Bulldogs chief executive Malcolm Noad is banking on a stack of key players accepting less money to re-sign with the NRL premiers.

Noad admitted the club faced an enormous challenge retaining all its players who are off contract at the end of the 2005 season.

The Bulldogs are hoping internationals Braith Anasta, Willie Tonga, Willie Mason, Jamaal Lolesi and Sonny Bill Williams will re-sign before the anti-tampering deadline of June 30 next year.

"It's going to be a real challenge to keep all the players," said Noad on Monday at a players' barbecue to continue celebrations of the Dogs' grand final victory over the Sydney Roosters.

"Players will play for less (money) when they want to play in a club that they want to play for.

"That's not to say they will play for nothing either. It will be a challenge but they love playing here and they know we want to keep them all together.

"They want to stay together."

Anasta has been at the centre of speculation he will switch codes and join Super 12 rugby franchise, the NSW Waratahs when his contract expires.

"Braith will be playing with us until the end of next year," Noad reiterated.

"If he decides he wants to go to rugby after that there's not much we can do about it but we'll be trying to keep him.

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