Josh Addo-Carr working on a building site after Bulldogs sacking as he looks to rebuild NRL career

Forced to pick up work on a building site after being sacked by the Bulldogs, Josh Addo-Carr is adamant his rugby league career is still alive, and believes he will be back in the NRL in 2025.

Josh Addo-Carr calls it a “reality check”. Evidence that the sacked Canterbury star is prepared to eat a slice of humble pie in his quest to resurrect his decorated NRL career.

In his only interview after severing ties with the Bulldogs, a defiant Addo-Carr insists he is not a spent force — and says he has taken up labouring work on a building site to begin the hard slog back to the NRL.

This masthead has exclusively captured Addo-Carr going back to his blue-collar roots, donning hi-vis gear as he shovels dirt and pushes a wheelbarrow around a Sydney building site.

It’s a tangible snapshot of Addo-Carr’s fall from grace, with the 29-year-old forced to pick up the pieces after having his $550,000 contract torn up on Thursday by Canterbury’s board.

Sacked Canterbury Bulldogs winger Josh Addo-Carr working on a building site in Sydney.

Addo-Carr’s manager Mario Tartak will begin meeting with prospective clubs this week and in the meantime, the champion winger will continue working with his good mate, former boxer Garth Wood.

Addo-Carr has been rising at 5am for daily boxing sessions with legendary trainer Johnny Lewis before joining Wood, a landscaper, on the tools as he keeps fit for his shot at NRL redemption next season.

“I’ve got a point to prove. I want to show people I’m not done,” Addo-Carr said.

“I’ve been doing some boxing sessions with Johnny Lewis for the past week at Erskineville.

“In the last few days, Garth asked me if I wanted to do some work.

“He was a boxer and he knows what it’s like to be in touch with reality working every day.

“It’s certainly been a reality check.

“It’s definitely tough getting up and working day in, day out like many footy fans do every day.

“I’m up early for boxing training and then I’m coming to work and getting stuck in with the labouring.

“People out there who do this sort of work on the tools every day, it’s bloody tough mate.

“Hopefully this hard work pays off.”

Addo-Carr working good mate, former boxer Garth Wood.

Addo-Carr’s manager is looking for a new club for the star winger.

The Bulldogs pulled the trigger on Addo-Carr following an incident in September, when he tested positive to cocaine after a roadside drug test.

Addo-Carr’s subsequent version of events to Canterbury chiefs didn’t align with what New South Wales police officers had alleged.

Addo-Carr remains adamant he doesn’t know how the drug got in his system, with the winger standing himself down from Canterbury’s first finals match in eight years, which they lost to Manly.

Currently in limbo, Addo-Carr has been linked with the Dragons, Parramatta and Wests Tigers and is adamant he will not be a liability for his future club.

“Bloody oath I will be in the NRL next year,” he said.

“The love for footy and my hunger for footy is still there.

“It’s disappointing the way things panned out, but I have to cop it on the chin and I need to go back to what’s always worked for me and that’s working hard.

“It’s a bit like what the Melbourne Storm did for me when I went down there to play for them.

Addo-Carr leaving Belmore Sports Ground with his lawyer Elias Tabchouri after a meeting with the Bulldogs board before his sacking. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“The Storm taught me about being grateful, they said don’t ever lose touch with reality, so going back to work right now, it makes me grateful for what I’ve got.

“I’ve handled this pretty well. I’m keeping my mind busy and I’ve still got to put food on the table for my family and that’s what I plan to do.

“I know my time in the NRL will come again and when it does I will take it with both hands no matter where I go.”

For all the tumult, Addo-Carr is proven as one of the best wingers of the past 30 years. The ‘Foxx’ has scored 140 tries from 179 games, played for his state and country and is a two-time premiership winner with the Storm.

Season 2025 will represent a clean slate and Addo-Carr, who turns 30 next July, is in pursuit of a hat-trick of premiership rings.

“There’s more I want to do. The ultimate goal is to win a premiership. I miss that,” he said.

“I live and breathe footy. I have been playing the game since I was three years old. Now my son plays the game. It’s always been in my family and I love playing NRL at the highest level.

“I love achieving things and being in the team environment.

“No matter where I go, I know I will bring value to the team.

“I would be lying to you if I said I will go to a new club and think I don’t want to win a premiership.

“The hunger is still there. I’ve won premierships at Melbourne, I know what it takes and wherever I go I will bring that winning mentality.”

Addo-Carr’s manager Tartak is confident the winger is not a risky signing and will bring a winning mentality to whoever picks him up. Picture: Getty Images

Addo-Carr’s agent Tartak is adamant the winger will not be a risky signing.

“Josh is a great player, but above that he is an even greater human,” he said.

“Any club that signs him will be adding leadership, a wonderful culture and a winning mentality to its roster.”

While gutted by the Bulldogs bombshell, Addo-Carr says he has no ill-feeling towards coach Cameron Ciraldo and football boss Phil Gould.

“There’s no bad blood with the Bulldogs. I want to wish Cameron Ciraldo and Phil Gould all the best,” he said.

“Cam is a bloody good coach and a good person.

“’Critta’ (captain Stephen Crichton) is a wonderful leader and I know what Cam, Critta and ‘Gus’ (Gould) are building there.

“The Bulldogs are in good hands, they are going places and I hope they get success.”

Originally published as Josh Addo-Carr working on a building site after Bulldogs sacking as he looks to rebuild NRL career