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.

 

[Jolls]

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.

Did we really do the same to Sheens though? Was he tapped on the shoulder or did he make the desion himself? His Golden Boy has left the building; Sheens was unable to unlock the potential he saw when he recruited him - perhaps that took so much out of him and Benji has come along far enough that he thought it was in the best interests of himself and the club.

I'm sure there only a select few that know the trust of the matter.

I was pessemistic at the statrt of this year based on the coaching staff and some recruitment decisions, but was secretly hoping that Sheens' faith that he could manufacture a winning halves combination out of Brooks and AD was well founded and that we could flourish with our rejuvinated forward pack. My pessemism was well founded though.

Benji with Morris and Fulton in support, a half that has played finals footy before, a burgeoning forward pack, some promising young guns and a healthy cap is a good foundation for 2024. For the first time in a decade or so I'm truly optomistic about the future of our Tigpies. There is a long way to go though.

If only we could offload Pascoe and Gadget!

 

[Papacito]

As much as I know that these wrestling things happen, it's outdated and desperate stuff from Ciraldo and Gould.

The sport has a terrible track record when it comes to mental health of young blokes. Sometimes with the most tragic of endings.

 

[Tucker]

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.

Yep they can come here and get a big warm Benji cuddle.

 

[240z]

As much as I know that these wrestling things happen, it's outdated and desperate stuff from Ciraldo and Gould.

The sport has a terrible track record when it comes to mental health of young blokes. Sometimes with the most tragic of endings.

@Papacito

100% agree with your last paragraph. Not all people are made the same and some have different breaking points. Mental health and suicide is not something that should be associated with being weak. A good coach or manager would identify this and act appropriately. 80+% of a head coach's job is to manage, mentor and understand his players - they have other assistants to teach skills and techniques.

But I'm not saying saying that a lazy and self entitled player shoudn't get a kick up the arse

 

[Fallen Angel]

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

Tell that to Mosese Fotuaika

 

[Tucker]

@Papacito

Not all people are made the same and some have different breaking points. Mental health and suicide is not something that should be associated with being weak.

This is true, however more often these days mental health issues are being used as an out to escape situations when the going gets hard.
You see it it in relationships, education and at work.
If they are genuine, it’s not weakness…it can’t be controlled fully. When it’s used as a crutch…that’s different, and it does happen.

 

[Tucker]

Tell that to Mosese Fotuaika

That’s a cheap shot.

 

[Fallen Angel]

That’s a cheap shot.

Really? Its proof the affect these things have on players. I get that’s it’s not good for “harden up“ crowd to be reminded of.

 

[Winston Churchill]

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

We can tell who the children are on this forum too.

 

[Tucker]

Really? Its proof the affect these things have on players. I get its not good for the “harden up” crowd to hear, but that’s what these things sometimes lead to.

It’s one individual case.
The way you’re talking, this happens regularly….Players go through rough patches and react like this.

 

[TillLindemann]

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

Boomers raised their children and grandchildren dumber than any previous generation in history, then have the hide to complain about how the kids turned out lol. And you're even sooking after you passed on your buggered up chemical-sodden genes replete with peanut allergies to the poor kids. Needs to be a royal commission into boomers.

 

[Alex Seyfarth's #1 Fan]

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

Games gone SOFT

you pass you score YOU GET IT OUT the backline, its about GRIT, CURAGE NOT pretty boys back when i was a prop back in the day we survived on grit and sometimes only had 1 chiko role a day and even ones in the dirt tasted good some times a prefab scallop round and chewy We never had shit and lived on the smell of an oily rag FFS these days the kids are soft and more worried about hair do's than smashing it up them middle like a piston eating coco pops for breakfast how can you be fit eating cocopops the games going backwards and nobody cares NOBODY CARES its as simple as you pass you score dont over complicate things with stupid rules bring back the hard days where men were men i couldnt give 2 shits and had mustaches FFS, like kerry Hemsley they dont make en like kerry any more party down the back business up the front how a man should be a bit of length IS NOT BAD, Its how men were thousands of years agho there was no hairdressers back then they had to use shells but FFS WE ARE MOVING AWAY from what the ARL is all about and thats tuffness guys like woods the bearded lady couldnt tear there way out of a wet pie bag FFS theres no real men and all the clubs are dying NOBODY CARES look at the mighty magpies i never recovered when the terrible day happernd FFS those bastads i was at home and herd the nmews we were gone i cried for 2 weeks and funny you mention that parramatter cheats. any wests suoporters here they were the days we were the champions the mighty mighty magpies tommy was a real man anyway message to all clubs and the ARL FFS stop molly codling these kids thats why there injured first game feed em a pie and coke and bash em anybody remember those days haha its funny you said that i was just there last week you pass you score and let the big pistons do the dirty work and punch it up the middle

 

[Fallen Angel]

It’s one individual case.
The way you’re talking, this happens regularly….Players go through rough patches and react like this.

You never know what someone is capable of. Which is why it’s the height of ignorance to tell someone to harden up

 

[TillLindemann]

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

Boomers are the softest generation in history, their parents and grandparents went through world wars and the great depression, then they were followed by boomers who just sat around being silly listening to Bob Dylan and having a sook about everything 24/7. Just wait til they start sooking about interest rates being high for ten minutes, 40 years ago.

 

[rihannafan1]

10 years ago not today

gai
This is true, however more often these days mental health issues are being used as an out to escape situations when the going gets hard.
You see it it in relationships, education and at work.
If they are genuine, it’s not weakness…it can’t be controlled fully. When it’s used as a crutch…that’s different, and it does happen.

Fair enough. What should they do, in your opinion?

 

[tony soprano]

Fair enough. What should they do, in your opinion?

Sack ciraldo before he goes grey.

 

[Tucker]

You never know what someone is capable of. Which is why it’s the height of ignorance to tell someone to harden up

Look I understand you are talking from personal experience and this is getting you upset.
We are talking about footballers complaining because the training is too hard.

 

[tony soprano]

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

Funny because it's true.

 

[Fallen Angel]

Wow, what a

Wow what a dog and the scumbags that upvoted that comment.

Like I said, I know that doesn’t do much for the ”drink a glass of cement“ crowd. You literally have no way of doubling after being reminded of the tragedies that happen from the affect of mental health.

 

[Tucker]

Fair enough. What should they do, in your opinion?

I’d cut them. They aren’t made of the stuff the coach requires, which means he can’t work with them.