Cameron Ciraldo | Consolidated thread

[UmoGus]

Offcourse flamingo had to reach out straight away. Little weasel

 

[DinkumDog]

“Kyle reached out and wanted to catch up"

Shane at the adjacent table :

 

[c-b-b]

I’ll be so happy at the end of this season when I don’t see articles about Flanno reaching out to our coaching staff and talking about how hard he’s working on his game. In most other eras a player with that skill set would be nowhere near first grade.

The thing that made me most happy though was CC saying we’ll find our own identity. I’m so over we’ll be the “dogs of war” or bring back the madness, leave that in the past.

 

[BELMORE]

Bring on 2023 already. Can’t believe we recruited and had so many new faces in 2022 and we played the same shit footy.

Surely we’ve got enough fresh blood to actually see a change in style and structures to start 2023

 

[D- voice]

I’ll be so happy at the end of this season when I don’t see articles about Flanno reaching out to our coaching staff and talking about how hard he’s working on his game. In most other eras a player with that skill set would be nowhere near first grade.

The thing that made me most happy though was CC saying we’ll find our own identity. I’m so over we’ll be the “dogs of war” or bring back the madness, leave that in the past.

Over the years the only thing Flanagan Jnr has learnt is how to kiss the coaches backside.

 

[Snake]

I don’t know about this ‘clean slate’ business and giving our duds (I.e flang) another chance to prove themselves. Do video on the last few seasons and move on the deadwood as quickly as possible.

 

[2ndphase]

breakfast?

Pm not Am!

 

[Bulldogs09]

Oh dear. Guess flopagun bought the coffee and offered to be the “ball boy”

 

[Mr Beast]

I’ll be so happy at the end of this season when I don’t see articles about Flanno reaching out to our coaching staff and talking about how hard he’s working on his game. In most other eras a player with that skill set would be nowhere near first grade.

The thing that made me most happy though was CC saying we’ll find our own identity. I’m so over we’ll be the “dogs of war” or bring back the madness, leave that in the past.

Agreed with the dogs of war analogy, the past fees years we have been far from it. Last time we even close to that was when we had the like of Frank the tank, Big Sam etc gees that was a good forward pack. Heavies forward pack in the whole comp from memory

 

[Cujo]

Let’s see what transpires. Still not convinced on our 1,7 and still need better from the likes of Thompson TPJ and Jackson. I still think we are between 9-12th. Any team with Flanno as half will struggle to make it to the finals hoping for a miracle

Yep this is 100% how i see it for '23

 

[Cujo]

What the fuck is an eshay…

I think he was trying to type ashtray...or was it esky...possible a case of the fat fingers strikes again??

 

[CQDog]

Via Telegraph Sport Michael Carayannis

New Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo has revealed why it “felt right” to take the reins at Belmore and the simple message he will give his players when they get down to business next month.

Cameron Ciraldo has a clear message for his new players when they come together next month.

“Work hard,” Ciraldo said. “If you’re willing to work hard there is a great opportunity.

“If you want to take the opportunity, come together as a group and put in the hard work who knows what can happen.”

Michael Carayannis went one-on-one with the new Bulldogs coach in the grandstands of Belmore Oval.

THE BELMORE LINK

The first time Ciraldo entered the gates at Belmore he was a bright-eyed year 4 student.

“It was one of the first NRL grounds I played on,” Ciraldo said. “I was reminiscing … my grandmother lived two streets away. It feels like home.

“I was a mad footy head. I remember Darren Smith was three seats away from me and he was the first NRL player I’d seen in person. I remember thinking ‘I’d love to be him’.

“I couldn’t imagine being in year 4 sitting in the stand that I’d go on to play footy and be part of successful teams and then become a head coach.”

THE SPOTLIGHT

Ciraldo was chased by a handful of clubs – most notably Wests Tigers. The attention around him created headlines. While he was “uncomfortable” with all the talk he was generating, Ciraldo said it would help him when he faces adversity next season.

“I was lucky – Craig Fitzgibbon had gone through it,” Ciraldo said. “He is one of my really good mates and I speak to him at least once a week. He gave me good advice.

“In a funny way, going through all the speculation did help with being ready. Being in that uncomfortable state where your name is mentioned all the time. It’s a different sort of pressure but it’s still pressure.

“There is no way you can be ready for this but I feel like I have had a good apprenticeship.

