The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have entered a full blown crisis with reports of player unrest and a lack of communication with the coaching staff.
An unnamed Bulldogs player has reportedly walked out on the club after he was late to training and was ‘punished’ by having to wrestle over a dozen of his teammates.
The Daily Telegraph’s David Riccio believes there is a culture of mediocrity and laziness at the Bulldogs and said coach Cameron Ciraldo should learn from Brisbane coach Kevin Walters who faced a similar ordeal a few seasons ago.
“There is sensitivity around the player because of his mental health,” Riccio said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“That is the reason why the player has not been named; it’s just out of respect for that player.
“Players are complaining about how hard training is and this latest story is another element to that.
“The problem I have is the way players at a struggling club could possibly say that working hard is not the way out (of this hole).
“Kevin Walters went through this and it was almost identical.
“Players were tired and complaining about the threat of soft tissue injuries. You can only use the Broncos as the barometer because look at the Broncos now.
“The training standards and the roster needs some serious tinkering from the Dogs.”
Ciraldo was irate in his press conference after the Bulldogs’ 42-24 loss to Manly and suggested some of his players were lacking effort and desire.
Riccio believes this is a by-product of senior players such as Josh Jackson and Josh Reynolds leaving in the last 12 months and standards subsequently dropping.
“There is a leadership void at the Canterbury Bulldogs,” Riccio continued.
“The leaders are the barometers of the dressing room and (at the Broncos), they are Pat Carrigan and Adam Reynolds.
“Matt Burton, who came from Penrith, was never expected to be a captain or leader at the Panthers.
“All I saw from Reed Mahoney at Parramatta was an effort player. Was he a captain at Parramatta? No.
“Viliame Kikau is an experienced player but not considered a major leader at the Panthers and he is now emerging as a dominant voice at training.
“It needs to be a quick development of leadership from Kikau’s point of view.
“The debate around training standards (is fixed) when strong leaders bring the dressing room together and show the direction of where the club is going and to get on board.
“I don’t know if that’s the case with Dogs. It’s a major issue.”
The Bulldogs finish their season against the Gold Coast Titans on Sunday.