Fantastic News Bulldogs officially grant Faitala-Mariner permission to negotiate with rival clubs

[D.O.W.]

Not sure how RFM thought it was a good idea to approach the staff about training too hard. That is sone fkn weird shit to do in an NRL club. RFM is not a leader, if he was he would of led those boys and the club instead of being the team social worker

Spot on ND, it’s beggars belief he actually went in to bat for lower standards rather than set a benchmark for others to aspire to.

 

[Mr Shhh]

Below average for a while now. Great news for the club. Sutton next please.

 

[BulldogsNation]

Below average for a while now. Great news for the club. Sutton next please.

Sutton will be at the club next year

 

[D- voice]

Canterbury has officially granted Raymond Faitala-Mariner permission to negotiate with other clubs, just eight months after appointing him as club captain.

There has been ongoing speculation over the future of Faitala-Mariner, despite being contracted until the end of 2025. This masthead first revealed he was on the outer in July, although the situation only came to a head during a recent meeting with club supremo Phil Gould.

If Faitala-Mariner can’t find another home, he will remain at Belmore, although it’s likely the 30-year-old has played his last game for the club.
“After discussions with Canterbury officials, Ray has been given permission to look elsewhere,” said Faitala-Mariner’s manager, Ernesto Santone.

Faitala-Mariner was appointed club captain in January, while Reed Mahoney and Matt Burton were given the on-field co-captain roles. However, the Bulldogs have decided to shake up their roster after a disastrous 15th-placed finish, in which they recorded the 12th-worst defensive record of the NRL era (765 points conceded, at 32 per game).
Several other contracted players are expected to be given permission to negotiate with rivals.

It has been reported that several Polynesian players had approached Faitala-Mariner to express their concerns about the club’s culture and training regimen. In his capacity as club captain, “RFM” relayed those sentiments to Canterbury officials.

However, the Bulldogs have doubled down on their desire to forge a harder edge, with Gould and coach Cameron Ciraldo making no apologies after failing to make the finals since 2016. The club’s training philosophies have come under the spotlight after a player was made to wrestle each of his teammates after arriving late, a punishment one onlooker described as “brutal”. The player requested, and was granted, a leave of absence to deal with mental health issues shortly after the incident.


Faitala-Mariner, who made his 100th NRL appearance for Canterbury in July, has played predominantly in the back row throughout his career. However, the Kiwi international played his last two games at prop to cover for the injury crisis affecting the club’s middle forwards.

Injuries, as well as a sickness that led to pneumonia, resulted in Faitala-Mariner making only 14 appearances this year.

“Ray spoke about how much he loved the club when he was appointed captain at the start of the year,” Santone said.



“He has been a staunch supporter of the club, he’s been there since 2016 through all the injuries and ups and downs. He has shown his commitment again this year by not playing in his regular position, he has continued at it.
“No one can question his work ethic after training while sick, which ended up becoming pneumonia. He spent five days in hospital and then returned to training six kilograms lighter pretty much straight away.”

Faitala-Mariner spoke about the toll his sickness took during an interview with NRL.com in July.

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/do...pposition-not-each-other-20230902-p5e1ha.html

Lets be civilised about this, we should help his manager find him a club...Somewhere

 

[Malla]

Problem is no one is going to take him, looks like we are stuck with him on the books for another 2 years.

There is England too. I think he will find a new club by the new year.

He's still a solid player. Someone you can have off your bench to give you 25-30 minutes.

 

[D- voice]

Look at the sob story…. FMD, did his manager get quoted on how the f’ucking club stuck by RFM the past few years when he was injured? Of course not…. And when your club captain of a club you love so dearly…. You put your hand up and do whatever is needed… if it means playing wing, prop or whatever, you do it to lead the way… not f’ucking whinge!

So glad he’s been given permission to leave… he won’t cost us much even if we wear some of his freight as he’s getting the long service dispensation off our cap.

Spot on, you've read everyone's mind !
By the way, what the word f'ucking means

 

[D- voice]

True but it’s not his fault the club offered him an extension it’s ridiculous.one of the last of the plodders thank god

Does it mean it's OK for him to bite the hand that feed him, surely NOT !

 

[Cappuccino]

Ernesto Santone
Queen of the cucks
Working hard for his 18k of rfms money

 

[Gene Krupa]

So has he been white anting the club since he got there or just recently.

 

[Cappuccino]

So has he been white anting the club since he got there or just recently.

Do you want him? He'd be a good backup with Gapewell

 

[Nate DAWG]

Not if he goes to England. We might need to kick in some freight, but it won’t be on the cap

I thought whatever short fall a player is owed when they move anywhere is on the cap

 

[D- voice]

A b grader and but allegedly worse trainer. Club stuck by him over the years when he was plodding and injured. Sad it has come to this and ended the way it did.

I've never liked his game especially his crab like running style.

 

[Gene Krupa]

Do you want him? He'd be a good backup with Gapewell

 

[D0GMATIC]

This is where RFM can really show his leadership skills . . . And take the rest of his whining malcontent friends with him

 

[JayBee]

I thought whatever short fall a player is owed when they move anywhere is on the cap

Only if they move to another NRL club.

If they go overseas, we can kick in freight - but not counted in the cap.

Lodge, as an example, was playing for the Roosters in July last year. At that point, both the Broncos and Warriors were paying full freight of his reported 800k contract, which is why the Roosters could get him on min wage.

 

[Dogs Of War]

Problem is no one is going to take him, looks like we are stuck with him on the books for another 2 years.

I'd say a desperate English club or another club in the NRL that is looking for depth will take him off our hands at some point. We may need to pay a little towards that, but it's better than keeping him around.

 

[D- voice]

If another club signs him then unfortunately we will be kicking in freight. I fkn cringe every time I see this approached the coaching staff on behalf of the Polynesian players. It’s fkn bullshit.

It was evident that the club had extended his contract not because of his playing qualities but as as a leader amongst the younger playing group especially the polynesians...He failed their trust !

 

[Sloth]

He’s off to super league…I don’t even know what other NRL team will get him after all of this especially since buzz snitched him out on NRL360. That or he’ll “retire

Even his manager is somewhat confirming the rumours.
If we are stuck with him, I hope he really proves himself next season to the club that gave him captain and stuck with him when he was made out of biscuits

Since the club captain role is outside of gameday stuff can Jacko come back

 

[D- voice]

The only club I can think of is tigers they will rationalise it as a good deal because bulldogs are chipping in haha

Here is the solution to the problem...
We prepare a great resume for him signed by ALL the TK members, that should work

 

[NPC83]

Here is the solution to the problem...
We prepare a great resume for him signed by ALL the TK members, that should work

I think Gus probably puts a positive spin to prospective clubs on all the players he’s tapped on the shoulder. RFM might be a hard sell though