“I’ve done interim coaching where I’ve filled in for Ivan (Cleary). Not a lot of first time coaches get that experience. That counts for nothing if you can’t deal with it when the pressure is on. I have the right people around me.

“Chad Randall is the attacking coach. He is someone I’ve known for a while. I’ve known (assistant) Craig Sandercock for 20 years. Adam Hartigan will run the pathways and is someone I have a good relationship with. Gus (Phil Gould) and I have worked together a lot over the last 10 years.”

Mick Potter will also work with the team’s attack. Ciraldo agreed to an unprecedented five-year deal to join the Bulldogs.

“Over time it felt right,” Ciraldo said.

“There are a lot of familiar faces here from my time at Penrith.

“Seeing how Gus has been able to build clubs, especially at Penrith. I know what it looks like. I’m excited to be part of that.”

THE ROSTER

The club is in advanced discussions to extend star half Matt Burton to a long-term deal – up to four more years. Ciraldo has already met halfback Kyle Flanagan.

“I have a good relationship with Matt,” Ciraldo said. “He is someone who can have a successful career at the Bulldogs.

“Kyle reached out and wanted to catch up. We spoke as people first before we started talking about footy. He is a nice young kid. He is working hard behind the scenes on different areas of his game. If everyone can do that in their spare time we are in for a successful year.

“I have no preconceived ideas about what the team will look like.

“I’m coming here with an open mind and clean slate.”

Ciraldo will not be the only new face, with Viliame Kikau, Reed Mahoney, Andrew Davey and Ryan Sutton joining the club next year.

“Even before their talent they have great work ethics,” Ciraldo said.

“Kikau has become the best defensive player in the competition and it’s all about his work ethic. Reed is an 80-minute worker and is at the sweet spot of his career where I think he can go to another level.

“Ryan comes from a working-class town and he is a working-class guy.

“Andrew is the same. He is a guy that has been through a bit of adversity and didn’t debut until late. A guy like that will only be good for the younger guys in our squad.”

THE DOGS OF WAR

Ciraldo has already entrenched himself as part of the Bulldogs club. He met with a host of former players earlier this week including Terry Lamb, Graeme Hughes, Joe Thomas, Andrew Ryan, Willie Mason, David Gillespie and James Graham.

Crialdo said he would take his leanings off the club’s past legends but has a clear vision on what he expects from his side.

“They spoke about the successful teams at the Bulldogs,” Ciraldo said.

“A lot resonated with me in terms of how I want a footy team to look like. We have to find our own identity. We can’t be a Bulldogs team of the past.

“I want a team that is strong defensively, plays to their strengths, enjoys their footy and plays a good brand of footy. We will put a lot of emphasis on being resilient, tough and very strong defensively.”

Chad Randall is the defensive side of things as Assistant, not attack. Good to see Sandercock who was influential in parts of our attack last year with Potter back aswell. Might all be our assistants, both working on things together.

 

[Mr. Ditkovich]

Here’s a quick crash course on eshay language:

Bonus ex-Bulldogs player impression as well at 1:40

 

[Sword]

A new era!

√ He has belief in potential of the club
√ Good to see Potters still part of the coaching staff
√ Great relationship with Gus and some key players already
√ Will attract Penrith juniors no doubt
√ Will not cut & paste like Barrett tried to do
√ No preconceived ideas about individuals

 

[berries1935]

He speaks well, very calm

 

[djdeep4172]

 

[B-Train]

I love hearing him talk about hard work and defence to build the teams identity. And that players will be picked on merit, not reputation..

 

[D- voice]

I love hearing him talk about hard work and defence to build the teams identity. And that players will be picked on merit, not reputation..

It is the only and proper way.

 

[Chris Harding]

You might also like the SMH article today:

Who is Cameron Ciraldo? Inside the mind of the new Bulldogs coach

ByMichael Chammas
October 13, 2022 — 5.37am


Cameron Ciraldo’s coaching career almost died before it began. It’s been six years since he waltzed into Phil Gould’s Penrith office armed with a resignation letter during his time as assistant to Anthony Griffin.
“I’m glad Gus said no,” Ciraldo quips after officially being unveiled as Canterbury coach on Wednesday.

Incoming Bulldogs head coach Cameron Ciraldo at Belmore Sportsground on Wednesday.CREDIT:LOUIE DOUVIS

If it wasn’t for the marathon five-hour meeting with Gould, the most sought-after rookie coach in the history of the sport would have been lost to it.
Gould and Ciraldo are now reunited at the helm of the Bulldogs, armed with an assignment as large – if not greater – than the journey they embarked on together at the foot of the mountains over a decade ago.

