What’s the Buzz: Bulldogs push club favourite out of Belmore, Warriors snubbed by Channel Nine

Internal drama continues at the Bulldogs, with one of Canterbury’s favourite sons pushed out of the doors after being part of the club for almost 30 years, while the Warriors have been cruelly snubbed by Channel Nine, reveals PHIL ROTHFIELD.

Hardly a day goes by without more internal drama at the Canterbury Bulldogs.

One week the chairman is undermined and removed … then we get news of the shock dismissal of a life member, former board member and long-time employee.

The Dogs hung on against an 11-man Roosters outfit for an important win on Friday, a week after another tumultuous week behind closed doors.

A week that saw club favourite Barry Ward given his marching orders.

It is a move that has shocked long-time supporters because of his loyal service in significant roles since retiring as a player in 2001.

Ward was head of pathways at Belmore and concentrated heavily on recruitment in the women’s game which put the Bulldogs in a position to be awarded an NRLW license next year.

He was too upset to talk when we tried to contact him on Friday.

His sacking follows the recent removal of popular chairman John Khoury, replaced by Adam Driussi, a man who has never been on a membership ballot before.

Barry Ward was a fan favourite with the Bulldogs between 1990-2001. AAP Image/Daniel Berehulak/Action Photographics

Driussi cunningly waited until board nominations closed last year before tapping Khoury.

Ward was an extremely popular figure with members.

He served for more than a decade as a director on both the football club and leagues club boards, always finishing high in the voting.

“Barry’s absolutely shattered,” said one Bulldogs insider. “He didn’t see it coming.”

We contacted Bulldogs CEO Aaron Warburton to get an explanation.

“It’s always a tough decision to part ways with staff, particularly someone who has committed so many years to our Club,” Warburton said.

“As we continue to build our football programs for sustained excellence, we have made the decision to combine our entire football operations, both male and female, under one overarching department.”

WARRIORS TV SNUB

The New Zealand Warriors have become everyone’s second favourite NRL team … but try telling Channel Nine.

The game’s free-to-air network has inexplicably snubbed the Warriors this season, giving them a miserly four games despite them emerging in the last 18 months as such an entertaining premiership force.

Clubs that have consistently failed – ie., the Titans, Bulldogs, Dragons and Wests Tigers – get in some cases double the amount of free-to-air games.

The Warriors and their fans are not happy about it.

Not when they have a team that plays such an exciting brand of football with the likes of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Shaun Johnson and Addin Fonua Blake.

Their owner Mark Robinson said to me: “It’s bullshit – our fans deserve better than that.”

Chief executive Cameron George plans to take it up with the NRL.

“It’s very disappointing,” George said.

“This has happened the last few years.

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck of the Warriors runs onto the field during the round one NRL match between New Zealand Warriors and Cronulla Sharks. Picture: Hannah Peters/Getty Images

“I could understand it when we were struggling.

“Our fan base has grown so significantly. If we can continue the momentum this year, we’ve got to ask the question … how do we get more games? Why are we on the bottom of the list?

“We’re such a fun team to watch.

“It would be great for our partners, our fans and our players.”

The Warriors have become an absolute off-field power force since emerging last year under new coach Andrew Webster as a genuine premiership threat.

Seven straight home games in New Zealand have completely sold out.

All hospitality suites at Mount Smart Stadium have sold out this year.

Their full ticket membership is up by 78 percent. General membership is up by 220 percent.

Their first two home games resulted in the highest merchandise sales in the club’s history.

And now they believe that they have a football side capable of attracting as many eyeballs as any of the glamour clubs.