Bulldogs Turmoil, Noad and Folks rumours
Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs are under intense pressure, as they finally jag a win over the NZ Warriors today.
The heat remains on coach Steve Folkes and CEO Malcom Noad over player retention and dissent within playing ranks. The players are said to be angry over the Corey Hughes and Mark O'Meley resigning mishaps.
Take into account the treatment of Hazem El Masri and the loss of plenty of talent recently and you get an idea of why the Bulldogs are near the foot of the NRL table.
Willie Mason aired his thoughts about Hughes and back-up hooker Adam Perry being in limbo in his Sun-Herald column last week.
His comments - with the views of Mark O'Meley and Reni Maitua - were repeated in Rugby League Week.
Although O'Meley said the Bulldogs had changed over the past few years to the point where the club was now more like a "business", Noad indicated he had no problem with the players' views about Hughes.
"The players suggested to us their comments were meant to support Corey Hughes," he said. "It was not an attack on the club."
However, Noad said he was not yet able to make Hughes an offer because of the salary cap.
He added that Folkes, who is handling the club's negotiations with Hughes, had denied the suggestion management had "forced" him to tell Hughes he no longer had a future with the Bulldogs.
"With the salary cap you try to juggle a whole lot of things but you have limits," Noad said.
"We have a finite amount of money we can spend."
The report in The Sun-Herald documented the issues that sources blame for the disillusionment in the player ranks.
Apart from Hughes and Perry, other sources of frustration include:
The club's highest pointscorer, Hazem El Masri, is pleading for a new deal as negotiations drag on.
Veteran forward O'Meley has been denied a three-year deal.
Kiwi international Matt Utai's future is still up in the air.
There is also uncertainty about Brent Sherwin's future despite the club's guarantee he will see out his contract.
Noad said the club had offered Utai a deal three months ago only to be told by his manager it was "miles off the mark".
He denied the Bulldogs dragged their heels during negotiations with El Masri and
said the rumour that Willie Tonga had asked for a release was untrue.
Noad said deputy chairman Peter Casilles was wrongly named in The Sun-Herald's report as one of the directors who had taken holidays mid-season.
