Tolman's decision to remain a Bulldog until at least 2020, which will give the 28-year-old a decade of service in the blue and white after he joined from Melbourne at the start of 2011, has provided a ray of sunshine in an off-season of turmoil at Canterbury.

The club is facing a hefty fine after recent revelations of a salary-cap breach in the vicinity of $100,000. The Bulldogs self-reported the infringement that should incur financial punishment as opposed to a competition-points deduction.

That came six weeks after club legend Steve Mortimer resigned from his post as director, following comments he made about Hasler.

Mortimer said the club was losing its DNA under Hasler, who was then backed by the club's board to continue as coach in 2017.

Hasler's position came under fire following Canterbury's poor finish to 2016, but Tolman said he and his teammates remained staunchly behind the 55-year-old who is readying himself for a sixth season at Belmore.

"We said we want him as our coach and moving forward he's the one that we want there," Tolman said.

"If we're behind him and he knows that then he can just go out and coach the way he wants us to play.

"He knows what he wants and he believes in it and he makes us do the same. If you've got deep conviction in something and you really trust that it's going to work then you're going to go out there and do it to the best of your ability.

"That's what he brings. He leaves no stone unturned, a lot of people in the media they sort of know what he's like but he's got a different side to him. He's a genuine person, he trusts his players and he believes in them.

"He's been great for me. Hopefully he'll stay around for a few more years, as long as I'm here anyway. I couldn't speak more highly of him."

Hasler's coaching credentials were heavily scrutinised following Canterbury's horrendous finish to season 2016.

The Bulldogs' 28-12 elimination final loss to Penrith was a fourth-straight defeat to finish the year, after camping in the top four for most of the season.

Tolman said it was the players, not the coach, who should shouldered the blame.

"For us, we weren't playing some good footy at the right time when it mattered and we got a bit of pressure put on us ... we didn't really cope with it too well," Tolman said.

"The way the Bulldogs are sometimes, if you're not winning the competition it's a fail.

"We've been in finals the last five years and we've been in two grand finals and I know that's not good enough by our standards, we want to be up there contesting it every year."

Into his fourth week of pre-season training, Tolman said the Bulldogs were confident they would bounce back in 2017.

"We've tweaked a few things in the off-season and we've been training really hard," Tolman said.

"It's a funny old game. Cronulla lost three at the start of the year, went on a streak and then lost four or five in a row and then won the competition.

"If you're playing good footy at the right time of the year you put yourself in with the best chance."

"It was difficult to finish off like that last year but we know we've got a good side and we're definitely confident heading into the season."