Exiled Bulldogs skipper returns after ‘crisis meeting’
Canterbury’s stand-off with captain Raymond Faitala-Mariner has taken a surprise twist, with the exiled star make a surprise appearance on Wednesday. Canterbury general manager of football Phil Gould has met with Raymond Faitala-Mariner, after the Bulldogs captain was exiled from pre-season training this week.
Phil Gould bites back after ‘hilarious’ photograph exposes secret meeting with exiled captain
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.
The 30-year-old played 14 top-grade games in 2023 and has been a mainstay for the club since coming on board midway through 2016 after starting his career with the Warriors.
He last appeared for the club in round 21 against Penrith.
It has been largely reported that a rift between Faitala-Mariner and the club formed after he raised concerns over the culture and training regimen under coach Cameron Ciraldo
“We would like to come to some sort of resolution to this as soon as possible. With all the innuendo of this season, and then being given permission to talk to other clubs, he still has a contract for 2024 and 2025,” Santone told the Sydney Morning Herald.
“Obviously, this is coming from the club, and we need to get to the bottom of it.”
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