‘Need a 36-year-old?’: Ex-star’s cheeky Gould gibe as Bulldogs salary situation revealed

Bulldogs supremo Phil Gould has revealed the club’s current salary cap situation and a former Dally M Medallist want a comeback.

Phil Gould and Todd Carney

Bulldogs supremo Phil Gould has revealed the club have five spots remaining in their top 30 for the 2023 season with between $700,000 to $800,000 left to spend.

The Canterbury-Bankstown club’s salary cap has come under question in the past, having made multiple big-money signings including Viliame Kikau, Ryan Sutton and Reed Mahoney.

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Meanwhile, integral first grade players Matt Burton, Josh Addo-Carr, Max King and Tevita Pangai Junior arrived at Belmore for the 2022 season.

Gould confirmed the club’s salary cap situation on Twitter and a number of players are likely to make an exit at the season’s end, freeing up more space.

Meanwhile, Paul Vaughan, Jeremy Marshall-King and Jack Hetherington have already signed contracts elsewhere.

As it currently stands, we have five top 30 spots to fill for season 2023, with approx $700-$800k to spend. https://t.co/RrD5cgwNN9

— Phil Gould (@PhilGould15) July 5, 2022

In a cheeky reply to Gould’s tweet, former Sharks, Raiders and Roosters halfback Todd Carney pitched himself as a potential signing.

“As it currently stands, we have five top 30 spots to fill for season 2023, with approx $700-$800k to spend,” Gould wrote.

“Do you need a 36-year-old half mate,” Carney replied.

Do you need a 36 year old half mate

— Todd Carney (@tcarney06) July 5, 2022

Todd Carney kissed by his mother Leanne Carney after winning the 2010 Dally M Medal. Photo: AAP Image/Tracey Nearmy

Carney is still plying his trade in the Northern Rivers Rugby League competition, playing as a captain-coach of the Byron Bay Red Devils.

The Bulldogs are set to fight it our with NRL rivals to keep their current playmaker after Matt Burton reportedly turned down his player option for the 2024 season.

His current deal is said to be worth $500,000-per-season and the Blues centre is set to receive a significant increase on his salary.

As it stands, nine Bulldogs are off-contract including Matt Dufty, Zac Hetherington, Reece Hoffman, Tuipulotu Katoa, Joe Stimson, Jackson Topine, Brandon Wakeham and Raymond Faitala-Mariner.

Originally published as ‘Need a 36-year-old?’: Ex-star’s cheeky Gould gibe as Bulldogs salary situation revealed