Jackson_1994
Kennel Enthusiast
- Joined
- Oct 28, 2018
- Messages
- 2,289
- Reaction score
- 7,164
By Christian Nicolussi and Adrian Proszenko
July 23, 2020 — 7.04pm
Canterbury is set to finalise a deal for Laundy Hotels to become the club's major sponsor until the end of 2022.
The Bulldogs were poised to partner with Rashays restaurants as their major backer, but the Port Macquarie pre-season scandal scuppered the deal. Laundy Hotels, an established pub and hotel group with over 20 venues across NSW, has stepped into the breach after months of negotiations.
The Bulldogs, currently the only NRL side without a major backer, are expected to close out the deal in coming days. However, it won't be in time for Laundy Hotels to be emblazoned on the front of their jerseys for Sunday's clash with Newcastle.
It's likely, however, that the club will have more signing news on Friday. Having just secured Trent Barrett as coach and Nick Cotric on three-year deals from next season, the blue and whites are set to confirm the re-signings of Brandon Wakeham and Raymond Faitala-Mariner. The pair were both off contract at the end of the season, but have recommitted for a further two years
The developments comes as Canberra landed a return blow on the chin of Canterbury by convincing gun back-rower Corey Harawira-Naera to pass up a second chance at Belmore to join the Raiders until the end of 2022.
The Raiders are expected to announce Harawira-Naera's signing on Friday, with the 25-year-old likely to attend the Green Machine's clash at home against South Sydney on Saturday night.
It is a welcome boost for the 2019 grand finalists given their injuries in the forwards, but a bitter loss for the Bulldogs and incoming coach Barrett, who did his best to convince Harawira-Naera to stay put.
Harawira-Naera and Jayden Okunbor were de-registered by the NRL in April for their part in the pre-season Port Macquarie sex scandal.
They had that decision overturned by the NRL appeals committee earlier this month, and while Okunbor elected to stay at Canterbury, Harawira-Naera had other ideas.
Harawira-Naera, 25, had several clubs chasing his signature, but was understood to be keen on a fresh start and a move away from Sydney.
The capture of Harawira-Naera from Canterbury was extra sweet for Canberra after the Dogs confirmed the signing of Raiders junior Cotric this week. The Bulldogs also tried unsuccessfully to poach John Bateman from the capital earlier this year.
As part of the deal, Harawira-Naera will not be able to play against the Bulldogs when the two clubs go head to head in round 16.
The Raiders have also locked in Brisbane rookie Ethan Bullemor, who will join the club next week for the rest of the season on a loan deal.
The Bulldogs released a statement late on Thursday, which read: "Jayden expressed his desire to remain at Belmore and apologised unreservedly to the club and the wider rugby league community for the harm he had caused to all parties.
"He has since undergone counselling as part of his rehabilitation and has pledged to offer his time to be involved in a full re-integration into the Bulldogs Community program.
"Corey also apologised for his actions to all parties concerned, however, after further discussion with the player it was felt that in the best interests of both parties he get a fresh start away from Belmore.
Bulldogs chair Lynne Anderson added: "After the NRL Appeals Committee overturned the original de-registration of the players and stated the players' contracts be upheld, we sat down with both Corey and Jayden
While we made it clear to both players that what had happened was unacceptable and had caused enormous harm to all involved, we also believed that it was important to have honest conversations with both Corey and Jayden.
"Both were extremely contrite and understanding of the harm they had caused and apologised unreservedly.
"At the end of those conversations it became clear that while Jayden very much wanted to be given a second chance at Belmore, it was in the best interests of both parties if Corey was given a release to make a fresh start somewhere else.
"While we totally understand that the behaviour that took place was unacceptable, we also looked at the opportunity for a second chance and for the ability of the individuals to redeem themselves.
Jayden is a local junior who has been with the club since the U14's all the way through to our NRL squad. He has readily agreed to undergo further educational courses in this area and be part of a community program on his return to the club."
