NRL 2023: Josh Addo-Carr addresses Bulldogs exit rumours, backs Ciraldo’s system

Bulldogs star Josh Addo-Carr has broken his silence on his Bulldogs future, and put the hard word on Belmore’s new recruits, writes DAVID RICCIO.

Josh Addo-Carr with Bulldogs fans in 2022. Picture: NRL Photos

Josh Addo-Carr says he is going nowhere, producing his unmistakeable laugh to shoot down any notion of him leaving Belmore.

The man affectionately known as the ‘Foxx’ spoke to this masthead after being selected for Mal Meninga’s Prime Minister’s XIII team to play Papua New Guinea next weekend.

Addo-Carr had been the subject of league whispers that in the wake of the Bulldogs disappointing 2023 season, which has resulted in a major roster shake-up by GM of football Phil Gould, that he was also looking to get out of the club.

The 28-year-old shot down the claims.

“I’ll be there for sure,’’ Addo-Carr said.

“You can’t control what people say on the outside.

“When I saw that (speculation), people were ringing me with my phone blowing up, I told them I don’t know where they had heard that from.

“Seriously, I’m just worried about what I’ve got to do next season for the club and that’s what I’ll be doing.

“We’ll be working our backsides off to get things right.’’

Josh Addo-Carr has shut down rumours he’s leaving the Bulldogs. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Statistically, it was one of Addo-Carr’s most disappointing seasons, largely due to having to undergo mid-season ankle surgery.

The celebrated tryscorer managed 11 tries in 15-games – his least number of tries and games since his debut season in 2016.

“For me, it was a very inconsistent season,’’ he said.

“There are some things that I really need to work on.

“I felt like I was flying before my injury and I just had to work extra hard to get my body right this year.

“It was definitely a tough year.’’

Addo-Carr said that despite the club’s seven wins and 15th-placed finish, he could draw positives from the growth of the team.

He added that both head coach Cameron Ciraldo and Gould’s bid to change the culture of the club by recruiting the likes of Stephen Crichton (Panthers), Blake Taaffe (Rabbitohs), Jaemon Salmon (Panthers), Kurt Mann (Knights), Drew Hutchison (Roosters) and Sio Siua Taukeiaho (Catalan) was the right move.

The ‘Foxx’ insists that the Bulldogs are buying into what coach Cameron Ciraldo is building and he won’t be leaving Belmore any time soon. Picture: NRL Imagery

“We’re trying to change,’’ Addo-Carr said.

“We’re buying into what Ciro (Ciraldo) and everyone wants at the club and we believe in that.

“The club is buying players that are going to believe in our system and who I think are real footy players.

“They’re obviously team players and those are the players you want to play with each week and be around every day.’’

Asked what he had taken from working under Ciraldo for the first time in 2023, Addo-Carr offered a rare appraisal.

“Ciro is a wonderful coach. He’s definitely one of the best coaches I’ve ever been a part of,’’ Addo-Carr said. “I’ve been coached by one of the greatest coaches (Bellamy) to ever do it and it’s similar to what he does.

“He’s really worked on the team and the organisation being connected and being strong together.

“We’re working our backsides off to get things right.

“It’s the same as every successful club. It’s just about doing it.

“There’s a lot of hard work we put in.

“I know that we will learn from this year and everyone needs to have a strong pre-season.

“I can’t wait.’’

Originally published as NRL 2023: Josh Addo-Carr addresses Bulldogs exit rumours, backs Ciraldo’s system