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EXCLUSIVE: Phil Gould reveals worrying 'suspicion' after Bulldogs player takes mental health leave
EXCLUSIVE: Phil Gould reveals worrying 'suspicion' after Bulldogs player takes mental health leave
Canterbury football boss Phil Gould believes medical records may have been leaked relating to the mental health of a player.
Source SMH
Gould made the revelation on Wide World of Sports' Six Tackles with Gus podcast after reports surfaced about unrest at the Bulldogs.
A story over the weekend claimed as many as eight players had raised concerns about workload under first-year coach Cameron Ciraldo.
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A later report then alleged one player walked out of a training session after being punished for arriving late, and then supposedly took leave from the club.
Gould confirmed a player has taken leave due to mental health reasons, but that details are not able to be made public due to the nature of the situation.
Canterbury Bulldogs general manager of football Phil Gould. (Getty)
"This is one of those where, as a club, we need to be very measured in our response, because there are some very sensitive matters at stake here," Gould said.
"It's just too sensitive to be giving details about what did or didn't occur, or what effect that's had on anyone that was involved. There are some exaggerations and some embellishments, but to even debate those issues is unnecessary at the time.
"We're certainly very mindful of the mental health and welfare of the player involved, and there is a lot of sensitivity around that.
Stream the NRL premiership 2023 live and free on 9Now
"It's not as though he walked out after the event, he was still with the club for another week and then decided he needed to take some leave, and he's been doing that.
"We've been waiting on some reports from medical people which we now have in our possession.
"My suspicion is that details of that report have been leaked out in some way, shape or form, which is why the media has now suddenly seized upon the story.
Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo. (Matt King via Getty Images)
"Our priority is the welfare of the player, it's as simple as that."
Opinion around the game has been split since the revelation that certain players were unhappy with their workload.
The Bulldogs are about to miss NRL finals for a seventh straight year, and Gould has no issue with the methods Ciraldo is employing to drag the team up the ladder.
"Cameron Ciraldo has at all times defended his coaching style and the type of training that we're doing at the Bulldogs, and we all support that wholeheartedly," Gould said.
"No one has walked out, I can tell you that. No player has complained to us at the club about anything around training or culture.
"It's good to know now the public understands how hard we work, because at times when you watch us play you would wonder whether or not we did.
Roosters sink Bulldogs with two blows
"It gets hard for some, it gets too hard for others, but the ones that come out the other side are the ones you want to build your club around."
Ciraldo himself fronted media on Wednesday morning to address the situation.
He didn't deny that players worked long hours, or that sometimes punishments were handed out for various indiscretions, but he made no apology.
"It hasn't been brought up. They are rumours but if there are people who don't want to work hard and don't want to tick every box to win NRL games then they don't have to be here," Ciraldo said.
The Bulldogs finish their season against Gold Coast on Sunday.
EXCLUSIVE: Phil Gould reveals worrying 'suspicion' after Bulldogs player takes mental health leave
Canterbury football boss Phil Gould believes medical records may have been leaked relating to the mental health of a player.
Source SMH
Gould made the revelation on Wide World of Sports' Six Tackles with Gus podcast after reports surfaced about unrest at the Bulldogs.
A story over the weekend claimed as many as eight players had raised concerns about workload under first-year coach Cameron Ciraldo.
READ MORE: World Cup kiss scandal explodes
READ MORE: Legend's grim Latrell warning amid text scandal
READ MORE: Ange disaster as Spurs knocked out in 18-year first
A later report then alleged one player walked out of a training session after being punished for arriving late, and then supposedly took leave from the club.
Gould confirmed a player has taken leave due to mental health reasons, but that details are not able to be made public due to the nature of the situation.
Canterbury Bulldogs general manager of football Phil Gould. (Getty)
"This is one of those where, as a club, we need to be very measured in our response, because there are some very sensitive matters at stake here," Gould said.
"It's just too sensitive to be giving details about what did or didn't occur, or what effect that's had on anyone that was involved. There are some exaggerations and some embellishments, but to even debate those issues is unnecessary at the time.
"We're certainly very mindful of the mental health and welfare of the player involved, and there is a lot of sensitivity around that.
Stream the NRL premiership 2023 live and free on 9Now
"It's not as though he walked out after the event, he was still with the club for another week and then decided he needed to take some leave, and he's been doing that.
"We've been waiting on some reports from medical people which we now have in our possession.
"My suspicion is that details of that report have been leaked out in some way, shape or form, which is why the media has now suddenly seized upon the story.
Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo. (Matt King via Getty Images)
"Our priority is the welfare of the player, it's as simple as that."
Opinion around the game has been split since the revelation that certain players were unhappy with their workload.
The Bulldogs are about to miss NRL finals for a seventh straight year, and Gould has no issue with the methods Ciraldo is employing to drag the team up the ladder.
"Cameron Ciraldo has at all times defended his coaching style and the type of training that we're doing at the Bulldogs, and we all support that wholeheartedly," Gould said.
"No one has walked out, I can tell you that. No player has complained to us at the club about anything around training or culture.
"It's good to know now the public understands how hard we work, because at times when you watch us play you would wonder whether or not we did.
Roosters sink Bulldogs with two blows
"It gets hard for some, it gets too hard for others, but the ones that come out the other side are the ones you want to build your club around."
Ciraldo himself fronted media on Wednesday morning to address the situation.
He didn't deny that players worked long hours, or that sometimes punishments were handed out for various indiscretions, but he made no apology.
"It hasn't been brought up. They are rumours but if there are people who don't want to work hard and don't want to tick every box to win NRL games then they don't have to be here," Ciraldo said.
The Bulldogs finish their season against Gold Coast on Sunday.
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