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.

 

[jirskyr]

Interesting how Madge-like this all sounds, players who don't know how to win, objecting to being asked to train extra hard.

 

[twentyforty]

They appeared to slacken off defensively after the round 13 bye.

 

[Telltails]

Managers are destroying the fabric of clubs who are trying to change culture. There is no way to address problems that occur in house anymore because managers leak the drama to the media who use it to get their click bait stories out and alarm fans. It's a joke.
I 100% back Ciraldo on this one be cause can guarantee the ones screaming the loudest are not worth the paper their contract is signed on much like the crap Maguire copped when he was here.

 

[Wiz]

Anyone know who the Bulldogs player is?

 

[KingRobbie]

Anyone know who the Bulldogs player is?

Apparently it's Jackson Topine.

 

[tony soprano]

Managers are destroying the fabric of clubs who are trying to change culture. There is no way to address problems that occur in house anymore because managers leak the drama to the media who use it to get their click bait stories out and alarm fans. It's a joke.
I 100% back Ciraldo on this one be cause can guarantee the ones screaming the loudest are not worth the paper their contract is signed on much like the crap Maguire copped when he was here.

Stuff dogs

 

[Telltails]

Stuff dogs

This is not just a Bulldogs problem. This is managers manipulating situations to paint clubs and coaches at struggling clubs in a bad light to appease the failings of players who don't meet the expectations placed on them by coach/ club.

 

[jadtiger]

Managers are destroying the fabric of clubs who are trying to change culture. There is no way to address problems that occur in house anymore because managers leak the drama to the media who use it to get their click bait stories out and alarm fans. It's a joke.
I 100% back Ciraldo on this one be cause can guarantee the ones screaming the loudest are not worth the paper their contract is signed on much like the crap Maguire copped when he was here.

Coaches nearly always get the blame when it is the players who have the poor attitude and are the problem.It happens at every club but the more succesful clubs will support the coach every time and remove the player asap

 

[TYGA]

Dogs and rabbits keeping us out of the papers not bad.

 

[tony soprano]

This is not just a Bulldogs problem. This is managers manipulating situations to paint clubs and coaches at struggling clubs in a bad light to appease the failings of players who don't meet the expectations placed on them by coach/ club.

Can't beat them join them.

Stuff Gould and ciraldo.

 

[Frosty]

Dogs and rabbits keeping us out of the papers not bad.

It’s almost as if being a poorly run basket case and losing games brings negative media attention, rather than there being a specific “anti Tigers agenda”. Winning shuts everyone up

 

[Tiger_Yoshi]

Apparently it's Jackson Topine.

Reece Hoffmann is what I heard

 

[Tiger_Yoshi]

Coaches nearly always get the blame when it is the players who have the poor attitude and are the problem.It happens at every club but the more succesful clubs will support the coach every time and remove the player asap

Exactly why the Broncos got rid of Pangai…and where did he land…?

 

[Odessa]

Reece Hoffmann is what I heard

It's Brandon Burns from what I over heard while waiting for a coffee and the Canterbury players sitting behind me talking about it in Belmore and looks like he is going to the UK

 

[Lestronge]

It's Brandon Burns from what I over heard while waiting for a coffee and the Canterbury players sitting behind me talking about it in Belmore and looks like he is going to the UK

It’s braided burns ie. the hamstring , a completely different player ie. the mental health stuff . Gus was talking about it today .

 

[jirskyr]

Before Ciraldo I said Bulldogs were about 3-4 years behind the Tigers... and then Gould said something similar recently.

Just like when Ivan came in, he went for a short-term sugar rush of signing some name players, without really addressing the core issues in the roster, and without focusing on the existing juniors. Major difference at that time was Tigers lost some crucial players; Bulldogs never really had that prior to Ciraldo coming in.

Dogs have now gone through the headache of signing any big-name players that they could get their hands on, without properly addressing their core weaknesses - go-forward, fullback, halfback. Give some thought to how we fought with Bulldogs for TPJ's signature and now the guy is off boxing.

New coach comes in and tries to instil a hard edge (like Madge) and the players revolt, leak stuff to the media, undermine the club. And then you get the rumours that perhaps the coach is too tough, lacks the soft skills to get the best out of the players without flogging them. Club does not noticeable improve on-field despite the signings and the new coach.

Sounds all so familiar to us.

 

[upthetigers]

No wonder mental health has a stigma, you get punished for taking a mental health break.

 

[Bellend]

You know what no disrespect to the player who ever they are i do not care it is not West Tigers and it is one less negative press against our name.

 

[Red88_Tiger]

😂😂😂😂😂
Could not believe it when I read it this morning Gus must have woken up in a flap with a heap of phone calls from his journo mates
😂😂