NRL 2024: Josh Addo-Carr granted permission to test open market, leave Canterbury Bulldogs

Josh Addo-Carr’s time as a Bulldogs player is all but over, after the club granted the winger formal permission to talk with rival clubs.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 12: Josh Addo-Carr of the Bulldogs looks on during the round six NRL match between Melbourne Storm and Canterbury Bulldogs at AAMI Park, on April 12, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Josh Addo-Carr’s time as a Bulldog appears over after the club granted the flying winger official confirmation to test the open market.

The development comes with Addo-Carr set to accept the NRL’s four-game penalty and a $15,000 fine after testing positive to a road side drug test.

But the 29-year-old is now looking for a new club with Canterbury granting him permission to see what is available to him despite having 12 months left on his contract.

The Dragons are expected to chase the NSW and Australian star, whose $500,000 contract expires at the end of next year.

The Bulldogs have already indicated they won’t be in a position to offer Addo-Carr a new deal in 2026. This decision will fast-track his exit.

Josh Addo-Carr could be a free agent as early as next week. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

The Dragons have salary cap space to accommodate Addo-Carr but also want to move on winger Mikaele Ravalawa, whose deal next year is worth more than $450,000.

Addo-Carr was issued with a breach notice by the NRL on Tuesday. Despite having five days to contest the ruling, he has privately decided to already accept his punishment.

He took a similar stance with his $682 fine and a three-month suspension from driving following the incident.

Addo-Carr still protests his innocence but wants to put the situation behind him.

Whatever club does sign him though will need to contend with Addo-Carr’s ban, which he still has three matches to miss.

He has already served one match after missing Canterbury’s opening finals loss to Manly.

Addo-Carr was one of Canterbury’s biggest signings in recent years when he arrived at the club in 2022 on a four year contract.

At that time he was the best winger in the game and he joined a Canterbury side who were struggling to attract big-name talent.

He scored 38 tries from 52 games with injury restricting him to just 29 games in the past two seasons.