Canterbury coach Dean Pay admits he needs to be more selective with what he says following NRL matches after being whacked with a $25,000 fine for attacking NRL referees.
His comments come after Bulldogs chief executive Andrew Hill revelation that the club has responded formally to the breach notice handed down on Monday by the NRL.
Hill and Bulldogs general manager of football Andrew Farah met NRL boss Todd Greenberg and chief operating officer Nick Weeks on Wednesday and are awaiting the league's reply.
"We felt it was important, in the best interests of our club, to deal with this matter quickly and it's been followed by a written submission," Hill told AAP.
"We wait now for the NRL."
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Pay reacted to the fine for the first time on Thursday.
"From where I stand, I just need to be a little bit more selective with what I say after press conferences. There's a lot of emotion after a game but what it is is what it is," Pay said.
Asked whether he thought the fine was too steep, he said: "What it is, is what it is. That's the NRL's decision. From there, we'll just move forward."
Pay's comments come after a string of disappointing performances to start the year, leaving the rookie coach with the challenge of lifting his team from equal last on the ladder.
The Bulldogs meet Parramatta on Friday in a bottom-of-the-table clash.
"I just think we're frustrated as a footy team. Over the last few weeks, we've been really close in some games. We can feel a bit of frustration through the boys and myself," Pay said.
"We need to get a handle on that."
Pay has endured a tough initiation as head coach, including recent reports of a raft of back-ended contracts that has dented their ability to recruit long term.
Also the worst attacking team last year, only the Eels have scored more points this season.
"I knew it was going to be challenging, that's for sure. Some of our games this year, we've drifted in and out and I think that's the frustrating part about it," Pay said.
Both teams are battling for form and fitness, with the Eels losing Kaysa Pritchard (groin) and co-captain Tim Mannah (eye) to injury and replaced by Will Smith, Beau Scott and Siosaia Vave.
Bulldogs five-eighth Kieran Foran is also managing a knee injury, while Pay has opted to blood his second debutant in as many weeks in forward Renouf Toomaga.
STATS THAT MATTER:
* Parramatta are aiming for their fifth-straight win over the Bulldogs for the first time since 1977-79
* If the Bulldogs fail to win this weekend, it will be their worst start since opening 0-10 in 1964
* The Bulldogs' right edge is the worst this year in the NRL, having conceded 55 per cent of their tries on that side
