"He has tried to rap and sing a couple of times," centre Josh Morris said. "It's been a little bit weird. I don't know how to take him. "It's a bit awkward. The boys clap along and gee him up to keep him going and have a good laugh." Outsiders would have assumed Hasler's mind was in overdrive on how to try to rectify the Bulldogs' form slump at the back end of this year. Instead he was entertaining his troops as he worked his way through a rendition of Hunters & Collectors Holy Grail before their round 22 clash against Brisbane. "It was just weird," Morris said. "He makes up his own words. They are a bit of stories. He tries to involve the coaching staff and players. It's never in time. "He knows what he is doing and how we need to prepare. He is very serious in the actual dressing sheds. He doesn't say too much.

"We have a good leadership group here who drive most of the talk. If something needs to be said he'll say it, he normally tries to let the players talk and get their messages across." Hasler is a known guitar player but is yet to use the instrument as part of his performance. Prop Aiden Tolman said Hasler's antics helped relax the sometimes tense environment. "He has done it a couple of times," he said. "It lightens the mood. Sometimes rugby league can be a serious game. There is so much going on and so much spotlight on you. Sometimes the change of mood can help. "Who knows what's going on inside his head. He is a complex man but he gets the job done. He knows what he needs to do to get the job done. He is a thinking man. Whatever he does is for good reason. All the coaching staff do their bit, it's a bit of fun." The Bulldogs were hammered 41-10 by the Broncos in their next game, so Tolman doesn't expect any pre-grand final concert from Hasler.

"It didn't help because we got pumped by Brisbane, but it was funny at the time," Tolman said. "He is a bit superstitious so I don't think he'll be doing it for a while. We do so much video and so much is so critical in what you need to do, you need that broken up. "He is a character and everyone just wants to play for him." Dessie Hasler's rap by MC Squared* His Dogs are ready, this week, it's gna be heavy There's Dessie in their head already, they're forgetting

They're nervous, and on the surface GI looks ready to drop bombs Redfern keeps on forgetting that we're not down The Dogs crowd goes so loud Madge opens his mouth, but the words won't come out South are choking now, From '71 'til now

Your luck's run out, time's up, Doggies, wow Snapped down at judiciary, oh there goes Bully, Oh, there goes Rabbits, they choked Sammy's mad, but he won't come back easy, no He's had it, he's going to rugby to learn the ropes

It don't matter, Ennis has hope Even though his foot is broke Mo' is on standby, who knows When or if I'll let him roam, or if it's back to the grub again This whole rap is sick

We better go capture this moment and hope it don't pass again You better bruise yourself in this epic, be potent You own it, even though we let Benny go We've already had one shot, do not stuff this up for Ennis bro He's missed this opportunity twice in a lifetime

You better bruise yourself in this epic, be potent You own it, even though we let Benny go We've already had one shot, do not stuff this up for Ennis bro. * To the tune of Eminem's Lose Yourself