Des Hasler is facing the toughest test of his illustrious coaching career after Canterbury limped to the worst ever start by a team under his watch.
Hasler became just the 10th coach in premiership history to rack up 350 games on Sunday however the occasion was overshadowed by his side's 38-0 mauling to Penrith which saw them slump to 14th.
After 13 rounds the Dogs are just two wins off the bottom of the table and it represents the lowest position a Hasler-coached team has occupied at the season halfway mark.
The 56-year-old has amassed one of the finest records of any modern day coach having made 12 successive finals series and possessing a 58 per cent career success rate - the fifth highest of any coach to have overseen 350-plus games.
In a show of faith, the Bulldogs board earlier in the year re-signed him to a two-year contract extension until the end of 2019 however his side finds themselves with their backs to the wall after four straight defeats.
The Bulldogs' 2017 is the poorest start by a Hasler side, even worse than his rookie season at Manly in 2004 when they were 13th and 4-8 through the first 13 rounds.
It's unfamiliar territory for the two-time premiership-winning coach who has only been outside the top eight at this point of the season on three occasions in 14 years - in 2004, 2009 and this year.
The Bulldogs have been stilted in attack this season, scoring the equal least points per game (13.7) level with the Tigers, according to Fox Sports Stats.
They have also made the fourth least metres per game (1370m) and the least linebreaks per game (3.2).
Hasler described Sunday's loss to the Panthers as not up to first grade standard and lamented his side's ability to maintain possession and build pressure.
The Bulldogs could receive a timely boost with five-eighth Josh Reynolds scheduled to return from a hamstring injury against St George Illawarra on Monday.
HASLER'S COACHING RECORD
Where Des Hasler-coach sides have sat after 13 rounds and their win-loss record:
* 2017 - 14th, 5-8
* 2016 - 7th, 7-6
* 2015 - 7th, 6-6
* 2014 - 2nd, 8-4
* 2013 - 7th, 7-6
* 2012 - 3rd, 8-5
* 2011 - 3rd, 9-3
* 2010 - 4th, 7-5
* 2009 - 10th, 5-7
* 2008 - 1st, 8-4
* 2007 - 2nd, 10-2
* 2006 - 6th, 7-5
* 2005 - 2nd, 9-3
* 2004 - 13th, 4-8.
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