The noise surrounding Ciraldo has been deafening. A five-year deal for a rookie coach is unprecedented.
Ciraldo is a new-age coach with an old-school attitude. His greatest strength is his ability to connect with young players on a level that many coaches in the NRL struggle to reach.
He knows he may not have the same luxuries as head coach.
“As an assistant coach players look at you differently,” Ciraldo told the Herald.
“You’re more like an older brother. As an assistant, you’re the one telling the jokes and keeping the atmosphere light-hearted. I had guys at Penrith for eight or nine years. We built trust.

“I want to come in here and build that same trust so they can come to me. I treat the players how I would want to be treated. I know things are going to be different as a head coach.”
Lessons learned amid LA fires
During a study trip to the United States with Panthers coach Ivan Cleary a few years ago, the pair found themselves inside the headquarters of the LA County Fire Department as flames raged across the city forcing 200,000 residents to abandon their homes.

Penrith Panthers coaches Cameron Ciraldo and Ivan Cleary. Insert: Los Angeles Lakers NBA superstar LeBron James and his Los Angeles mansion.CREDIT:NRL PHOTOS, UNLIMITED REAL ESTATE, GETTY

NBA superstar LeBron James was one of them, evacuating his Los Angeles mansion as a Californian wildfire roared up the slopes to the city’s Mountaingate area.

A state of emergency had been declared, with chief Derek Alkonis ordering a state of readiness during the 9am leadership conference.
It’s there Ciraldo would learn about the three C’s – clear, calm, concise – the motto behind Alkonis’ communication strategy.

Cameron Ciraldo and Ivan Cleary drive past the raging Los Angeles fires last October. Insert: LeBron James' tweet and LA County Fire Department chief Derek Alkonis.
“It doesn’t matter what emotions, thoughts or feelings are going on inside of you,” Alkonis told them. “You must create a perception of being calm and confident.”
Even on Wednesday morning, just hours before fronting the cameras in Bulldogs colours for the first time, Ciraldo was reading over the report he wrote from that very trip.

Dealing with pressure, and making decisions under such a state, is something very few assistant coaches can comprehend until they are in the hot seat.
While it will pale into insignificance compared to the furnace he will face from round one next season, the 37-year-old was thrust into the spotlight for most of the year as speculation over his future ran wild.

Cameron Ciraldo is embarking on his first NRL pre-season as a head coach.CREDIT:LOUIE DOUVIS

“It was definitely uncomfortable,” he said. “I didn’t have to deal with that in my playing career. But to have a mentor like [Cronulla coach] Craig Fitzgibbon, he’d gone through it himself. Just being able to ring him and bounce things off him was a blessing. To have him as a mentor was awesome.
“He told me that head coaching is uncomfortable. He said it was great practice being able to deal with that speculation. Whilst it’s not pressure of winning and losing games, it’s still pressure and speculation, which is uncomfortable. I need to get used to uncomfortable.”

There’ll no doubt be plenty of uncomfortable moments when it comes to the recruitment of players, particularly those who hail from the Penrith Panthers.
Ciraldo has been highly respectful of the Panthers during his contract negotiations, refusing to talk about the Bulldogs until his job with Penrith was over.

Cameron Ciraldo and Ivan Cleary enjoy their last captain’s run together before the grand final earlier this month.CREDIT:RHETT WYMAN/SMH

But in three weeks’ time the likes of Stephen Crichton, Brian To’o and Liam Martin will become free agents. The coach knows how he is going to handle it.
“I’ve got my own values and morals and I’ll stick to that,” Ciraldo said.

“It’s not going to be me approaching any Penrith players. I’m sure if a Penrith player can’t fit in there, I’d like to think I’d be one of the first people they call. But I won’t be calling them.
“A lot of people at Penrith have done a lot of hard work over a number of years and I’m not going to try and rip that apart. I have my own job to do. This is a development club here now at Canterbury.”
Balmain fan who had to turn down the Tigers
One of Ciraldo’s earliest memories of rugby league was sitting inside the then newly built Sydney Football Stadium, among the sea of black and gold at the 1989 NSWRL grand final.
A five-year-old Ciraldo was crying on his father Nick’s shoulder as the Balmain Tigers suffered an agonising come-from-behind loss to the Canberra Raiders in the iconic decider.

