NRL 2024: Phil Gould suggests Josh Addo-Carr will return for Bulldogs if they advance in finals amid test sample delay

Phil Gould has suggested Josh Addo-Carr will be back playing for the Bulldogs next week if they advance to semi-finals, saying there’s “no reason” for the club or NRL Integrity Unit to stand down to Canterbury winger.

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND – AUGUST 23: Josh Addo-Carr of the Bulldogs looks on during the round 25 NRL match between New Zealand Warriors and Brisbane Broncos at Shaun Johnson Stadium, on August 23, 2024, in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

Phil Gould has suggested Josh Addo-Carr will be back playing next week should the Bulldogs advance to the second week of the semi-finals.

In a major development, the Bulldogs GM of football has revealed that due to a backlog of secondary drug samples needing to be analysed by the police, it could be eight to 10-weeks before Addo-Carr’s future in the game is decided.

The high-profile Canterbury winger made the decision to stand down from the club’s elimination final against Manly on Sunday after failing a roadside drug test last Friday night.

Following his 17-minute press conference on Tuesday, Gould used Nine’s Six Tackles with Gus Podcast to add a new chapter to the saga.

“When we come to availability (for next week), we haven’t stood him down,’’ Gould said.

“He stood down this week to take the attention off him and the distraction off him and everybody else in the first week of the semi finals.

Canterbury GM of football Phil Gould suggests Josh Addo-Carr could return to the field next week if the Bulldogs advance. Picture: NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

“I sat down and spoke to him last week and said, ‘this is the week ahead if we name you today and you play.

“And this is the week ahead if you stand down and we go from there.

“He considered both options and made that decision (to stand down) there and then.

“But under the CBA with the NRL, neither the club or NRL Integrity have grounds to stand a player down until the result of that sample comes back.

“The problem is, there’s a backlog there (with police) for eight or 10 weeks.

“You can’t leave a player out eight or 10 weeks to see if his sample is going to be tested.

Josh Addo-Carr personally stood down from this week’s game against Manly. Picture: Tim Hunter.

“I actually rang Dino Mezzatesta (Cronulla Sharks CEO) because they had an incident earlier in the year with Braydon Trindall.

“When they went there they were told that it could be eight to 10 weeks to find this result of the drug test so Braydon decided to plead guilty to get the matter done and served a month suspension.

“Our season, we’re in sudden death mode now. We might last one week or four weeks, we don’t know.

“But as of next week, there really is no reason for the club or the NRL Integrity Unit to keep Josh Addo-Carr out of the game.

“This is Josh’s decision this week.

“Hopefully we get through this game this weekend.’’

Originally published as NRL 2024: Phil Gould suggests Josh Addo-Carr will return for Bulldogs if they advance in finals amid test sample delay