The off-contract five-eighth said it's time for the playing group to start taking accountability for an inability to end the club's 13-year search for title No.9, backing coach Des Hasler after an off-season that saw his future at the Bulldogs placed under the microscope.

Like Reynolds, Hasler's future at Canterbury beyond 2017 is up for negotiation.

For the first time in an enviable coaching career that has yielded five grand final appearances and two premierships, the pressure is on Hasler to deliver.

"It's funny, in 2012 and 2014 Des was a god," Reynolds said before Saturday's trial match against Penrith at Belmore Oval.

"Now a couple of bad seasons and people are after him. I think it's pretty unfair and a lot of the playing group would say the same ... It sucks hearing all that stuff about Des, especially as a playing group. Like I said, it hasn't been good enough for the last five years what we have produced.

"I feel Des has given us every opportunity but it's time for us to take ownership. We can always hide behind Dessie. He's always going to go out on the front foot and take the blame because he's that kind of guy. But it will help us to get rid of that noise if we start the season well. It's on us to start well."

The voices of frustrated Bulldogs supporters, who don't settle for mediocrity, have grown louder in recent years in the belief the talent that has been at the club's disposal should have delivered at least one premiership since Hasler's arrival in 2012.

Given the scrutiny of Canterbury's performances, which included four straight losses to see them bundled out of last year's competition in week one of the finals, it's easy to forget they haven't missed the top eight under the Hasler regime.

It's a feat that would have most clubs rejoicing – but not the Bulldogs.

"You look at a couple of teams last year that were in the eight, they would have been over the moon with it," Reynolds said.

"But for us losing that first semi, it's the end of the world. But that's good. I reckon it should be like that. For me, if you don't win the premiership, it's not good enough. That's how the Bulldogs fans, the Bulldogs club – that's what we're built on. The core group of guys that were there [last year] definitely know it was unacceptable. We were talking about it when we were off in the off-season having a couple of beers. We were talking and just saying: 'How did it happen'? You have to sit back and look in the mirror, I guess.

"You're the only ones out there in the end. You can Blame Des, you can blame the games we should have won but every team could do that. It's up to us now to change things. To change the trend. We've had a great team for five years but we haven't won it. We haven't lost many players – we've lost a few – but those core players are still there. It's about time we stood up."

Throughout his career, Reynolds has often found himself in the headlines for allowing his passion and competitive nature to get the better of him on the field.

It's an unfortunate reputation that has developed for a player who arguably gives more back to the community and fans than any other player at the Bulldogs.

He's Canterbury through and through. Grew up in the area, still lives there, and would run through a brick wall for the club.

However, his future at Canterbury is once again up in the air, just like it was when Johnathan Thurston and Kieran Foran were being chased to come and wear his jersey.

"There's always someone coming to the Dogs. I've heard it all before," Reynolds said.

"I'm actually pretty proud of myself to be honest. Because it can be pretty daunting not having a club for next year. I feel in the past when I was off-contract I thought about it a lot. The best thing about it is hopefully round one I can go out there and prove I'm worthy of staying at the club. It's not hidden I want to stay here, but it's up to me to prove to the club they need to extend me."

Bulldogs hooker Michael Lichaa is another of Canterbury's off-contract players, with a suggestion he won't be at the club next season.

Moses Mbye and Reynolds have been spoken about as potential No.9s, but the latter insists his body couldn't cope with the extra workload defending in the middle of the paddock and he is determined to make the No.6 his own.

"I don't think my two shoulder reconstructions will let me be a nine," Reynolds said.

"There's whispers about everything. There's whispers everyone might die. It's one of those things that I hope me and Mo [Mbye] can be the halves for the Dogs for years to come. Lichaa is the hooker there and the way he plays, I feel he cops a lot of flak for what he does.

"He would have nearly topped the tackle count this year and has been training really well with lots of freedom this year. He's changed it up so I think he's going to shock a lot of people this year.​"

NRL trial: Canterbury v Penrith, Belmore Oval, 7pm Saturday.