Dallas Johnson's departure to Super League may have opened up a spot in the Queensland Origin side for a tackle-hungry lock - but Bulldogs backrower David Stagg refuses to believe he's the favourite to be that man.

Despite coming off his best season, a year in which he was named Dally M lock of the year, Stagg said he was more worried about keeping his place in the Bulldogs backrow, particularly after the signing of Kiwi international Dene Halatau.

But while thoughts of him losing the blue and white No.13 jumper might be a little far-fetched - particularly after he re-signed with the Bulldogs through to the end of the 2010 season on Friday - Stagg doesn't believe he's done enough to guarantee a Maroon jersey just yet.

"Of course there's an opening, but they've had a very successful four years and there's a number of players there that have obviously been doing very well," said Stagg, who will face opposition from the likes of Ashley Harrison and Corey Parker for a berth.

"We're at the beginning of the year and we haven't played a game of footy yet. If things unfold and that opportunity comes, great.

"My personal goals this year are to try and maintain the form that I showed last year. That way it panned out last year, if I could achieve that again, I'd be rapt."

Bulldogs coach Kevin Moore said the decision to retain Stagg beyond this season was an easy one.

"He's got everything I'm looking for as a coach - he's an 80 minute player and he never lets you down," Moore said.

"I'm thrilled that we've been able to keep David on board. He's a tremendous leader and one of the most respected players in our team."

A much sadder note for the club was the passing of Marie Moore in the early hours of Saturday morning after she failed to recover from a stroke suffered last week.

The contributions of Mrs Moore, the mother of coach Kevin and wife of the late CEO Peter Bullfrog Moore, were regularly acknowledged by her husband during his 25-year reign as chief executive.

"The passing of Marie Moore is a sad day for everyone at the Bulldogs," said chief executive Todd Greenberg.

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