In light of the deteriorating relationship between the Bulldogs and their club captain, Canterbury has informed Raymond Faitala-Mariner that he will not be expected to attend the team’s first official training day.
Even though Faitala-Mariner has a contract that runs out at the end of 2025, there has been constant speculation about his future. Only eight months after being named club captain, he was granted permission in September to negotiate with other clubs.
Faitala-Mariner was planning to show up at Belmore on Friday when the first group of players was obliged to start preseason, but she hasn’t found a new place to call home for the upcoming season.
Ernesto Santone, the manager of Faitala-Mariner, stated, “I have been informed that he is not required at training on Friday.”
As soon as possible, we would like to find a solution for this. Despite all of the scandal this season, he still has a contract through 2024 and 2025, and he was then granted permission to speak with other teams.
“This is obviously coming from the club; we need to investigate further.”
The Bulldogs opted not to respond.
Although Santone stated his client had prepared himself to return this week, some of Canterbury’s senior players aren’t expected to return to training until mid-November.
“I’ve always discussed with Ray that he returned on November 10th,” Santone stated. “I want to get together with the club as soon as I can.”
Since this masthead disclosed in July that Faitala-Mariner was on the outside at Belmore, there has been constant conjecture regarding his future.
In January, Faitala-Mariner was named club captain, and Matt Burton and Reed Mahoney were named co-captains for the on-field duties. But following a dismal 15th-place finish—during which they registered the 12th-worst defensive record in NRL history (765 points conceded, or 32 points per game)—the Bulldogs have made the decision to shuffle their roster.
The club has been on a hiring binge ever since, as evidenced by this week’s confirmation of the commitments to two-year contracts made by Drew Hutchison, Kurt Mann, Jake Turpin, and Poasa Faamausili. Blake Taaffe, Josh Curran, Stephen Crichton, Jaeman Salmon, and Siosiua Taukeiaho are among the other confirmed additions to the team. Taukeiaho is anticipated to join the team following a stint in the UK Super League.
This development coincides with the hope that young Canterbury playmaker Karl Oloapu, whose neck injury threatened his promising NRL career, may recover thanks to the work of a spinal specialist.
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