Nick was a Tigers tragic – of the Balmain variety at first. Every second weekend from March to September each year, he would take his son to Leichhardt Oval to watch their beloved Tigers.
Even after making his debut for the Sharks as a 20-year-old in 2005, Cameron’s progression to the top grade did little to dampen the euphoria of the Benji Marshall-inspired grand final triumph of the amalgamated Wests Tigers, celebrating the win into the early hours of the morning.

Benji Marshall, Cameron Ciraldo and Tim Sheens.CREDIT:GETTY, NRL PHOTOS

It made the Wests Tigers’ pursuit of Ciraldo even more appealing. But after giving strong consideration to linking with Sheens at the joint venture club, he just couldn’t take the leap.
“At the end of the day it just didn’t feel right,” Ciraldo said.

“It was hard for me because I was a Balmain fan growing up and it’s a club with big plans in place. All I can say is that it just didn’t feel like it was the right club for me. The longer the Canterbury conversations went on, the more it felt like it was the right place for me.
“At the end of the day you have to trust your gut instincts and you live and die by that. I’m comfortable that Belmore is the right place for me.”
Ciraldo has roots entrenched into Canterbury area. He played school football for Nuwarra, often competing in Canterbury knockouts.

He also spent a lot of his young life down the road from Belmore Sportsground at his grandmother’s house behind Belmore Boys High School.

“I spent a big part of my childhood at the RSL,” he said. “My grandmother worked there for 40 years.”
“The whole Canterbury Bankstown area has an identity. It is a really unique community. I love the multiculturalism of the joint. As a grandson of migrants who came out from Italy for an opportunity, this area still has the same identity.
“That’s what we represent. The Bulldogs have a proud rich history and it’s all built on hard work and toughness. That’s the sort of team I want to coach. To be back coaching in the area, it feels like home.”

 

[Chris Harding]

This is today's SMH:

Who is Cameron Ciraldo? Inside the mind of the new Bulldogs coach

ByMichael Chammas
October 13, 2022 — 5.37am


Cameron Ciraldo’s coaching career almost died before it began. It’s been six years since he waltzed into Phil Gould’s Penrith office armed with a resignation letter during his time as assistant to Anthony Griffin.
“I’m glad Gus said no,” Ciraldo quips after officially being unveiled as Canterbury coach on Wednesday.

Incoming Bulldogs head coach Cameron Ciraldo at Belmore Sportsground on Wednesday.CREDIT:LOUIE DOUVIS

If it wasn’t for the marathon five-hour meeting with Gould, the most sought-after rookie coach in the history of the sport would have been lost to it.
Gould and Ciraldo are now reunited at the helm of the Bulldogs, armed with an assignment as large – if not greater – than the journey they embarked on together at the foot of the mountains over a decade ago.

The noise surrounding Ciraldo has been deafening. A five-year deal for a rookie coach is unprecedented.
Ciraldo is a new-age coach with an old-school attitude. His greatest strength is his ability to connect with young players on a level that many coaches in the NRL struggle to reach.
He knows he may not have the same luxuries as head coach.
“As an assistant coach players look at you differently,” Ciraldo told the Herald.
“You’re more like an older brother. As an assistant, you’re the one telling the jokes and keeping the atmosphere light-hearted. I had guys at Penrith for eight or nine years. We built trust.

“I want to come in here and build that same trust so they can come to me. I treat the players how I would want to be treated. I know things are going to be different as a head coach.”
Lessons learned amid LA fires
During a study trip to the United States with Panthers coach Ivan Cleary a few years ago, the pair found themselves inside the headquarters of the LA County Fire Department as flames raged across the city forcing 200,000 residents to abandon their homes.

Penrith Panthers coaches Cameron Ciraldo and Ivan Cleary. Insert: Los Angeles Lakers NBA superstar LeBron James and his Los Angeles mansion.CREDIT:NRL PHOTOS, UNLIMITED REAL ESTATE, GETTY

NBA superstar LeBron James was one of them, evacuating his Los Angeles mansion as a Californian wildfire roared up the slopes to the city’s Mountaingate area.

A state of emergency had been declared, with chief Derek Alkonis ordering a state of readiness during the 9am leadership conference.
It’s there Ciraldo would learn about the three C’s – clear, calm, concise – the motto behind Alkonis’ communication strategy.

Cameron Ciraldo and Ivan Cleary drive past the raging Los Angeles fires last October. Insert: LeBron James' tweet and LA County Fire Department chief Derek Alkonis.

