The siren song that is rugby league coaching is again calling out to Dean Pay.
“At the end of the day you get a bit of an itch watching it again,” Pay said.
“Being in the game for so long, it’s hard being out of it and not having anything to do with it. If something came up, I’d certainly have a look at it.”
Life has been good for Pay since he finished up as Canterbury coach last July. He’s been able to spend more time with his family, concentrate on his building and subcontracting work with Micway Transport, while still remaining involved in league with a local Camden side in the Group 6 competition.
But the former NSW and Australia forward feels he still has more to give in the NRL, whether it be as a head coach or an assistant.
“I think I’ve got a fair bit to offer,” Pay said. “I’ve been around a fair bit, seen a fair bit and coached a lot of good players. I’ve seen the best of it and the worst of it.
“What it’s taught me is that you need to work hard and give it everything you’ve got. You try to prepare your footy team and club as best you can.
Dean Pay watches the Bulldogs prepare for their clash with the Dragons last season, just weeks before he was sacked by the club.Credit: Getty
“It’s been good for me, to tell you the truth, to step back for a bit and have a look back in.
“It’s given me the opportunity to take stock, have a look, be re-energised and be ready to go again.”
You would understand if Pay was jaded by the coaching caper. He took up the reins at his beloved Bulldogs when they were at their lowest ebb: the roster was weak, the salary cap was a mess and there was plenty of political infighting. They were just some of the challenges he faced upon his return to Belmore.
Despite the obstacles, the blue and whites finished 12th in his first two years. When the team earned just one victory from nine starts last year, Pay was made to pay.
Things haven’t improved for the club since. Canterbury have failed to win a single game under new coach Trent Barrett, despite the fact he has had more money to spend in the transfer market.
Still, Pay believes he left the club in better shape than he inherited it.
“I feel I really contributed to getting the place back in order,” Pay said. “We had some cap problems when we first started and the club is back on an even keel now. We did some good things while I was there.
“I certainly learnt a lot. I was really appreciative of getting the job and enjoyed it. I learnt a fair bit along the way.
“At the end of the day, when [the players] walked off you knew they had given me everything they had. That’s what we wanted to do, to make sure we gave it everything we had.
“Sometimes a lack of polish and ability let us down, but we wanted to make sure we put in everything we could for our jumper and our fans. The whole club, we wanted to make sure they were proud of us.
“That was a real strong point with the boys, every week they turned up and had a red-hot crack.
“There’s obviously a fair way to go, but we were really moving towards not only being a better first grade team, but a better club as well.”
Upon reflection, there are things Pay would have done differently. The club’s decision not to bring back Josh Reynolds, who was available for a bargain-basement price, irks him. But the 51-year-old didn’t want to dump on the club.
“I’ve always got a soft spot for them,” he said. “They brought me in as a young guy and you don’t forget that. I spent a lot of time there and I had some good times.”
Pay was moved on when the club was struggling. More recently, the Sharks axed John Morris after he guided them to successive finals series. It is a stark reminder of the brutal nature of the coaching business, but Pay is undeterred.
“It’s part of of the role,” he said. “I feel for John. I know where he’s coming from. I thought he did a terrific job with the Sharks. It all comes down to a matter of opinions.
“Obviously if they are on your side, you keep going. If not, well that’s the end of it.
“At the end of the day, that’s how the game rolls. I don’t necessarily agree with it. That’s life and what you sign up for. You’ve just got to keep moving forward.”