Bulldogs bombshell: Players reveal brutal details of teammate’s punishment

His sanction lasted about the same amount of the time, yet tipped him over the edge and left the club open to fresh scrutiny over their rebuild under head of football Phil Gould and coach Cameron Ciraldo. This masthead can reveal that the player was forced to drop to his knees and wrestle every fit member of the squad during an exhausting exercise that left him battered and bruised, an ordeal known across the game as ‘shark bait’. Initial reports suggested it was around a dozen players. In truth, it may have been as many as 30. In the bowels of the grandstand at Belmore Sportsground, on a wrestling mat that has become standard fare at every NRL club, his teammates took turns to grapple the player and attempt to force him onto his back. Each knee wrestling contest lasted anywhere from 10 to 30 seconds. All up, it was close to 10 minutes but officials and players at rival clubs have spoken of their shock that the player was forced to endure such punishment. The player returned to training the next day and finished the week. He hasn’t been sighted since, taking time off to deal with mental health issues that were brought to the surface by the torment he endured at Belmore during a training session that threatens to split the club.It all happened about five weeks ago but has simmered to the surface this week amid ongoing drama at the club. Bulldogs officials privately insist they saw no sign of any trouble in the immediate aftermath to the incident, which now threatens to become a workplace issue.There has also been talk of legal action, although that has been denied by sources close to the club and the player. However, this masthead understands that some of his teammates were concerned by what they saw.THE PLAYERSThis masthead spoke to several Bulldogs players who discussed the incident on the condition of anonymity.“It was a knee wrestle where you’ve got to get your opponent onto their back,” one said.“He was made to wrestle everyone and you can imagine how fatigued he got. It was everyone in the top 30 squad apart from the injured guys.“After it happened, I thought ‘what the f… was that.’ It was pretty ordinary. A lot of players didn’t want to do it.”Sources speaking on the condition of anonymity insist the player never apologised for being late. This masthead was told that players were reluctant to complain to Ciraldo.It is understood club captain Raymond Faitala-Mariner had fronted Ciraldo weeks earlier but nothing changed. Faitala-Mariner has since become a martyr at the club. There have been ongoing suggestions that he will be free to leave at the end of the season, although officials have insisted he has a place at the Bulldogs.Another player, who is no longer at the club, said he left because of the environment that is currently in place at the Bulldogs.“I just didn’t enjoy being there,” he said.“A lot of other players felt the same. It had nothing to do with hard work … it was just the environment.”This masthead was told that a number of Canterbury players are infuriated that Ciraldo has publicly criticised their work ethic in recent weeks. The coach, who came from Penrith where success is the norm rather than the expectation, has become frustrated at his side’s performances this season. On more than one occasion, he has publicly called them out after games. One player said: “No one is afraid to work hard. That’s never been the problem.”THE NRL AND RLPAOn Wednesday, the NRL and Rugby League Players Association became involved in the matter as concerns grew over the nature of the incident.NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo confirmed he had contacted the club to seek further information.“We have reached out to the Bulldogs to establish what has occurred,” Abdo said.“I won’t make any further comment until we have all the facts.”The RLPA revealed they had been approached by representatives of the player asking for their help to ensure his name didn’t enter the public domain. There is a fear that should his name leak, it will impact on his fragile state. There are also fears that coverage of the incident may impact on his ability to find another club should he secure a release from the Bulldogs.“The Rugby League Players’ Association has been contacted by a player’s representatives seeking advice and support in relation to a current employment matter,” the RLPA statement said.“The player is employed at the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs NRL club. We acknowledge the desire to report on matters that are of interest to the public, however, it is critical that the names of the people involved are not disclosed in the media. “These are sensitive workplace matters and, just like in any industry, confidentiality is paramount to ensure the wellbeing of anyone involved is safeguarded above all else.”THE COACHCiraldo would also love the issue to go away. He fronted the media on Wednesday morning where he made no apologies for the hard line stance he is taking with the playing group.Ciraldo joined the Bulldogs on a five-year contract after being anointed as the next big prospect in coaching following a successful stint as an assistant at Penrith.The changes he has made have not equated to results though with the Bulldogs having won seven games – the same amount as they did last year.“We know what success looks like,” Ciraldo said.“We have a lot of people buying into the process. “My last job I had 10 years coming through the grades with the group and I knew them inside out.“To create those relationships in eight or nine months, it’s taken longer to build that trust than I probably imagined.NRL: Canterbury could be a club in turmoil as criticism comes amid reports of player unrest inside the club and opposition to Ciraldo's methods.“I feel sorry for the fans for where we are. It doesn’t seem like we’ve taken steps forward this year…we haven’t taken steps back. It’s helped us navigate where we are going in the future.“We know where we are going. If you’re willing to work hard and make sacrifices and stick to the winning standards, come with us.”He was supported late on Wednesday by former Bulldogs star Willie Mason, who is a member of the coaching staff and now has his own podcast. Mason pulled no punches as he addressed suggestions some players weren’t happy with the demands being made by Ciraldo as he attempted to shift the culture at the club.“I hate shit like that because I see what our coaches put together ….” Mason said.“I know what the schedule is. If you can’t deal with it you’re not going to be f..king there. Because there’s high standards at the club regardless of what’s happening right now, where we’re coming on the ladder.“There’s no excuses and you’ll get weeded out of the club because that’s what Ciro wants to do.“These guys have had a losing mentality there for like five years. So it’s a cultural thing, winning and losing. This is a way to fish them out.“If you can’t f..king handle it, the way the Bulldogs play and train, this is not your f..king club. The guys we want there, they will be there.“Players coming in are going to bring a winning culture as well. It is the way it is - you have to tough it out. We’re all in this together.”No doubt, the player at the centre of the latest Bulldogs drama would beg to differ.