“It doesn’t matter what emotions, thoughts or feelings are going on inside of you,” Alkonis told them. “You must create a perception of being calm and confident.”
Even on Wednesday morning, just hours before fronting the cameras in Bulldogs colours for the first time, Ciraldo was reading over the report he wrote from that very trip.

Dealing with pressure, and making decisions under such a state, is something very few assistant coaches can comprehend until they are in the hot seat.
While it will pale into insignificance compared to the furnace he will face from round one next season, the 37-year-old was thrust into the spotlight for most of the year as speculation over his future ran wild.

Cameron Ciraldo is embarking on his first NRL pre-season as a head coach.CREDIT:LOUIE DOUVIS

“It was definitely uncomfortable,” he said. “I didn’t have to deal with that in my playing career. But to have a mentor like [Cronulla coach] Craig Fitzgibbon, he’d gone through it himself. Just being able to ring him and bounce things off him was a blessing. To have him as a mentor was awesome.
“He told me that head coaching is uncomfortable. He said it was great practice being able to deal with that speculation. Whilst it’s not pressure of winning and losing games, it’s still pressure and speculation, which is uncomfortable. I need to get used to uncomfortable.”

There’ll no doubt be plenty of uncomfortable moments when it comes to the recruitment of players, particularly those who hail from the Penrith Panthers.
Ciraldo has been highly respectful of the Panthers during his contract negotiations, refusing to talk about the Bulldogs until his job with Penrith was over.

Cameron Ciraldo and Ivan Cleary enjoy their last captain’s run together before the grand final earlier this month.CREDIT:RHETT WYMAN/SMH

But in three weeks’ time the likes of Stephen Crichton, Brian To’o and Liam Martin will become free agents. The coach knows how he is going to handle it.
“I’ve got my own values and morals and I’ll stick to that,” Ciraldo said.

“It’s not going to be me approaching any Penrith players. I’m sure if a Penrith player can’t fit in there, I’d like to think I’d be one of the first people they call. But I won’t be calling them.
“A lot of people at Penrith have done a lot of hard work over a number of years and I’m not going to try and rip that apart. I have my own job to do. This is a development club here now at Canterbury.”
Balmain fan who had to turn down the Tigers
One of Ciraldo’s earliest memories of rugby league was sitting inside the then newly built Sydney Football Stadium, among the sea of black and gold at the 1989 NSWRL grand final.
A five-year-old Ciraldo was crying on his father Nick’s shoulder as the Balmain Tigers suffered an agonising come-from-behind loss to the Canberra Raiders in the iconic decider.

Nick was a Tigers tragic – of the Balmain variety at first. Every second weekend from March to September each year, he would take his son to Leichhardt Oval to watch their beloved Tigers.
Even after making his debut for the Sharks as a 20-year-old in 2005, Cameron’s progression to the top grade did little to dampen the euphoria of the Benji Marshall-inspired grand final triumph of the amalgamated Wests Tigers, celebrating the win into the early hours of the morning.

Benji Marshall, Cameron Ciraldo and Tim Sheens.CREDIT:GETTY, NRL PHOTOS

It made the Wests Tigers’ pursuit of Ciraldo even more appealing. But after giving strong consideration to linking with Sheens at the joint venture club, he just couldn’t take the leap.
“At the end of the day it just didn’t feel right,” Ciraldo said.

“It was hard for me because I was a Balmain fan growing up and it’s a club with big plans in place. All I can say is that it just didn’t feel like it was the right club for me. The longer the Canterbury conversations went on, the more it felt like it was the right place for me.
“At the end of the day you have to trust your gut instincts and you live and die by that. I’m comfortable that Belmore is the right place for me.”
Ciraldo has roots entrenched into Canterbury area. He played school football for Nuwarra, often competing in Canterbury knockouts.

He also spent a lot of his young life down the road from Belmore Sportsground at his grandmother’s house behind Belmore Boys High School.

“I spent a big part of my childhood at the RSL,” he said. “My grandmother worked there for 40 years.”
“The whole Canterbury Bankstown area has an identity. It is a really unique community. I love the multiculturalism of the joint. As a grandson of migrants who came out from Italy for an opportunity, this area still has the same identity.
“That’s what we represent. The Bulldogs have a proud rich history and it’s all built on hard work and toughness. That’s the sort of team I want to coach. To be back coaching in the area, it feels like home.”