RUGBY LEAGUE
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If NRL grand final week is a circus, then Bulldogs coach Des Hasler is surely the ringmaster.
As South Sydney pursue one of the great rugby league fairy tales, NRL grand final teams are analysed long before kick-off for signs of nerves about handling the big occasion.
It's something Hasler clearly has a keen sense of as he prepares for what will be his fifth grand final in the past eight seasons on Sunday.
His mastery of every nuance surrounding a grand final build-up was on display when he addressed the media at Belmore on Tuesday and again at the grand final luncheon in Sydney on Thursday.
It had all of Hasler's signature wit and mind games and, most important, left those gathered with less idea of just what the Bulldogs will produce than when he started.
Even as Michael Ennis addressed the media on crutches needing a miracle to be fit to play, Hasler stayed coy, ruling his captain out then in, in the space of a sentence.
"At the moment it's unlikely. We'll leave it at that. We'll give him every opportunity up until kick-off. Obviously his experience will be sorely missed but we'll cross that bridge when it comes."
But is he any chance Des?
"He'll be named, he's playing."
Young gun Moses Mbye and veteran Reni Maitua are the candidates to replace Ennis but asked who would run at hooker at training this week, Hasler said: "Mick ... in a wheelchair."
But seriously Des?
"We've got two or three options but we'll wait and see what a few other outcomes are."
Can you run us through the options Des?
"Uh ... no."
Hasler has made no secret of his preferance for "flying under the radar".
It's a task made easier this week with Souths overwhelming favourites to end a 43-year premiership drought.
The only thing standing in their way in the eyes of punters is the nimble wits of a coach known for producing the trump card when it matters.
"I hope they're right," Hasler said.
So what have you got left in the deck Des?
"Not much. I think it's just all part of the build-up, part of the - for want of a better word - the theatre, but at the end of the day the best way to look at it is there's two sides out there on the day. Each side's got a 50 per cent chance of winning and a 50 per cent chance of losing.
"So much will play out on the day, so much that we don't know, so we'll have to wait and see."
So do you enjoy the theatre Des?
"It's not bad, it's OK."
Succinct, as always.
And we're still hanging off every word.