Josh Addo-Carr drama takes massive twist with suitors unmasked

Josh Addo-Carr’s future is more uncertain than ever with a list of suitors unmasked and new details emerging about his private drama.

Canterbury flyer Josh Addo-Carr. NRL Imagery

Four rival suitors have been unmasked with Josh Addo-Carr’s future suddenly more uncertain ever.

The Bulldogs winger was earlier this month tossed into turmoil by suggestions of a rift with Canterbury officials following a crisis meeting with football boss Phil Gould.

Gould has previously insisted Addo-Carr’s future with the club is safe. He is contracted through to the end of the 2025 season.

It emerged earlier the Eels were serious about making a play for the try-scoring machine, even considering parting with forward Ryan Matterson as a potential player swap. The two camps have had “informal talks”, according to News Corp.

Addo-Carr has had a rough off-season so far after he was knocked out at the Koori Knockout, banned for two matches and subsequently stood down from Australian duty.

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The winger then came under fire after he compared the Israel conflict to Indigenous land rights, a post he apologised for the following day.

But after an unhappy season at the Bulldogs where he still scored 11 tries in 15 matches for the 15th placed Canterbury side, it had been reported that Addo-Carr had been at odds with club officials.

That drama has reportedly opened the door for the Eels, Knights, Tigers and Dragons to consider making a play for the former Melbourne Storm star.

Addo-Carr is wanted by the Eels. Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

Ryan Matterson. Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images

The Knights are looking for a replacement for strike outside back Dominic Young who has joined the Roosters.

The SMH reports the Bulldogs have previously expressed interest in star Knights forwards Jacob Saifiti and Daniel Saifiti.

The reports suggests the Knights have no intention of letting the brothers go.

News Corp reports the Tigers’ interest comes directly from coach Benji Marshall, who wants more speed in his backline.

The Dragons have also reportedly shown interest.

St George Illawarra’s move comes after new coach Shane Flanagan insisted he won’t panic buy new players to help pull the club out of its slump.

However, those comments were followed by suggestions on Wednesday the club has interest in Cowboys playmaker Tom Dearden.

Journalist David Riccio told SEN Breakfast the Dragons have more interest in Dearden than Panthers star five-eighth Jarome Luai.

Meanwhile, is no secret the Eels have made outside backs a priority in their recruitment plans recently.

The Eels, who finished the 2022 as runners up before missing the playoffs in 2023, have

already signed Sea Eagles centre Morgan Harper, but Addo-Carr would be their most prized recruitment move.

The Eels were found short in the backline several times this season due to injury and Waqa Blake being relegated to reserve grade.

However, to make an Addo-Carr deal work, the Eels would need to lose a player.

Eels officials also told News Corp on Wednesday that the club was not actively shopping Matterson.

The SMH also suggested that the Matterson deal may not eventuate as the Bulldogs are looking to bolster their front row stocks after losing Tevita Pangai Jr, Luke Thompson, and Franklin Pele, and having signed backrower Josh Curran from the Warriors to a multi-year deal.

Curran will join Stephen Crichton, Blake Taaffe, Bronson Xerri and Jaeman Salmon at the club.

Originally published as Josh Addo-Carr drama takes massive twist with suitors unmasked