NRL 2024: Bulldogs react after Josh Addo-Carr returns second positive drug test

A month after Phil Gould was critical of Latrell Mitchell’s white substance drama, the Bulldogs find themselves in a similar situation. So how will Gus respond?

Just last month, Phil Gould made it crystal clear how he would deal with an NRL player caught up in an off-field scandal.

“I don’t think our club could tolerate that sort of behaviour, I don’t think that we could tolerate that at all,” the Bulldogs’ GM of football said of Latrell Mitchell’s white substance drama.

Fast forward to today and that is the predicament Gould is now facing after police confirmed Josh Addo-Carr’s oral sample taken from a roadside drug test has returned a positive reading.

Addo-Carr is understood to have decided to pay a fine of $682 and will automatically be disqualified from driving for three months, but is making no admission of guilt.

The bombshell has left Addo-Carr’s $500,000 per-season contract at stake with the Bulldogs hierarchy angered that the incident has applied pressure on the club’s first final series since 2016.

Canterbury GM of football Phil Gould was critical of Latrell Mitchell over the white substance scandal. So how will he react to the Josh Addo-Carr drama? Picture: NCA NewsWire

Instead of celebrating their fairytale march towards an elimination final against the Sea Eagles at Accor Stadium on Sunday, the Bulldogs were forced into damage control by constructing a carefully worded press statement on Friday and of which also included Addo-Carr leaving team training to hold a meeting with his manager.

“The club is offering Josh appropriate support during this difficult period,’’ the statement read.

“The Bulldogs are committed to following the appropriate protocols with regards to the player’s contract and CBA and will work with the NRL Integrity unit, the player and his management team accordingly throughout further investigations.

“While we treat this issue with utmost seriousness, Josh’s welfare is our highest priority at this time.’’

Amid the drama, Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo has been forced to pick up the pieces by selecting a seven-game rookie in Jeral Skelton to replace his Test and NSW State of Origin winger.

Adding to the concern that Addo-Carr may have played his last game for the Dogs are recent comments made by GM of football Phil Gould.

The positive reading from the oral sample caps a drama-charged week for Addo-Carr after he was pulled over last Friday night while driving in the Sydney suburb of Wentworth Point and allegedly returned a positive test.

An oral sample taken from Bulldogs winger Josh Addo-Carr has returned a positive reading, according to police. Picture: Getty Images

He was then tested a second time, with the sample sent away for further analysis.

“The Bulldogs have been advised that Josh Addo-Carr has returned a positive result on the second sample taken on Friday night (September 6) at a NSW Police random roadside illicit drug test,’’ the Bulldogs statement confirmed.

“Josh has left training to be with his manager, Mario Tartak.’’

Addo-Carr has vehemently denied using cocaine during several high-powered meeting with Dogs officials.

It was following those meetings with the club’s hierarchy that the 29-year-old made the decision to stand down from the Dogs clash against the Sea Eagles on Sunday.

It was a decision designed to take the spotlight away from his teammates with Gould applauded for his front-foot stance in conducting a 17-minute press conference last Tuesday that saw the Bulldogs boss attempt to explain the trail of events that led to Addo-Carr’s positive reading.