NRL 2024: Phil Gould has crisis meeting with exiled Bulldogs captain Raymond Faitala-Mariner

Canterbury general manager of football Phil Gould has met with Raymond Faitala-Mariner, after the Bulldogs captain was exiled from pre-season training this week.

Raymond Faitala-Mariner (left) has held crisis talks with Bulldogs head of football Phil Gould at Canterbury Leagues Club. Picture: Supplied

Unwanted former Canterbury club captain Raymond Faitala-Mariner has held crisis talks with Canterbury boss Phil Gould just days after being told to stay away from the club.

This masthead was sent a photo of the emergency meeting between Gould and Faitala-Mariner at Canterbury League Club on Saturday morning after the pair were captured deep in talks by a member of the public.

Faitala-Mariner was accompanied by his agent Ernesto Santone. The forward’s distinguished hairstyle made him easily stand out at the club’s headquarters.

The get-together occurred less than 48 hours after the 30-year-old was told to stay away from training despite the rest of the squad starting pre-season training on Friday.

Faitala-Mariner has severely fallen out of favour with the club hierarchy just months after being trumpeted as club captain.

Raymond Faitala-Mariner (left) has held crisis talks with Bulldogs head of football Phil Gould (right) at Canterbury Leagues Club. Picture: Supplied

He was given permission to leave the Bulldogs when he was free to talk to rival clubs in September. However, he is yet to find a suitable alternative with two years remaining on his deal worth about $400,000 a season.

The RLPA are expected to intervene if the situation between the Bulldogs and one of their most experienced players cannot be rectified.

They have sought further information surrounding Faitala-Mariner’s treatment. He made 14 appearances for the club in 2023 and has been a mainstay in the top grade since joining the Bulldogs midway through 2016 from the Warriors.

It is understood the relationship between Faitala-Mariner and the club became strained after he raised concerns over training on behalf of some of his teammates.

He played his last game for the club in round 21 against Penrith but has been unsighted since.

While Faitala-Mariner was a big-name absentee on Friday, a host of players including Bronson Xerri took part in their first training session as a Bulldog.

Fellow new recruits including Stephen Crichton, Josh Curran, Kurt Mann and Drew Hutchinson will filter through training in the next few weeks.

Originally published as NRL 2024: Phil Gould has crisis meeting with exiled Bulldogs captain Raymond Faitala-Mariner