, 10, 11, 12); zone athletics age champion; sports committee member and sports captain.

She has also won her age event in swimming since she was four.

There you go, I have run out of room.

What a star!