Bulldogs Coach Cameron Ciraldo Responds to Rumours
Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo has addressed the ‘made up rumours’ that have been circulating around the club, especially following their recent win against Melbourne. The team managed to break a five-game losing streak with a 30-20 victory, which has helped to ease some of the pressure on the squad.
The match took place on a wet night at Accor Stadium, where the Bulldogs overcame a first-half deficit and also dealt with the loss of key back-rower Jacob Preston, who suffered a broken arm. This win is seen as a turning point for the team, helping to quieten the “outside noise” that Ciraldo believes was affecting the players.
Ciraldo acknowledged that the past two years have been one of the toughest periods for the club, noting that it’s hard to ignore the growing pressure. He mentioned that the constant speculation and criticism were challenging for the team to manage.
“As much as we say to try and block it out, it’s hard to ignore all of it,” the coach said.
“Not just the outside noise, the rumours that circulate and the bullshit that gets made up. I’m really proud of this group that they just kept turning up and trusting in what we were doing but I felt a lot for them that they’ve had to go through that as well.
“That’s probably the hardest thing around this club is when we do lose a game there’s a lot of outside noise so for us to manage that and try and keep the boys off their phones and off TV … the outside noise becomes quite debilitating for young guys.”
Ciraldo also emphasized the importance of maintaining focus and not letting external pressures affect the team’s performance. He believes that the last five weeks will be a blessing in disguise, allowing the team to discover more about themselves and their resilience.
“Some of the stuff that’s been said about some of our players and our staff is totally unfair and I’m just glad we got a performance tonight that we can enjoy.”
Key Players and Challenges
Canterbury had several young players on deck for Friday’s clash, including Jack Underhill, AJ Jones, and Jethro Rinakama. However, experienced stars such as Stephen Crichton, Viliame Kikau, and Connor Tracey were unavailable due to Origin commitments or injuries. Despite these challenges, the team managed to pull through.
Among the players under pressure was five-eighth Matt Burton, who has been the subject of ongoing rumors about his future. However, he delivered his best performance of the season against the Storm, which Ciraldo praised.
Ciraldo directly addressed the rumors surrounding Burton, stating that they were difficult to defend. He expressed disappointment that during a losing streak, people would make up stories about players, which made it hard for the team to defend them.
“I’m really proud of our coaching staff in how connected they’ve stayed together and how much they’ve trusted in what we’re doing and how hard they’ve been working.”
Upcoming Fixtures
Looking ahead, Canterbury will face struggling western Sydney rivals the Tigers and Eels over the next fortnight before taking a bye in round 15. The team is hopeful that this period will allow them to regroup and build on their recent success.
