NRLW 2025: Bulldogs star Holli Wheeler speaks out after sudden exit of NRLW coach

Canterbury star Holli Wheeler has spoken for the first time since the sudden departure of head coach Blake Cavallaro, revealing how Bulldogs boss Phil Gould galvanised the squad.

Phil Gould monitors Canterbury’s Tasha Gale Cup team. Picture: Julian Andrews

Canterbury star Holli Wheeler has spoken for the first time since the sudden departure of head coach Blake Cavallaro last month, saying she’s confident the Bulldogs’ women’s team is in the right hands.

The former representative prop insists an emergency meeting with Phil Gould and star halfback Tayla Preston helped ease the anxieties of the playing group, who are now without a head coach ahead of their inaugural NRLW season.

Speaking ahead of the club’s 90th anniversary gala event, Wheeler insists moves are being made to find the right replacement with input from senior players after a chaotic start to their campaign.

“I’m not going to say too much about it because that’s between the club and Blake, but regardless of what’s happened, they’ve been fantastic communication wise,” she said.

“Gus was straight on the phone and had a meeting with me and Tayla. He wanted us to pass on to the girls that the club is in safe hands and they’re supportive of us and to reassure us they see us as part of the family, and they have a lot of pride and passion for this as well.

Canterbury NRLW star Holli Wheeler. Picture: Instagram

“It was really professional in the way in which they pulled us straight in to have a conversation. Because you hear rumours and news spreads like wildfire, and I had girls reaching out asking what was going on, but before I could reply, Gus was reaching out and wanted to assure we’ll be looked after.

“He told us he wanted us to be at the forefront of sorting all of it out, and I can hold them to that, they’ve been fantastic with the communication.

“He has all my support and I know the club will look after us and make sure we’ve got the best person from the club moving forward.”

Cavallaro’s exit came as a shock ahead of the club’s inaugural NRLW season, just three months out from the start of the pre-season in May.

The timing is awkward, given the club’s historic first team was presented at Tuesday night’s gala event, which was also supposed to be attended by Cavallaro.

It’s thrown plans into disarray at what should be a time of celebration, but Wheeler said it’s been a bonding experience for the playing group too.

“It’s not ideal but everyone is on the same page,” Wheeler said.

“Pressure creates diamonds and all of those cliches. If anything it’s brought us closer together, there’s just a buzz around the place because we’re excited to get going and get together as a squad and have a big year.

“We just want to get into it, it’s such a long off-season between grand final day and official pre-season in May. We just want to get in together as a whole and start creating something special.”

Blake Cavallaro was appointed as the Bulldogs' inaugural NRLW coach. Picture: Bulldogs.

A search is well underway for his replacement, and it’s understood several candidates have put themselves forward for the job from across the game.

Wheeler, 35, has been involved in the NRLW since the first season in 2018 and has urged the club to appoint a coach with a thorough understanding of the women’s game and female athletes.

“Speaking from a mature mindset of being around the game for a while, and probably not going to be around much longer, but it’s important to have a good coach who understands the women’s game and the female side of it, to help support the younger athletes coming through,” she said.

“I feel like my opinion was valued from that perspective.

“I have all the confidence in the world they’re going to get the right person for the job.”

Originally published as NRLW 2025: Bulldogs star Holli Wheeler speaks out after sudden exit of NRLW coach