Coach
Trent Barrett will do anything to hide his recruitment planning and targets at the Canterbury Bulldogs.
Especially when he’s chasing a player of the calibre of Storm forward Brandon Smith and wants to keep it all cute.
On Wednesday morning Barrett was doing a radio interview on the Big Sports Breakfast when host Laurie Daley worked out he was at an airport from the background noise. “Where are you off to Baz,” Daley asked.
“Just going home to Temora,” Barrett said.
Turns out the Bulldogs coach was actually about to board a flight for Melbourne.
Bulldogs coach Trent Barrett flew to Melbourne last week. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images
He was spotted by one of our readers.
Barrett told me: “I was just down there catching up with The Fox (Josh-Addo Carr, who has signed with the Bulldogs).”
I told him he had also been spotted with Smith.
“Yep, he just happened to pop in when we were chatting,” Barrett said.
Barrett needs to be careful because Smith is still under contract at Storm until the end of next season. Storm is prepared to release him early on the condition they can get a like for like replacement.
That’s something the Bulldogs might struggle to come up with.
Brandon Smith has attracted plenty of interest from rivals clubs, including the Bulldogs. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images
also in the same article:
BULLDOGS’ BID FOR MEEHAN
Canterbury has failed in an attempt to sign boxer and ex-Roosters star Willis Meehan.
The 25-year-old was once rated the most promising young forward in the game but left the Roosters in 2015 while he was dealing with a number of off field issues.
The then 19-year-old was stood down by the club after he was charged with headbutting a man and stealing his watch near The Star casino. He was sentenced to 150 hours of community service.
The Bulldogs expressed interest in signing Willis Meehan. Picture: Toby Zerna
Meehan made a boxing comeback in March after a two-year absence and knocked out his opponent in one round. He also troubled
Paul Gallen in a spa before his fight with Lucas Browne.
The heavyweight was keen to have another crack at the NRL. He is a much-improved person these days, according to good sources.
Bulldogs recruitment boss Peter Sharp contacted the NRL but was told Meehan would need a clearance from the integrity unit.
