Let’s have a chat: Bulldogs officials keen to meet reinstated pair

Bulldogs officials want to meet Corey Harawira-Naera and Jayden Okunbor in person as part of their return to the playing squad

Corey Harawira-Naera is unhappy with his treatment from the Bulldogs Picture: Getty Images

Canterbury officials will consult the club’s leadership group and plan to set up personal meetings with Corey Harawira-Naera and Jayden Okunbor as they look to thrash out the futures of reinstated pair before the weekend.

Harawira-Naera and Okunbor were deregistered by the game and sacked by the club following a pre-season incident in Port Macquarie, but subsequently had their contracts reinstated after they successfully appealed to the NRL appeals committee.

Both are well within their rights to return to the Bulldogs, although Harawira-Naera has another week remaining on his suspension and Okunbor has been outed until round 15.

In Harawira-Naera’s case there is interest from several clubs and he is understood to be upset with the way he was frozen out by the Bulldogs – Canberra, the Warriors and St George Illawarra have all expressed an interest in the New Zealand international.

The Bulldogs will have the final say. They want to know where they stand and are keen to meet Harawira-Naera before the weekend given there is a sense of urgency around his future.

Harawira-Naera, whose sanction was reduced to a 10-game suspension, could be available to turn out for the Bulldogs or another club in less than a fortnight, although the game’s current biosecurity protocols mean he may be forced to wait another week.

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Before he gets that far, he needs to resolve things with the Bulldogs. It won’t be easy. Harawira-Naera provided an insight into his feelings when he issued a statement to The Australian earlier this week and said the widespread speculation as to what occurred contained many inaccuracies and falsehoods.

While the jury remains out on their respective futures, their teammates would welcome them back with open arms.

“From a playing point of view – all the players are in (agreement) – we want them back,” forward Aiden Tolman said. “Now that the NRL has downgraded their (bans) and their contracts have been reinstated … I think Corey could be available next week.

“Us as players, if the NRL believes they have done their time and the penalty is warranted, we want them back here and we want them back playing. I think the club and their management, and the players themselves, they have to negotiate what the outcome is and what they want to do.

“For us as a playing group, the NRL has made their ruling, they have given their penalties, they have done their time out of the game. If they are available to come back, we definitely want them playing.”

Tolman revealed some Bulldogs players had maintained contact with the pair.

“We haven’t been able to see anybody outside the bubble,” he said. “I don’t think any player here has seen them. We text, we phone call. They are close to a lot of the boys here.”

Tolman, meanwhile, urged the Bulldogs hierarchy to unite amid suggestions the club has become rife with politicking behind the scenes. Earlier this week, the Bulldogs made the difficulty decision to part ways with coach Dean Pay.

Penrith assistant Trent Barrett is the favourite to take over, although powerbrokers continue to explore other options.

“I don’t think the players need to get involved in board goings on but I will say that leadership starts at the top of places and we need that to filter down,” Tolman said.

“I’m not saying what they’ve done is right or wrong. But I am saying that we have some clear clarity now in the direction that we’re moving.”