The Bulldogs are reportedly embroiled in a legal dispute with a player who left the club’s training and took a leave of absence due to mental health issues last year.
According to The Daily Telegraph, the Bulldogs and the unnamed player are locked in legal proceedings after negotiations between the club and the player failed.
The highly regarded player, who remains part of the Bulldogs’ top 30 squad, stepped away from the team after being instructed to wrestle teammates as a disciplinary measure for arriving late to training.
Since the incident late last season, the player, whose identity is protected due to mental health considerations, has not participated in training with the Bulldogs.
Both the RLPA (Rugby League Players Association) and the NRL welfare team are actively monitoring the situation.
When contacted by The Telegraph, Canterbury chief executive Aaron Warburton declined to comment, citing ongoing legal proceedings.
“I can’t comment because there are legal proceedings underway,” Warburton stated.
Warburton also did not confirm whether the club is still providing salary payments to the player.
Last year, the Bulldogs’ head coach Cameron Ciraldo faced scrutiny over his training methods after former captain Raymond Faitala-Mariner raised concerns on behalf of several disgruntled players.
Faitala-Mariner later parted ways with the Bulldogs and joined the Dragons following contract disputes with the club.
Addressing the media during the incident, Ciraldo defended the club’s disciplinary actions, emphasizing their efforts to instill new standards and improve performance.
“It’s a sensitive issue, and I won’t be making specific comments,” Ciraldo remarked at the time.
“We’ve been implementing standards, and if there’s tardiness, there are consequences. Our aim is to foster a culture of winning performance standards. This has involved various approaches, including monetary penalties and behavioral adjustments.
“We’re committed to evolving our standards, and this season has shown progress despite challenges.”
The Bulldogs continue to navigate the fallout from the incident amid efforts to maintain competitive performance standards.