AlzzBulldog
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Kiwi Test backrower Corey Harawira-Naera wants an immediate release from the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs to join last year’s grand finalists the Canberra Raiders
Corey Harawira-Naera wants a release. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
The Bulldogs held mediation talks aimed at convincing Harawira-Naera to re-join the Belmore club on Friday.
But if the Kiwi Test backrower gets his way he’ll be headed to the national capital to join the Green Machine alongside New Zealand teammates Jordan Rapana and Joe Tapine.
The Bulldogs are kidding themselves the way they’ve tried to spin the blame back onto the NRL about how Harawira-Naera was frozen out of the club.
Can you blame him for not wanting to wear the Canterbury-Bankstown jumperagain?
Let’s go back over what Bulldogs CEO Andrew Hill said when he fronted the media on March 11.
Corey Harawira-Naera wants to leave. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“The conduct not only breaches the clubs code of conduct, it is not reflective of the standards and values we have tried to instil in our players.”
Then in the media release ticked off on by Hill and chair Lynne Anderson from April 1, the day Harawira-Naera and Jayden Okunbor were deregistered by the NRL.
“The conduct of the two players, on the eve of our final trial match, demonstrated an unacceptable lack of respect for their teammates, their coach and club officials, our hosts in Port Macquarie and fans of the game everywhere,” the statement read.
“An important part of the role of being a professional rugby league player is to promote the game and act as an ambassador for your club and the code.
“There can be no tolerance for any abuse of the privileged status the game affords its leading players.”
The Bulldogs are still trying to blame Harawira-Naera and Okunbor for costing them a $2 million sponsorship with Rashays restaurant chain over the Port Macquarie pre-season scandal.
In reality, there’s people at Canterbury-Bankstown who will tell you the sponsorship was going to be worth nowhere near that much.
Corey Harawira-Naera would be an asset for the Raiders. Picture: Alix SweeneySource: News Corp Australia
After the NRL Appeals Committee overturned the initial deregistration bans handed out to the Bulldogs players, Canterbury-Bankstown must how back pay the players until April 1.
This could get them in a salary cap jam given how tight the club has always told the media their salary cap situation is until 2021.
Releasing Harawira-Naera could be able to solve any salary cap issues.
On Monday, the Bulldogs board and club bosses remained split on whether they wanted to welcome Harawira-Naera and Okunbor back at Belmore.
By Wednesday, that had all changed as influential figures on the board went to work and got everyone on the same page.
It’s pointless keeping a player who does not want to be at your club.
It becomes toxic for all involved and you are better off cutting your losses.
Bulldogs chair Anderson and CEO Hill met with Harawira-Naera on Friday to begin the process of thrashing out a resolution.
Bulldogs CEO Andrew Hill, Bulldogs Chair Lynne Anderson. Picture: Brett CostelloSource: News Corp Australia
The Bulldogs now want to keep the Kiwi Test backrower despite no club bosses contacting him after he was deregistered by the NRL and sacked by Canterbury-Bankstown.
So even tough the Bulldogs were prepared to sack him in April, under the Appeals Committee ruling Harawira-Naera is now still signed with Canterbury-Bankstown until the end of 2022.
Anderson was the one calling the shots in Friday’s meeting, where Harawira-Naera apologised for his part in what happened in Port Macquarie and the subsequent fallout.
Bulldogs CEO Hill was given a round of applause at NRL headquarters for the way he handled the scandal in February and March.
Harawira-Naera’s management remains furious the Kiwi Test backrower was called to an interview and grilled by Hill without legal representation.
The whole scenario is a complete car crash and it’s easy to understand why Harawira-Naera wants a fresh start at another club.
The Bulldogs should let him go.
Corey Harawira-Naera wants a release. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
The Bulldogs held mediation talks aimed at convincing Harawira-Naera to re-join the Belmore club on Friday.
But if the Kiwi Test backrower gets his way he’ll be headed to the national capital to join the Green Machine alongside New Zealand teammates Jordan Rapana and Joe Tapine.
The Bulldogs are kidding themselves the way they’ve tried to spin the blame back onto the NRL about how Harawira-Naera was frozen out of the club.
Can you blame him for not wanting to wear the Canterbury-Bankstown jumperagain?
Let’s go back over what Bulldogs CEO Andrew Hill said when he fronted the media on March 11.
Corey Harawira-Naera wants to leave. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“The conduct not only breaches the clubs code of conduct, it is not reflective of the standards and values we have tried to instil in our players.”
Then in the media release ticked off on by Hill and chair Lynne Anderson from April 1, the day Harawira-Naera and Jayden Okunbor were deregistered by the NRL.
“The conduct of the two players, on the eve of our final trial match, demonstrated an unacceptable lack of respect for their teammates, their coach and club officials, our hosts in Port Macquarie and fans of the game everywhere,” the statement read.
“An important part of the role of being a professional rugby league player is to promote the game and act as an ambassador for your club and the code.
“There can be no tolerance for any abuse of the privileged status the game affords its leading players.”
The Bulldogs are still trying to blame Harawira-Naera and Okunbor for costing them a $2 million sponsorship with Rashays restaurant chain over the Port Macquarie pre-season scandal.
In reality, there’s people at Canterbury-Bankstown who will tell you the sponsorship was going to be worth nowhere near that much.
Corey Harawira-Naera would be an asset for the Raiders. Picture: Alix SweeneySource: News Corp Australia
After the NRL Appeals Committee overturned the initial deregistration bans handed out to the Bulldogs players, Canterbury-Bankstown must how back pay the players until April 1.
This could get them in a salary cap jam given how tight the club has always told the media their salary cap situation is until 2021.
Releasing Harawira-Naera could be able to solve any salary cap issues.
On Monday, the Bulldogs board and club bosses remained split on whether they wanted to welcome Harawira-Naera and Okunbor back at Belmore.
By Wednesday, that had all changed as influential figures on the board went to work and got everyone on the same page.
It’s pointless keeping a player who does not want to be at your club.
It becomes toxic for all involved and you are better off cutting your losses.
Bulldogs chair Anderson and CEO Hill met with Harawira-Naera on Friday to begin the process of thrashing out a resolution.
Bulldogs CEO Andrew Hill, Bulldogs Chair Lynne Anderson. Picture: Brett CostelloSource: News Corp Australia
The Bulldogs now want to keep the Kiwi Test backrower despite no club bosses contacting him after he was deregistered by the NRL and sacked by Canterbury-Bankstown.
So even tough the Bulldogs were prepared to sack him in April, under the Appeals Committee ruling Harawira-Naera is now still signed with Canterbury-Bankstown until the end of 2022.
Anderson was the one calling the shots in Friday’s meeting, where Harawira-Naera apologised for his part in what happened in Port Macquarie and the subsequent fallout.
Bulldogs CEO Hill was given a round of applause at NRL headquarters for the way he handled the scandal in February and March.
Harawira-Naera’s management remains furious the Kiwi Test backrower was called to an interview and grilled by Hill without legal representation.
The whole scenario is a complete car crash and it’s easy to understand why Harawira-Naera wants a fresh start at another club.
The Bulldogs should let him go.
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