Bulldogs supremo Phil Gould has reportedly held crisis talks with former club captain Raymond Faitala-Mariner ahead of a potential ugly break-up.
Faitala-Mariner was named Canterbury’s club captain after the retirement of Josh Jackson at the end of the 2022 season.
Despite having two years left on his current contract, the 30-year-old has been told he is free to negotiate with rivals and the Bulldogs have made their stance clear.
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Faitala-Mariner was reportedly told to stay away from the club’s pre-season training, with players preparing to return ahead of the 2024 season.
Now, The Daily Telegraph has published an image of the crisis talks which took place less than two days after he was informed he wasn’t welcome at training.
Gould was spotted in a meeting with Faitala-Mariner and his manager Ernest Santone at Canterbury League Club on Saturday morning.
The Bulldogs supremo also took to X to share his frustrations the image was leaked, questioning why a photographer knew the time and place of the conversation.
“A photo was taken of me yesterday, in a meeting at Canterbury Leagues Club, and sent to the media for publication. I never care about these things, however, the club is rightfully unimpressed,” he wrote.
“Leagues Club CCTV has recorded the person responsible. He has now been identified. I am told that he is a professional photographer. I have an image of him, and we also have his name.
“Again, these things never worry me. But I just wonder why a professional photographer happened to be at that particular venue, at that time of day, in a very quiet lounge of the club, and prepared to take the photo that he did?
“I find it hilarious. But I guess that’s the world in which we live. Hope you are all enjoying your weekend.”
The lock is yet to find a club who will take up his current contract which is worth a reported $400,000-per-year over the next two seasons.
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The rift between the Bulldogs and Faitala-Mariner reportedly began when the star was approached by a group of players who were unhappy with coach Cameron Ciraldo’s training requirements.
He reportedly raised the player’s concerns, with Ciraldo also coming under fire after one player walked out of training after a wrestling punishment.
Meanwhile, the RLPA are reportedly standing by to intervene and assist Faitala-Mariner if the situation can’t be solved.
