NRL 2024: Bulldogs star Josh Addo-Carr handed breach notice, likely 4 week suspension and fine

The Bulldogs have been offered a shock player swap deal for under fire star Josh Addo-Carr, as the NRL comes down hard on the winger over a positive roadside cocaine drug test.

Josh Addo-Carr has been suspended for four matches and fined $15,000 by the NRL Picture: Getty Images.

The Bulldogs have been offered St George Illawarra winger Mikaele Ravalawa as part of a potential deal that could involve Josh Addo-Carr heading in the opposite direction.

On the same day, Addo-Carr was issued with a breach notice - believed to propose a four match suspension and $15,000 fine - by the NRL after returning a positive roadside test to cocaine, this masthead can reveal that a third party reached out to the ‘Dogs to gauge their interest in taking Ravalawa.

The Bulldogs are understood to have rejected the offer. However, it was the clearest indication yet that Addo-Carr will have interest from elsewhere as his future hands in the balance at the ‘Dogs.

Josh Addo-Carr has been suspended for four matches and fined $15,000 by the NRL Picture: Getty Images.

Addo-Carr spoke to integrity unit officials last week as part of the investigation into an incident just over a fortnight ago where he was pulled over and returned a positive indication for cocaine.

The NSW and Australian winger insisted he had not taken any substances but a second oral sample came back positive last week, leaving his future in the hands of the Bulldogs and the NRL.

The Bulldogs were offered Dragons winger Mikaele Ravalawa as part of a potential trade for Addo-Carr. Picture: Getty Images

Addo-Carr opted to sit out the club’s opening finals game against Manly at Accor Stadium to ensure the team was not distracted.

However, he will also miss the start of next season given he was not considered for the Pacific Championships, and therefore is unable to use Test football as part of his ban.

“The National Rugby League (NRL) today issued Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs player Josh Addo-Carr with a breach notice alleging a breach of the NRL Code of Conduct,” the NRL said in a statement.

“Addo-Carr was issued with a penalty notice by NSW Police earlier this month for the offence of ‘presence of prescribed illicit drug in person’s oral fluid, blood or urine’ while driving a motor vehicle.

“The breach notice alleges that Addo-Carr has engaged in conduct which is against the law and has brought the game and his club into disrepute.”

The fine portion of Addo-Carr’s latest sanction includes a $3,000 suspended fine that was hanging over his head from last year’s Koori Knockout tournament.

Addo-Carr accepted a $682 fine and a three-month suspension from driving following the incident, which raised the ire of the Bulldogs and their all-powerful head of football Phil Gould.

The question now is whether he will be with the Bulldogs or another club given there is a feeling within the game that the ‘Dogs would be happy to let him go even though he has 12 months remaining on his contract with the club.

The Dragons appear the most likely destination, although they may need to move some players to make a deal for Addo-Carr work.

Ravalawa has already been told by the Dragons that he is free to leave the club if he can find a deal elsewhere and his potential departure would help free up some cap space for the club.

However, they have been unable to find a taker of the Fijian international, the Bulldogs the latest club to distance themselves from the 26-year-old.

Addo-Carr has five business days to respond to the breach.

Originally published as NRL 2024: Bulldogs star Josh Addo-Carr handed breach notice, likely 4 week suspension and fine