Bulldogs boss Phil Gould is said to have held crisis talks with former club captain Raymond Faitala-Mariner ahead of a potentially messy split.
After Josh Jackson’s retirement at the end of the 2022 season, Faitala-Mariner was named Canterbury’s club captain.
Despite the fact that he has two years remaining on his current contract, the 30-year-old has been told he is free to negotiate with rivals, and the Bulldogs have made their position clear.
Faitala-Mariner was reportedly told to avoid the club’s pre-season training, as players prepare to return for the 2024 season.
The Daily Telegraph has now published a photo of the crisis talks that took place less than two days after he was told he wasn’t welcome at training.
On Saturday morning, Gould was spotted at Canterbury League Club with Faitala-Mariner and his manager Ernest Santone.
The Bulldogs boss also took to X to express his displeasure that the image had been leaked, questioning why a photographer knew the time and location of the conversation.
“A photograph of me was taken yesterday during a meeting at the Canterbury Leagues Club and was sent to the media for publication.” “I never care about these things, but the club is understandably unimpressed,” he wrote.
“The person responsible has been captured on CCTV at Leagues Club.” He’s been identified now. He is said to be a professional photographer. I have a mental image of him, and we know his name.
“Once again, these things never bother me. But I’m curious as to why a professional photographer happened to be at that specific venue, at that time of day, in a very quiet lounge of the club, and ready to take the photo that he did.
“I think it’s hilarious. But I suppose that’s the world we live in. “I hope everyone has a good weekend.”
The lock has yet to find a club willing to take on his current contract, which is worth $400,000 per year for the next two seasons.
The schism between the Bulldogs and Faitala-Mariner is said to have started when the star was approached by a group of players who were dissatisfied with coach Cameron Ciraldo’s training requirements.
He reportedly voiced the players’ concerns, with Ciraldo also under fire after one of his players walked out of practice following a wrestling punishment.
Meanwhile, the RLPA is said to be ready to step in and assist Faitala-Mariner if the situation cannot be resolved.
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