Newly-appointed Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs NRL Assistant Coach Steve Georgallis is the perfect example for members of the club's Intrust Super Premiership NSW squad – perform at the second-tier level, and greater opportunities will follow.
Georgallis lead the Bulldogs to a breakthrough title in 2018, the club's first ISP NSW premiership (NSW Cup) since 2011.
The 50-year-old coach – who had previously overseen Penrith Panthers at the NRL level – has spent his more recent years developing 'transition' talent.
Bulldog Georgallis explains his new role
But after last week being announced as Dean Pay's assistant, Georgallis said the club will harness the feeling of success at the ISP level to complement the Bulldogs' tilt towards an NRL title next season.
"I am [excited], on the back of winning the (Intrust Super Premiership NSW) comp last year, and those players moving up (to the NRL), they're creating energy," Georgallis told bulldogs.com.au.
"We've only been back for a week, in pre-season training, but you can see that everyone wants to learn.
"Everyone is super keen to play off the back of what happened towards the back-end of last season."
Bulldogs Edge Jets in ISP Grand Final
Seven players to feature in the Bulldogs' 18-12 Grand Final win over the Newtown Jets have been named in the club's Top 30 for 2019, alongside other ISP products to arrive at the club ahead of the new year – Christian Crichton, Jack Cogger and Nick Meaney, amongst others.
"Pre-season is about getting as much skill and conditioning into (the players), after Christmas it's more about turning around, and talking about games," Georgallis said.
"Dean (Pay) wants me to develop those players that I had developed in the ISP and to make sure that they are of NRL standard.
"The ISP is a different kettle of fish to the NRL... there's going to be a lot of ups and downs for those players that made it last year.
"The new players that have come to the club, (my job is) to build a relationship with them and to get the best out of them."
