Canterbury Bulldogs supremo Phil Gould has unleashed after a photograph was published of him reportedly staging a crisis meeting with out-of-favour captain Raymond Faitala-Mariner.

The image, published by NewsCorp on Saturday, showed Gould in conversation with Faitala-Mariner and his manager Ernesto Santone at Canterbury Leagues Club that morning.

With the trio locked in a deep conversation, they were snapped by a “member of the public”.

The gathering took place after the second-rower was told to stay away from the first day of pre-season training on Friday.

Responding to the photo on his social media on Sunday, Gould said the Canterbury Leagues Club was disgruntled by the act.

“A photo was taken of me yesterday, in a meeting at Canterbury Leagues Club, and sent to the media for publication,” he wrote on X.

“I never care about these things, however, the club is rightfully unimpressed. Leagues Club CCTV has recorded the person responsible. He has now been identified.

“I am told that he is a professional photographer. I have an image of him, and we also have his name. Again, these things never worry me.

“But I just wonder why a professional photographer happened to be at that particular venue, at that time of day, in a very quiet lounge of the club, and prepared to take the photo that he did. I find it hilarious.

“But I guess that’s the world in which we live. Hope you are all enjoying your weekend.”

Faitala-Mariner was unveiled as club captain in January but now looks to be on the outer at Canterbury with the club bolstering its roster over the off-season.

He was permitted to negotiate with rival clubs in September despite having two years left to run on his current deal with the Bulldogs.