The Bulldogs & The Silent Truth?

The Silent Truth?

Where there is smoke there is fire and this is exactly how it seems at the Canterbury Bulldogs Rugby League Club at the moment. The more the players and the club deny that there is an rift or player unrest at the club the more it seems that there is something much deeper and darker that they are covering up.

Let's go back to the start of the season though and look at what may be the problem before looking at the latest rumours that are gaining momentum.

The Bulldog's season did not start well when the club suspended Ben Barba indefinitely before the first round for off-field problems. It was reported that Barba had a drinking and gambling problem and needed time away from the game to rehabilitate. Was this truly the case though or was there more to it? This was always a lingering thought many had and still do.

Barba returned sooner than anyone thought in round four, so if he actually did need rehabilitation, it was done in very quick time. Especially considering the initial talk indicated he would need a long time to get his life sorted out. Since his return though, the spark and guile has not been there. The Bulldogs have only won one game so far and that was back in round two. With 4 losses on the trot and languishing at the bottom of the table, it seems that there are certainly other problems at the club.

Is this the real Tony Williams?

One only has to look at big signing, Tony "T-Rex Williams", to notice that not much is going right on the field for the club. For a player who had a reputation of power and strength he would struggle to outmatch Rex from Toy Story this season.

Also missing so far this season, due to a leg injury, is big Sam Kasiano, who to the bemusement of many Bulldog supporters always seems to be 2-3 weeks off playing. With little word coming out from the club as to what is actually wrong, maybe there is more to his injury then is being told.

Heading into round 7 and the club is spending it's whole time denying that there are problems at the club and discussing the announcement that club CEO Todd Greenberg was resigning to take up the role of Head of Football for the NRL. Although Greenberg is touted as the best man to run the game, is he jumping ship? Stranger still was that with the announcement that he will not be leaving immediately and won't actually start the role until August.

The question that remains is what rumours are the players and club denying? Eventually all the facts will come out and with constant talk of Ben Barba being linked to the Broncos, there is definitely more than smoke to the rumours that are circulating.

Sources have revealed that there is a rift between Ben Barba, Frank Pritchard & Sam Kasiano due to an alleged affair that came to light before the season started. With a dust up at a training session it seems this was the incident that had Des Hasler saying enough was enough and this is when Barba was suspended to sort out his problems.

With reports that Kasiano & Pritchard wanted Barba sacked gains more momentum with the Sam Kasiano injury. With Barba suspended by the club, it appears Pritchard was not happy with the speed in which Barba was brought back to the team and before the season started most expected Kasiano to be back playing by now too. Kasiono is apparently standing firm on his decision to not play until Barba is sacked.  Not happy with the disunity at the club it appears that Josh Morris has decided he wants out of the club as well and asked for a release.

Now things are at a breaking point, Des Halser has told Barba & Kasiano that their services are no longer required at the club and both can leave. Expect to see Barba at the Broncos within a few weeks  and Kasiano at the Dragons. With both of these players leaving Josh Morris will stay and although Pritchard stated he will go if Kasiano goes, he will stay for now too.

Although nothing official has been stated by the club or players, expect more to come to light within the next few weeks.