News Canterbury Bulldogs send coaching staff home without pay, other NRL clubs expected to follow

Spoonman84

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Canterbury have responded to the NRL’s dire financial situation by standing down their entire coaching staff, including head coach Dean Pay – and more clubs are expected to follow suit soon.

Canterbury have stood down their entire coaching staff including head coach Dean Pay and club legend Steve Price without pay as the club battles to stay afloat in the midst of the corona pandemic.

Pay and the rest of his coaching staff including assistants Steve Georgallis and Steve Antonelli have been stood down immediately without pay with no clear outline over when the NRL season will resume.

The Daily Telegraph has learnt a host other clubs are in the process of finalising similar situations arrangements with their coaching staff as clubs grapple with the task of staying viable without any on-field product.


Penrith chief executive Brian Fletcher confirmed Ivan Cleary and his coaching staff had been told to take annual leave immediately.

At best, players and officials will be kept away for at least a month but the uncertainty is plaguing clubs. The Bulldogs have stripped back their office staff and are running at bare bones. Price, the club’s head of football, has also been stood down. Those within the club and coaching staff who are able too have been told to take their annual leave otherwise their time away will be unpaid.

The Bulldogs have been among the hardest clubs hit given their major backer – its leagues club – has been forced into temporary shut down because of new government legislations.

Canterbury chief executive Andrew Hill would not comment about the specifics of who had been stood down but said it was obviously an trying time for the club.

“Clearly there is no doubt what reality is now for not just the game but clubs and the community,” Hill said. “It has been an incredibly tough 48 hours for all clubs and especially for clubs like us with a leagues club. The total number would exceed more than 400 people who have been stood down in the past 48 hours.

“We are doing everything we can to ensure we are ready and able to respond when we can play again.”

Talks surrounding potential player pay cuts will ramp up on Wednesday. Club representatives including Hill, Blake Solly (Souths), Joe Kelly (Roosters) and Paul White (Brisbane) have joined a subcommittee who along with NRL boss Todd Greenberg and chief financial officer Tony Crawford will have an all important phone hook-up with the Rugby League Players Association.

The prospect of players taking an immediate pay cut will be raised.

A number of high-profile players including Moses Mbye, James Graham, Joel Thompson, Damien Cook, Cameron Smith and Luke Keary were part of a telephone hook-up with the RLPA with new chief executive Clint Newton describing the talks as “positive”.

“We provided a general update on the current situation and an outline of the process we will need to work through with any reduction to player payments,” Newton said.

“It was a really successful call – it’s clear the players are incredibly engaged during a time of such uncertainty.

“It was important that they are on board and understand that this is a challenging time not only for them, but for everyone. Players couldn’t be more compassionate and understanding about that.

“We will seek further information on what the game’s financial position looks like, the position of the clubs and what reductions the players will need to share in.”

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/s...w/news-story/6fd151a861064bb2440f5a1edd9a6eea
 

Kempsey Dog

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It is dire circumstances yes, but not a very 'family club' thing to do... and yes I get that it's necessary
 

DoggyStyla

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So long inept caching staff, don’t let the door hit you on the way out
 

Baby Blues

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I’m surprised they get annual leave TBH? I’d assume they have a lot of time off from the grand final week to Nov 29?
 

Papa Emeritus

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Thanks guy who ate a bat
 

B-Train

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These are scary and uncertain times for everyone and we all want the best for the club and it's staff.. By the same token, most businesses and individuals worldwide are affected by the economic impact of this and are suffering just as much, if not more.
 

Tassie Devil

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Surprised that some of you are using this shitty situation to score points.

Clearly something had to be done and was going to be. Credit to the club for making the hard decisions, and hopefully the club gets through this. Fingers crossed the Leagues Club stays afloat itself and we do the same.

Can only imagine other clubs without that backing ....
 

MatstaDogg

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How's Buzz gonna spin this one.

"Because of the aftermath of CHN And Okunbor's SCHOOLGIRL ROMP, *hiccup* the club had no choice but to sack every staff member involved in the *hiccup* club, which has been long over due for the most controversial club in the history of rugby league....*burp*"
 

Big M

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Still can’t see where the $1.2 million is going to as the Dogs salary payout to players is just under $900k.Question was raised with CEO but no answer.Smell a rat but in these times wishing all involved good luck in the future.IMO I can’t see the competition starting again this year given that the players will need a six week window to get back to peak fitness as per health and safety measurements. Any start date after September 1 is not negotiable...Cheers
 

GoTheDoggies

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Really? No pay... sounds like bullshit. Where is the statement from the club "we can't pay our staff".

Pay cuts would be fair enough and this is probably one of the exceptions where backending a contract would be necessary.
 

Big M

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Really? No pay... sounds like bullshit. Where is the statement from the club "we can't pay our staff".

Pay cuts would be fair enough and this is probably one of the exceptions where backending a contract would be necessary.
100% true with no guarantee of anyone being resigned such is the uncertainty of the world.
 

Big M

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Have heard Sydney will go into lockdown on Friday so be prepared.Personally I’m leaving tomorrow for the north coast so good luck to all.
 

DinkumDog

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Still can’t see where the $1.2 million is going to as the Dogs salary payout to players is just under $900k.Question was raised with CEO but no answer.Smell a rat but in these times wishing all involved good luck in the future.IMO I can’t see the competition starting again this year given that the players will need a six week window to get back to peak fitness as per health and safety measurements. Any start date after September 1 is not negotiable...Cheers
Can they use NRL grant money to pay any other costs (including staff) other than players? I know the grant represents ~130% of the cap so what else are they allowed to spend it on?
 

Spoonman84

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Still can’t see where the $1.2 million is going to as the Dogs salary payout to players is just under $900k.Question was raised with CEO but no answer.Smell a rat but in these times wishing all involved good luck in the future.IMO I can’t see the competition starting again this year given that the players will need a six week window to get back to peak fitness as per health and safety measurements. Any start date after September 1 is not negotiable...Cheers
There’s no guarantee that they will be receiving the full $1.2 million grants all the way through the year though. It would make sense to keep that up their sleeve to cover the upcoming months of salaries incase the grant money doesn’t come in.
 

Scoooby

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Sad state of affairs and times right now for everyone involved.!!!

At the end of the day, I just hope after it’s all over an things get better, that the BULLDOGS survive this and continue for all of us here at TK, this is our club an we want to see the best possible outcome.

Come on doggies, stay strong an beat this shit show..!!!
 

Dognacious

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The ones who will have to take the big cuts are the players. They are the biggest expense after all. Maybe take back an amount per round missed so its relative to how long its down for. Fun job for the NRL going forward sorting this shit out.
 
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