Canterbury Bulldogs star Josh Addo-Carr to learn fate over drugs scandal on Monday

Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo conceded the sideshow around Josh Addo-Carr may have had an impact on their shattering finals exit, as the star winger preapres to front Canterbury officials.

Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo has conceded the sideshow around Josh Addo-Carr may have had an impact on their shattering finals exit at the hands of Manly on Sunday - but he insists the club could not have handled the drama any better.

The Bulldogs, having reached the finals for the first time in nearly a decade, conceded a late try that ultimately consigned them to defeat to the Sea Eagles, devastating Ciraldo, his players and legion of fans who turned Accor Stadium into a sea of blue and white.

It capped a tumultuous week for the club that began with revelations that superstar winger Addo-Carr had failed a roadside drug test, prompting the former NSW and Australian winger to rule himself out of contention to play Manly.

Addo-Carr insisted he had not taken anything illegal but the club was rocked again only days before the game when an oral sample also came back positive.

Head of football Phil Gould fronted with the media over the matter during the week and Ciraldo is confident the playing group were able to shield themselves from the drama.

“It’s hard to say whether it had an impact or not,” Ciraldo said.

Cameron Ciraldo is proud of how the club has dealt with the Josh Addo-Carr scandal. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

“What I will say is I thought we handled it right. I thought having a leader like Gus (Gould) was awesome for myself and the playing group.

“You’re always looking at the playing group and thinking, how has it affected them? They came to me and said, this is not a distraction for us, we’re right to go.

“I think it showed out there tonight how well they prepared all week. So it’s a credit to these players and their leaders that they they were able to shift any focus on that onto trying to get the job done tonight.”

Addo-Carr is yet to learn his final fate from the Bulldogs or the NRL. There is every chance that could happen this week as Bulldogs officials weigh up whether to rip up his contract - he has one season left on a lucrative contract.

“Yeah, obviously your main concern is for Josh and his family but once that’s done, I had a job to do with the team,” Ciraldo said.

“I was really lucky that the leaders like Steven (Crichton) just helped me with that.

“So we were really excited about finals footy - that was the main thing in the week. I was really happy with the way we prepared.”

FOX’S FATE TO BE DECIDED

Josh Addo-Carr won’t be at Canterbury’s biggest game in eight years on Sunday but could learn his fate as soon as Monday where he is facing an uphill battle to remain at the club.

It is understood the Bulldogs winger won’t attend the elimination match against the Sea Eagles having been given the weekend off following his positive roadside drug test.

Meetings are expected to be planned for Monday where Addo-Carr may learn his fate.

He is facing the very real prospect of being terminated by the Bulldogs, having told the club he had not taken any illicit substances despite testing positive to cocaine use.

Addo-Carr still has one year left on his contract worth about $500,000.

His agent Mario Tartak said it was too early to make a call on Addo-Carr’s long-term future.

“At this current time it’s about Josh and his welfare and more importantly the welfare of his young family,” Tartak said.

Josh Addo Carr will face the music on Monday. Picture: Tim Hunter.

“In due course we will be dealing with the Bulldogs and the NRL’s integrity unit.”

Cronulla imposed a five-game penalty on five-eighth Braydon Trindall for his own drug driving offence earlier this year.

Addo-Carr has elected to pay the $682 fine and has been disqualified from driving for the next three months. Despite opting to accept the sanction, it is understood that Addo-Carr is making no admission of guilt.

The decision means he won’t have to front court and it fast-tracks any potential punishments he receives from the Bulldogs and the NRL.

He was at training on Friday afternoon when he was told of the positive test. Addo-Carr was given permission to leave training and was subsequently given the weekend off.

Originally published as Canterbury Bulldogs star Josh Addo-Carr to learn fate over drugs scandal on Monday