Canterbury’s off-contract stars will use next 10 games to impress new coach Trent Barrett
Players at Canterbury are taking the next 10 games as a chance to audition in front of their new coach and the club’s off-contract stars have a message for Trent Barrett. FULL LIST OF DOGS’ OFF-CONTRACT PLAYERS
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Canterbury’s stars know they only have 10 games to prove to new coach Trent Barrett that they deserve to be a part of the Belmore club’s rebuild.
Forward Raymond Faitala-Mariner, who re-signed for two years on Friday, might have secured his future but the Samoan international is well aware he is now playing for a spot in Barrett’s side in 2021.
Faitala-Mariner gets his first chance to impress Barrett on Sunday when the Bulldogs take on Newcastle’s form forward pack, led by former Bulldogs prop Klemmer.
“It would be good to get a shot on Klemmer,” he said with a laugh.
“They’re second for post contact metres and elbows and knees, they have a strong pack with a lot of representative players in the team. It’s a good challenge for us.”
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Raymond Faitala-Mariner is urging Barrett, who doesn’t arrive at Belmore until November, to keep a close eye on Canterbury’s remaining matches so players can either convince the coach they deserve a new deal or keep their spot in the top 17.
“Hopefully Trent Barrett is watching,” Faitala-Mariner said.
“It’s 10 weeks to prove to Trent Barrett that I’m willing to stay, to put my best foot forward ... that’s my goal for the next 10 weeks.”
The likes of Kieran Foran and Aiden Tolman remain without a deal for season 2021. There are another 15 players off contract at the end of season 2021.
The Bulldogs are armed with a $3 million war chest to bolster their roster but with the club poised to clear the decks as part their rebuild, players know they are fighting for their futures at Belmore.
“Obviously there’s some spots in our roster that we need to strengthen in that team and fortunately based on what we’re hearing and reading there will be available cap space to spend,” Barrett said on Fox League.
The new Bulldogs boss is yet to reach out to any of the players at Belmore, which Faitala-Mariner is worried could turn into a source of anxiety.
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Without “feedback” from Barrett over the back end of the season, there is no way for Faitala-Mariner and off-contract players to know if they are doing enough.
“It would be good to have some sort of feedback from the coach himself but [not having contact with him] it gives you doubt about what Trent Barrett is wanting from his players, especially from a backrower and for him not be here and not [be able to] ask for that feedback is quite tricky,” he said.
Nick Meaney, who is contracted until the end of 2021, is one of those of the players hoping to cement a position in the top 17 over the next 10 weeks.
Meaney came to the Bulldogs in 2019 with the intention of being the side’s first choice fullback but was shifted out to the wing after 13 rounds. The outside back wants to show Barrett why he deserved the No.1 in season 2021.
“I think when you look at the contract up at the end of the year, everyone is sort of playing each week to prove why they should be in the team. Not just this year but for next year also so it’s always a bit of pressure playing for that [positions], if that’s the circumstance,” he said.
Both Faitala-Mariner and Meaney welcomed the signing of Canberra star Nick Cotric and news exiled winger Jayden Okunbor will return to the field in the Blue and White this season.
In May, The Daily Telegraph revealed rising playmaker Brandon Wakeham has re-signed for a further two seasons. On Friday, the club officially announced Wakeham’s signature.
Off-Contract 2020: Jack Cogger, Adam Elliott, Raymond Faitala-Mariner, Kieran Foran, Kerrod Holland, Tim Lafai, Marcelo Montoya, Sauaso Sue, Isaiah Tass, Aiden Tolman.
Off-Contract 2021: Jake Averillo, Dean Britt, Christian Crichton, Will Hopoate, Sione Katoa, Lachlan Lewis, Jeremy Marshall-King, Nick Meaney, Dylan Napa, Ofahiki Ogden, Jayden Okunbor, James Roumanos, Chris Smith, Reimis Smith, Renouf To‘omaga.