Canterbury Bulldogs player walks out on club after training punishment

A Canterbury player has walked out on the club amid accusations he was made to wrestle more than 12 teammates as part of a training “punishment”.

The Bulldogs have declined to comment on the situation. Picture: Adam Yip

The Canterbury Bulldogs have launched an investigation into the treatment of one of their NRL players, who walked out on the club recently after a disagreement with the coaching staff.

This masthead can reveal the player recently turned up to training and was told he was late. It is understood he believed he was well within the time limit set for training to begin but there are allegations he was then made to wrestle more than a dozen players as his “punishment.”

He became distraught and left training.

The player is under contract at the club until the end of next season but has vowed not to return.

This masthead has chosen not to name the player because of sensitivity around the case and his welfare. However, the Rugby League Players Association is also investigating.

‘The RLPA is aware of a matter and we will continue working with the player and his representatives to address it. Once we have completed that process, we will then contact club officials,” RLPA CEO Clint Newton said.

“We must stress that matters of this nature are incredibly private and confidentiality should be respected.”

The Bulldogs are investigating what led to the player leaving. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images.

The Bulldogs are trying to manage the explosive situation behind closed doors.

“The whole process is very sensitive – I can’t comment,” chief executive Aaron Warburton said.

A text message was sent to various media outlets on Tuesday night outlining what had happened. Coach Cameron Ciraldo declined to comment when contacted by this masthead.

It’s understood another player was late the following week and endured the same punishment. Some clubs institute financial penalties for player discretions, while this one was used because the team was undertaking wrestling drills at the time.

This masthead can also reveal another player, Braidon Burns, had some concerns after a training session last week. He and his manager Allan Gainey met with Bulldogs general manager Phil Gould on Tuesday to discuss the situation.

Burns was struggling with a hamstring and could not complete training drills. He is believed to have played his last game for the club and Gainey is looking for opportunities in the UK Super League.

The Bulldogs are coming to the end of a disastrous season, having kicked off round one surrounded in optimism following the appointment of Ciraldo and the arrival of Reed Mahoney and Viliame Kikau.

Bulldogs fans at a match earlier this year. Picture: NRL Photos / Brett Costello.

However, their season has slowly unravelled and in recent weeks they have been on the end of a series of hidings culminating in another embarrassing performance against Manly at the weekend.

Bulldogs players were turned into turnstiles by a Manly side that was already out of finals contention. That performance only added to talk in recent weeks of player unrest and suggestions that the coaching staff is ready to usher several players out the door as they look to rebuild the culture at one of the game’s biggest clubs.

Ciraldo, who was given a five-year contract by the Bulldogs, has been particularly scathing of the playing group following some substandard performances and the sense is that it will be a defining off-season for the club and their coach as they put a broom through the organisation.

The Bulldogs will be strengthened by the arrival of Penrith’s Steve Crichton, former Cronulla centre Bronson Xerri and premiership winner Sio Siua Taukeiaho.

However, unless they can find a way to end some of the apparent dissension within the playing group it may not matter who they bring in from outside.

Originally published as Canterbury Bulldogs player walks out on club after training punishment