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By Adrian Proszenko
February 3, 2024 — 6.30pm
Raymond Faitala-Mariner says his decision to leave Canterbury, just 12 months after being appointed club captain, to join St George Illawarra was his alone.
“They weren’t pushing me out the door at all,” Faitala-Mariner said. “It was just this opportunity that arose. I thought about it, spoke to my partner, to my family and parents, [and] they said maybe a change was what I needed. I took their advice and I’m glad I did.
“Now that I was in camp with the Dragons this week, I can see why the change was needed.”
After the best part of a decade at the Bulldogs, and with two years remaining on his contract, Faitala-Mariner opted for a fresh start. The move ended six months of speculation about his future after this masthead revealed he was on the outer at Belmore.
The shift is significant for both parties. Faitala-Mariner will arrive at the Dragons as one of new coach Shane Flanagan’s first recruits, while Canterbury no longer have any players at the club from the top-30 squad they named in 2021.
“I’ve heard that a few times and the boys text me saying, ‘You’re gone! You were the last man standing!’” Faitala-Mariner said in his first interview since changing clubs.
“That’s footy. The club has a vision and they have to do what they need to do to get what they want. If that’s the direction they’re going in, then I’m all for it. I’ve got nothing but respect and love for that club.
“Where I am at in my career, a change was needed for me to hopefully take my game to the next level.
“It does sadden me to leave the club that I really love; Belmore is my second home. It was very hard to say goodbye and leave, but I have to look at the opportunity for myself and my future.
“That’s what I did, I put myself and my family first.
“From the summer I had there, it seems to be heading in that direction. [Coach] Cameron Ciraldo is doing a good job at the joint, culture wise, and the standard he is setting, it’s very elite.
“There’s no malice towards the club from my end.”
Faitala-Mariner’s last season at the Bulldogs was a rocky one. He contracted pneumonia, was hampered by a hamstring injury and, in September, was officially granted permission to speak with other clubs. The 30-year-old was a notable absentee when pre-season training started in November – “it was just a miscommunication”, he said – as speculation swirled that he was on the outer.
“[Reports were] saying they didn’t want me there, but every time something came out in the media, I’ve always had a conversation with Ciraldo and Gus [Canterbury general manager of football Phil Gould]. They always confirmed with me that it wasn’t true,” said Faitala-Mariner, who missed Friday’s scrimmage against Manly due to a minor hamstring issue.
“I don’t know where it came from. Whenever things were out in the media saying they were shopping me around and whatnot, I would always go to the coach, and Gus would be there at times, and they gave me their word, they said it wasn’t true and didn’t know where it was coming from.
“I took their word for it and that was that. There was nothing more or less, we just carried on with training.
“Going through the tough times has prepared me for this year. It’s made me more resilient, more prepared for whatever comes my way. Nothing can break me.”
There was also debate about whether “RFM” is better suited in the front or back row, a decision that now falls to Flanagan.
Asked if he can get back to the form that resulted in him representing New Zealand and Samoa, Faitala-Mariner said: “I know you hear this a lot, but truly, and I’m saying this wholeheartedly, yes I can.
“Being just in camp with the Dragons for a week has ignited something in me. Being in a place for so long, sometimes you can get comfortable.
“The change was needed for me. Now I’ve stepped out of my home, so to speak, and am out there testing the waters and being exposed and vulnerable, it’s something I needed.
“Being around a place I’m not so familiar with is bringing the best out of me. Being under Shane Flanagan, an experienced premiership-winning coach, with the conversations we’ve already had, gives me a lot of confidence.
“He’s making me feel a priority and when you make a player feel that way, he tells you to jump and you say how high. I would run through a brick wall for a coach like that.”
February 3, 2024 — 6.30pm
Raymond Faitala-Mariner says his decision to leave Canterbury, just 12 months after being appointed club captain, to join St George Illawarra was his alone.
“They weren’t pushing me out the door at all,” Faitala-Mariner said. “It was just this opportunity that arose. I thought about it, spoke to my partner, to my family and parents, [and] they said maybe a change was what I needed. I took their advice and I’m glad I did.
“Now that I was in camp with the Dragons this week, I can see why the change was needed.”
After the best part of a decade at the Bulldogs, and with two years remaining on his contract, Faitala-Mariner opted for a fresh start. The move ended six months of speculation about his future after this masthead revealed he was on the outer at Belmore.
The shift is significant for both parties. Faitala-Mariner will arrive at the Dragons as one of new coach Shane Flanagan’s first recruits, while Canterbury no longer have any players at the club from the top-30 squad they named in 2021.
“I’ve heard that a few times and the boys text me saying, ‘You’re gone! You were the last man standing!’” Faitala-Mariner said in his first interview since changing clubs.
“That’s footy. The club has a vision and they have to do what they need to do to get what they want. If that’s the direction they’re going in, then I’m all for it. I’ve got nothing but respect and love for that club.
“Where I am at in my career, a change was needed for me to hopefully take my game to the next level.
“It does sadden me to leave the club that I really love; Belmore is my second home. It was very hard to say goodbye and leave, but I have to look at the opportunity for myself and my future.
“That’s what I did, I put myself and my family first.
“One thing I do wish we had when I was there is a bit of success. Hopefully, they do well this year and in the years to come.
“From the summer I had there, it seems to be heading in that direction. [Coach] Cameron Ciraldo is doing a good job at the joint, culture wise, and the standard he is setting, it’s very elite.
“There’s no malice towards the club from my end.”
Faitala-Mariner’s last season at the Bulldogs was a rocky one. He contracted pneumonia, was hampered by a hamstring injury and, in September, was officially granted permission to speak with other clubs. The 30-year-old was a notable absentee when pre-season training started in November – “it was just a miscommunication”, he said – as speculation swirled that he was on the outer.
“[Reports were] saying they didn’t want me there, but every time something came out in the media, I’ve always had a conversation with Ciraldo and Gus [Canterbury general manager of football Phil Gould]. They always confirmed with me that it wasn’t true,” said Faitala-Mariner, who missed Friday’s scrimmage against Manly due to a minor hamstring issue.
“I don’t know where it came from. Whenever things were out in the media saying they were shopping me around and whatnot, I would always go to the coach, and Gus would be there at times, and they gave me their word, they said it wasn’t true and didn’t know where it was coming from.
“I took their word for it and that was that. There was nothing more or less, we just carried on with training.
“Going through the tough times has prepared me for this year. It’s made me more resilient, more prepared for whatever comes my way. Nothing can break me.”
There was also debate about whether “RFM” is better suited in the front or back row, a decision that now falls to Flanagan.
Asked if he can get back to the form that resulted in him representing New Zealand and Samoa, Faitala-Mariner said: “I know you hear this a lot, but truly, and I’m saying this wholeheartedly, yes I can.
“Being just in camp with the Dragons for a week has ignited something in me. Being in a place for so long, sometimes you can get comfortable.
“The change was needed for me. Now I’ve stepped out of my home, so to speak, and am out there testing the waters and being exposed and vulnerable, it’s something I needed.
“Being around a place I’m not so familiar with is bringing the best out of me. Being under Shane Flanagan, an experienced premiership-winning coach, with the conversations we’ve already had, gives me a lot of confidence.
“He’s making me feel a priority and when you make a player feel that way, he tells you to jump and you say how high. I would run through a brick wall for a coach like that.”
