Canterbury soccer boss Phil Gould says it’s “too early” to find out whether or not Josh Addo-Carr has performed his final Bulldogs sport because the winger prepares to entrance the NRL integrity unit over his cocaine saga.
The Bulldogs nonetheless have unanswered questions after secondary evaluation of Addo-Carr’s roadside drug take a look at confirmed a optimistic studying for cocaine final Friday.
The participant has maintained he didn’t knowingly take cocaine earlier than being stopped by police after he left the Bulldogs’ Homebush camp to purchase a telephone charger late at evening on September 6.
However the 29-year-old’s lawyer confirmed final week he would settle for a $682 advantageous and three-month ban from driving over the incident, which Gould advised Channel 9 was “nearly an request for forgiveness”.
The Bulldogs’ season ended with a 24-22 elimination ultimate loss to Manly on Sunday, Addo-Carr opting to face down from Canterbury’s first ultimate since 2016 somewhat than create a media circus.
However it’s removed from over for Addo-Carr as supervisor Mario Tartak arranges to satisfy with the NRL integrity unit this week, with the Bulldogs’ personal talks to observe from that.
“The NRL have determined it is time for them to step in and decide on what their punishment might be after which it will be as much as the membership to see what we do from there,” Gould advised Channel 9’s 100% Footy.
“I have not spoken to him because the second optimistic evaluation got here again. I imagine he is nonetheless protesting his innocence however on the finish of the day, it is in his system when he takes the drug take a look at on Friday evening.
“The way it obtained there, he must work that out and clarify that to the people who depend.”
After the integrity unit meets to find out any NRL-enforced punishment, Gould will determine whether or not he feels Addo-Carr ought to stay on the Bulldogs for 2025, the final yr of his contract.
He’ll take that advice to Canterbury’s board, led by first-year chairman Adam Driussi, and a ultimate judgement might be made on Addo-Carr’s enjoying future on the membership.
“I feel that is too early to say (whether or not he might be fired),” Gould stated late Monday evening.
“(The board) could or could not take my advice. They could or could not have one other viewpoint.
“On the finish of the day, we’ll do what we expect is in the very best long-term curiosity of the membership, it is so simple as that, and all of the gamers perceive that: membership first, crew second, particular person third. That is what we’ll do.”
Except for his assembly with the NRL, Addo-Carr will spend the week collaborating within the Bulldogs’ ultimate efficiency evaluations and exit interviews following a resurgent 2024 season.
He will even bear a medical evaluation after lacking the ultimate spherical of the common season with a minor ankle damage.
The Bulldogs might be left to contemplate what might need been after every week within the headlines led to a gallant, although in the end season-ending, loss to Manly.
“It was definitely disappointing from a membership perspective, it was definitely dangerous timing from a membership perspective and it wasn’t good,” Gould stated.
“However what was nice was the way in which our gamers responded, put it behind them. The teaching workers obtained able to play the video games of their lives on the weekend and did so, so I used to be very pleased with that.”
AAP
