The Bulldogs are reportedly defending their treatment of a player who left the NRL club after being forced to wrestle a dozen teammates as punishment for being late to training.
According to The Daily Telegraph, the unnamed player became “distraught” and refused to return to the club, despite being contracted for the following season.
He was characterised as a “fringe first grader” by the S
On Tuesday night, multiple media outlets received a text message detailing the training event, which the SMH reported is a “common practice at NRL clubs” and occurred last month.
Aaron Warburton, an executive, described her as “very sensitive”.
Clint Newton, CEO of RLPA, told The Daily Telegraph that “matters of this nature are incredibly private.”
“The RLPA is aware of this issue, and we will continue to work with the player and his agents to resolve it. “Once that is completed, we will contact club officials,” he stated.
The SMH reported that the player requested time off for “personal reasons” following the end-of-training incident and has yet to return to the club. His contract is still being paid.
The Daily Telegraph reported another player was “late the following week and endured the same punishment.
According to The Daily Telegraph, another player was “late the following week” and received the same punishment.
The discoveries heighten the club’s status in the public eye.
There are reports that numerous Bulldogs players have protested about head coach Cameron Ciraldo’s training standards, raising the possibility of a roster “clean-out”.
According to a report from the SMH last week, a text message was distributed saying that up to eight players had expressed worries about the workload, specifically their availability to train from 8 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.
Speaking on Fox League’s NRL 360 on Tuesday night, former Bulldogs premiership champion Braith Anasta said he, too, had heard Ciraldo was dissatisfied with some of the players.
