Bulldogs defend ‘punishment’ of player who walked out and didn’t return

Bulldogs defend ‘punishment’ of player who walked out and didn’t return

The punishment involved wrestling up to a dozen of his teammates for an extended period. A week later he asked the club for time off due to personal reasons and hasn’t been back.

www.smh.com.au

Michael Chammas​

August 29, 2023 — 9.31pm

The Canterbury Bulldogs are privately defending their treatment of an NRL player who walked out of training five weeks ago due to mental health reasons.
The player, who hasn’t been named due to the seriousness of his mental state, turned up to training late for a session last month. He is in the top 30 squad but considered a fringe first-grader.

The coaching staff decided to enforce a punishment, which is a common practice at NRL clubs, asking him to wrestle up to a dozen of his teammates for an extended period at the end of training.

A week later he asked the club for time off due to personal reasons and hasn’t been back to training since. The club is still paying his contract.

The Bulldogs declined to comment when contacted on Tuesday night. The Daily Telegraph also reported that centre Braidon Burns walked out on a training session last week after suffering a hamstring injury and has left the club. The Herald has been told he trained on Tuesday.

It comes after the Herald reported on Monday that Bulldogs staff were aware of a text message that has been doing the rounds in recent days that claimed up to eight players were unhappy at the club under the coaching of Cameron Ciraldo.

One of the grievances allegedly raised by some current players, and potential recruits, was a frustration over Ciraldo’s workload demands.

The message claimed that Ciraldo’s expectation for players to be around for training from 8am to 5.30pm was unrealistic and a deterrent for some players to join or remain at the club.

The Dogs’ performances of late, which have left many questioning the commitment of the players, speaks to a problem at the club. Those concerned about how hard or long training is appear to have their cards marked, with the Bulldogs expected to make a raft of changes once their season ends this weekend.

Ciraldo has a proven track record of success having worked hand in hand with Panthers coach Ivan Cleary to deliver two premierships at Penrith.

He has recruited players from clubs who have played for successful teams like Stephen Crichton (Panthers), Jaeman Salmon (Panthers), Liam Knight (Rabbitohs), Blake Taafe (Rabbitohs) and Siua Taukeiaho.

Ciraldo is expected to front the media for his weekly pre-game press conference on Wednesday.

 

[dazza65]

Weak as….

 

[pawsandclaws1]

Ciraldo will be fine as Gould said on 9 he has his backing.

 

[tony soprano]

You don't turn on your players like dogs have done.

 

[rihannafan1]

hahaha I actually like what Ciraldo has tried to do. Trying to set standards that work at successful clubs. People who don't like it can go to unsuccessful clubs and see how long their careers in Australia last.

Honestly, the head coach doesn't necessarily need the best soft skills if he's very good at other important aspects of the job. They can't do everything. Leave it to your assistants to handle that stuff if need be.

 

[Tiger-ferret]

You don't turn on your players like dogs have done.

Seems old school . Young modern players/employees just don’t respond to this. It’s blowing up spectacularly and it’s not us for once.

 

[Winston Churchill]

Peanut allergy generation. Weak and pampered. They can now go and start their concreter job 10 years early.

 

[Tucker]

Peanut allergy generation. Weak and pampered. They can now go and start their concreter job 10 years early.

Weak as piss, these young blokes.
I had a coach when I was 17 call me a lazy C U Next Tuesday when I had a poor game…in front of my mother. I told him to go F himself and he smacked me in the mouth.

 

[Bones]

Seems old school . Young modern players/employees just don’t respond to this. It’s blowing up spectacularly and it’s not us for once.

When Ciraldo was at Penrith the media was all about how the players loved him. It’s funny how things change when you have to be the bad guy.

 

[Tiger-ferret]

Weak as piss, these young blokes.
I had a coach when I was 17 call me a lazy C U Next Tuesday when I had a poor game…in front of my mother. I told him to go F himself and he smacked me in the mouth.

With respect, how did your mother react?

 

[cktiger]

Ciraldo will be fine as Gould said on 9 he has his backing.

The big difference with Maguire was they didn’t back him when he tried to be tough.
No backbone at the Tigers.

 

[WesternSuburbsBoy]

Ahhh yes here we go about how todays generation is ‘soft’ & back in my day blah blah blah

 

[Tucker]

With respect, how did your mother react?

Lol she went beserk.

 

[Magpies1969]

If these well paid players who are playing their dream job can't put in a decent effort and turn up on time then they might as well get a job in the real world with way less pay and see how they go. Weak as piss.

No wonder weaker clubs like Bulldogs, WT, St George, etc year in year out are in the bottom of the comp and making up numbers if they have players putting in half efforts on and off the field.

Players in these weaker clubs need to put in the extra work and lift the standard so they can complete with the top sides and then the players will be rewarded financially for it and have pride in their jerseys for the players in the past that played for pride and respect and hardly got paid a cent.

Glad for once the media have another team to pick on a the moment. Wiggle out of this Gus Gould.

 

[Fallen Angel]

Weakest generation to ever live on the planet.

Whose fault is that? Maybe the generation before for raising them to be so weak.

 

[twentyforty]

I wonder? Is it possible that theyve all gone to bulldogs because of the money? Buzz reckons Gus is on $800k plus. TPJ said he wanted a pay cut, he was on $900k? In comparing the situation with us and Madge, both coaches have easily identified poor on field performances and reacted similarly, but only one has the backing of his club. The WT repeated their treatment of Madge by doing the same to Sheensy and I expect in time it will be Benji’s turn.

 

[Spartan117]

I like the fact that the Dogs are defending their stance on weeding out the Weak.

 

[Tucker]

Whose fault is that? Maybe the generation before for raising them to be so weak.

Yes, no doubt.

 

[WesternSuburbsBoy]

 

[supercoach]

It all comes back to recruitment and how you recruit to implement a rebuild. Rather than just throw a lot of money at so called good players with no real consideration to the position they play and what role they will play in the rebuild, you have to aim at your spine first, than surround them with a mix of hard nosed experienced players and young athletes.

You also have to pour a lot of resources into your pathways system. We seem to be doing all of the above and although with limited success so far the future looks reasonably bright. As for the Dogs, Iam not sure they have made any progress at all and may need to have a rethink and start again.

Of course with Gus in charge it could not happen to a better person

 

[tony soprano]

hahaha I actually like what Ciraldo has tried to do. Trying to set standards that work at successful clubs. People who don't like it can go to unsuccessful clubs and see how long their careers in Australia last.

Honestly, the head coach doesn't necessarily need the best soft skills if he's very good at other important aspects of the job. They can't do everything. Leave it to your assistants to handle that stuff if need be.

10 years ago not today