The Bulldogs this week appointed Barrett as their new coach from 2021. They face a tough road trip on Sunday against Newcastle.
July 23, 2020 — 7.04pm
Canterbury is set to finalise a deal for Laundy Hotels to become the club's major sponsor until the end of 2022.
The Bulldogs were poised to partner with Rashays restaurants as their major backer, but the Port Macquarie pre-season scandal scuppered the deal. Laundy Hotels, an established pub and hotel group with over 20 venues across NSW, has stepped into the breach after months of negotiations.
The Bulldogs, currently the only NRL side without a major backer, are expected to close out the deal in coming days. However, it won't be in time for Laundy Hotels to be emblazoned on the front of their jerseys for Sunday's clash with Newcastle.
It's likely, however, that the club will have more signing news on Friday. Having just secured Trent Barrett as coach and Nick Cotric on three-year deals from next season, the blue and whites are set to confirm the re-signings of Brandon Wakeham and Raymond Faitala-Mariner. The pair were both off contract at the end of the season, but have recommitted for a further two years
The developments comes as Canberra landed a return blow on the chin of Canterbury by convincing gun back-rower Corey Harawira-Naera to pass up a second chance at Belmore to join the Raiders until the end of 2022.
The Raiders are expected to announce Harawira-Naera's signing on Friday, with the 25-year-old likely to attend the Green Machine's clash at home against South Sydney on Saturday night.
It is a welcome boost for the 2019 grand finalists given their injuries in the forwards, but a bitter loss for the Bulldogs and incoming coach Barrett, who did his best to convince Harawira-Naera to stay put.
Harawira-Naera and Jayden Okunbor were de-registered by the NRL in April for their part in the pre-season Port Macquarie sex scandal.
They had that decision overturned by the NRL appeals committee earlier this month, and while Okunbor elected to stay at Canterbury, Harawira-Naera had other ideas.
Harawira-Naera, 25, had several clubs chasing his signature, but was understood to be keen on a fresh start and a move away from Sydney.
The capture of Harawira-Naera from Canterbury was extra sweet for Canberra after the Dogs confirmed the signing of Raiders junior Cotric this week. The Bulldogs also tried unsuccessfully to poach John Bateman from the capital earlier this year.
As part of the deal, Harawira-Naera will not be able to play against the Bulldogs when the two clubs go head to head in round 16.
The Raiders have also locked in Brisbane rookie Ethan Bullemor, who will join the club next week for the rest of the season on a loan deal.
The Bulldogs released a statement late on Thursday, which read: "Jayden expressed his desire to remain at Belmore and apologised unreservedly to the club and the wider rugby league community for the harm he had caused to all parties.
"He has since undergone counselling as part of his rehabilitation and has pledged to offer his time to be involved in a full re-integration into the Bulldogs Community program.
"Corey also apologised for his actions to all parties concerned, however, after further discussion with the player it was felt that in the best interests of both parties he get a fresh start away from Belmore.
Bulldogs chair Lynne Anderson added: "After the NRL Appeals Committee overturned the original de-registration of the players and stated the players' contracts be upheld, we sat down with both Corey and Jayden
While we made it clear to both players that what had happened was unacceptable and had caused enormous harm to all involved, we also believed that it was important to have honest conversations with both Corey and Jayden.
"Both were extremely contrite and understanding of the harm they had caused and apologised unreservedly.
"At the end of those conversations it became clear that while Jayden very much wanted to be given a second chance at Belmore, it was in the best interests of both parties if Corey was given a release to make a fresh start somewhere else.
"While we totally understand that the behaviour that took place was unacceptable, we also looked at the opportunity for a second chance and for the ability of the individuals to redeem themselves.
Jayden is a local junior who has been with the club since the U14's all the way through to our NRL squad. He has readily agreed to undergo further educational courses in this area and be part of a community program on his return to the club."
The Bulldogs this week appointed Barrett as their new coach from 2021. They face a tough road trip on Sunday against Newcastle.
