Bulldogs continue clear out, with three more football staff losing their jobs

SPORT CONFIDENTIAL I: The Bulldogs’ bloodletting continues with three more staff following recruitment manager Noel Cleal out of the club.

THE bloodletting continues at the Bulldogs with three more football staff following high-profile recruitment manager Noel Cleal out of the club.

Canterbury’s mind coach John Novak won’t be at the club next year, ending his long association with coach Des Hasler.

Novak, like Cleal, has been a mainstay of Hasler’s support staff, first at Manly and now at the Bulldogs. He joined the club, along with Hasler in 2011.

The Bulldogs said Novak had decided to take on other challenges.

Another one of Hasler’s long-term associates, athletics performance manager Clayton Kearney, will also leave Canterbury. Kearney was recruited from Manly in 2012, having spent 12 years at the Sea Eagles where he worked alongside Hasler.

Cleal’s off-sider Jim Whitney — Canterbury’s development manager — will also depart.

There may be some changes to the coaching ranks as well, with a push to bring Dean Pay back to the club, but the Raiders assistant coach is settled in Canberra.

The Bulldogs are on the lookout for a new media manager after the popular David Spaul left the club to join the Titans.

SPORT CONFIDENTIAL: EAGLES EYE BIRD

Foran will have to prove he is ready to return to the game.

FORAN NO DONE DEAL

KIERAN Foran’s return to the NRL is far from certain despite the former Kiwis Test captain agreeing to join the Warriors on a one-year deal.

Foran will look to resurrect his NRL career with the Warriors, after rejecting advances from Canterbury and St George Illawarra. Before he completes his return to the field, Foran will expect a grilling from the NRL’s integrity unit who have a range of concerns regarding the fallen star.

Foran would need to ensure he is mentally right to play the game after being deemed psychologically unfit just months ago. The NRL would also expect gambler Eddie Hayson to end his association with Foran. Hayson has already said he would keep away from Foran if he returned to the NRL.

The NRL is concerned about the ongoing police investigation into alleged match fixing in the game. Hayson has denied any involvement and there is no suggestion of wrongdoing by Foran.

It is understood preliminary discussions between the Warriors and the NRL regarding Foran have begun.

An NRL spokesman said the Warriors were yet to lodge a contract.

“The NRL has not received a contract from the Warriors but will consider it on its merits when it is lodged,” the spokesman said

Warriors chief executive Jim Doyle acknowledged there were steps needed to be undertaken with the NRL before Foran’s return is complete.

“ There has been much to consider in creating an environment for Kieran to not only return to football but also to put all the support around him that he needs,” Doyle said.

“The next step is to work alongside the NRL to cover off all requirements to have the contract registered.”

Auckland-born Foran said he had rekindled his desire for the game as he continues his rehab from shoulder surgery.

“Initially footy was the furthest thing from my mind and I needed time away from the game,” Foran said. “More recently the desire to play again has completely returned and I’m very keen to make a big contribution next year.

“While I had other options, coming to Auckland emerged as the best decision for me.”

The PM's XIII are mobbed as they arrive in Port Moresby. Pic: Mark Evans.

PRIME RECEPTION IN FOOTY-MAD PNG

GREG Inglis said he felt like a “rock star’’ when he led the Prime Minister’s XIII team off the plane at Port Moresby on Thursday and was immediately mobbed by 2000 locals.

The league lovers camped out at the airport from 10am to see their heroes like Inglis, James Tedesco, Matt Moylan and Semi Radradra touch down for Saturday’s game against the Kumuls.

“To see 2000 people greet you, it makes you feel like a rock star, and it’s an experience you couldn’t buy — it’s an experience I’ll never forget,’’ Inglis said.

As the police did their best to fend off the crowd, this journalist was thrown on to a minibus that ended up at the wrong hotel on the other side of town.

Coach Mal Meninga is treating Saturday’s game as a genuine Four Nations trial, and labelled it the ‘’strongest PM’s XIII side ever’’.

Originally published as Bulldogs continue clear out, with three more football staff losing their jobs