Dean Pay's 12-month contract extension caught everyone off guard, and for Daily Telegraph journalist Phil Rothfield it raised certain suspicions around the Bulldogs' future coaching plans.
Despite an 0-2 start to the 2019 season, Canterbury vowed to give the under fire coach a second chance, sympathetic to his arrival at Belmore in dire circumstances with a roster burdened by salary cap pressure.
The extension means Pay will have until 2021 to turn the tide at Canterbury - the same year the money-tight club can break their recruitment drought and splash their cash on the open market.
MORE: How Dean Pay's contract extension united Canterbury and motivated victory
Rothfield believes the colliding dates aren't a coincidence and the Bulldogs will look in the direction of a more proven candidate with roster management experience once Pay's deal expires, pulling Shane Flanagan's name ot of the rumour hat.
‘’I’ve got a little theory. Dean Pay was extended for one year to keep the spot warm for another coach and I think the coach is going to be Shane Flanagan,’’ Rothfield told Fox Sports' Controversy Corner.
‘’I’m saying they can’t sign a player until 2021. I saw what Flanagan did when Cronulla were ground zero.
‘’He’s not allowed in the game now. Do you think they are going to give him life? He will serve all of this season, he will serve another six months next year and will be allowed back.
‘’I’ve spoken to the NRL Integrity Unit and that is the impression I’m getting.
‘’I just find it strange they’ve signed him (Pay) only up until there’s money available to rebuild the club.’’
Flanagan was deregistered by the NRL this year after it was found he had breached the conditions of his 2014 suspension relating to Cronulla's peptide scandal.
He denied any involvement in the club's salary cap scandal despite a damning spread sheet alleging that he had knowledge of dodgy third-party payments.
Flanagan has not been green-lighted to return to the game, with the coach expected to miss at least the entire 2019 season.
Pay repaid Canterbury's faith with a victory on Sunday, claiming their first competition points with a dominant first half at Campbelltown Stadium.
