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THE best intentions to build a new future at the Bulldogs have been rocked by a skeleton from the past.
Graeme Hughes, one of the founding members of "the family club'' culture at Belmore, has lodged a defamation case in the District Court against the organisation he once represented.
In a 19-page document obtained by The Sunday Telegraph, the Bulldogs Rugby League Club Limited is listed as the first defendant and former chief executive Malcolm Noad the second defendant. Hughes is the plaintiff.
The defamation case will allege a bogus email sent to broadcaster Ray Hadley from within the Bulldogs' former headquarters at Belmore damaged Hughes' reputation.
Hadley read the email on air during his 2GB rugby league show - without naming Hughes - before forwarding it to NRL chief executive David Gallop and Parramatta CEO Denis Fitzgerald.
The email - which Hughes claims was a complete fabrication - alleged Hughes was "hitting the wines pretty hard'' at a Star City casino restaurant and was "pretty ****ty and bagging everyone''.
The email said: "(Hughes) was having a go about being stuck at a 'lowbrow radio station with no-talent co-hosts and inbred listeners'.
"Graeme then ripped into everyone at the Canterbury club. The colourful language was flying. He reckons Steve Folkes is past his time as a coach and has no control over the players.
"He thinks George Peponis is a 'half wit' who bumbles along and that Malcolm Noad is the worst thing that has happened to the club.''
It is understood Hughes employed a forensic internet expert to trace the origin of the email, which led to the Bulldogs' old Belmore Oval headquarters in Edison Lane.
Former Bulldogs media manager Chris O'Brien was forced to quit the club last February after being exposed for sending bogus emails during the poisonous board room election for control of the club.
Hughes was the only member of the rival ticket, which swept to power at last February's AGM, who missed out on being elected to the new board.
The previous Bulldogs administration paid O'Brien a $75,000 severance before announcing an investigation into the emails - sent from O'Brien's home computer and Bulldogs headquarters _ revealed he had "acted alone''.
But Hughes plans to allege former Bulldogs boss Noad had knowledge of O'Brien's activities.
Noad intends to "vigorously defend'' the allegations.
"As far as I'm concerned the claims are a load of rubbish,'' Noad said.
Club chairman Peponis labelled the defamation case "very disappointing''.
"Yet again we're being dragged through the mud with another drama,'' Peponis said.
"But it needs to be clarified this has nothing to do with the current board or the current administration.
"The current administration and the current board have done a tremendous job repairing the image and the brand of the club.''
Graeme Hughes, one of the founding members of "the family club'' culture at Belmore, has lodged a defamation case in the District Court against the organisation he once represented.
In a 19-page document obtained by The Sunday Telegraph, the Bulldogs Rugby League Club Limited is listed as the first defendant and former chief executive Malcolm Noad the second defendant. Hughes is the plaintiff.
The defamation case will allege a bogus email sent to broadcaster Ray Hadley from within the Bulldogs' former headquarters at Belmore damaged Hughes' reputation.
Hadley read the email on air during his 2GB rugby league show - without naming Hughes - before forwarding it to NRL chief executive David Gallop and Parramatta CEO Denis Fitzgerald.
The email - which Hughes claims was a complete fabrication - alleged Hughes was "hitting the wines pretty hard'' at a Star City casino restaurant and was "pretty ****ty and bagging everyone''.
The email said: "(Hughes) was having a go about being stuck at a 'lowbrow radio station with no-talent co-hosts and inbred listeners'.
"Graeme then ripped into everyone at the Canterbury club. The colourful language was flying. He reckons Steve Folkes is past his time as a coach and has no control over the players.
"He thinks George Peponis is a 'half wit' who bumbles along and that Malcolm Noad is the worst thing that has happened to the club.''
It is understood Hughes employed a forensic internet expert to trace the origin of the email, which led to the Bulldogs' old Belmore Oval headquarters in Edison Lane.
Former Bulldogs media manager Chris O'Brien was forced to quit the club last February after being exposed for sending bogus emails during the poisonous board room election for control of the club.
Hughes was the only member of the rival ticket, which swept to power at last February's AGM, who missed out on being elected to the new board.
The previous Bulldogs administration paid O'Brien a $75,000 severance before announcing an investigation into the emails - sent from O'Brien's home computer and Bulldogs headquarters _ revealed he had "acted alone''.
But Hughes plans to allege former Bulldogs boss Noad had knowledge of O'Brien's activities.
Noad intends to "vigorously defend'' the allegations.
"As far as I'm concerned the claims are a load of rubbish,'' Noad said.
Club chairman Peponis labelled the defamation case "very disappointing''.
"Yet again we're being dragged through the mud with another drama,'' Peponis said.
"But it needs to be clarified this has nothing to do with the current board or the current administration.
"The current administration and the current board have done a tremendous job repairing the image and the brand of the club.''
