Canterbury legend Terry Lamb not only wants an end to the club's premiership drought next NRL season, but he reckons they should be doing it in style too.
The Bulldogs will enter the new year as one of the most under-pressure teams in the competition after coach Des Hasler survived an emergency board meeting in October to keep his job.
But Lamb insists it's time for his ex-Kangaroos roommate Hasler, who fights for a new contract next season, to deliver a premiership.
"We're a successful club. The last grand final that we won was 2004. We've been in two (grand finals) since and have gotten beat. We need to win," Lamb told AAP.
"We want to celebrate like the Sharkies did last season. That was a magnificent game last year, every grand final has been magnificent over the last three-to-four years. We want that."
And to do so, the three-time premiership-winner believes Canterbury need to take a leaf out of the team that ended their finals run in the first week in September.
The Panthers almost dazzled their way into a fairytale grand final on the back of an enterprising style of play, but ultimately fell two games short after being ousted by Canberra.
Lamb reckons the Bulldogs are a top-four team.
"I don't want to question what Dessie does on the field because he's been very successful as a coach," Lamb said.
"But for me, Penrith came out 6-4 down at halftime against us in that elimination final, they scored four-to-five tries in that second half because they threw the ball around.
"That proves that these days you need to attack more than you defend."
Lamb said he and Hasler have mended their relationship after Lamb questioned whether the former Manly coach understood the club's famed 'Dogs of War' culture.
Hasler came under more fire later in the year, surviving a sensational post-season board meeting that ended in board member Steve Mortimer stepping down from his role.
"I had a meeting with Des, we spoke about it, we shook hands after it," Lamb said.
"When you know a person since 1986 as a roommate on a Kangaroo tour, it's hard to put a knife through a friendship. But it's not about what I want - it's about what the club wants.
"And that's to be more flamboyant in the game itself."
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