Bulldogs NRL stars ‘punch Cameron Ciraldo over his harsh demands’ – even though coach only asks them to work 8am to 5.30pm like millions of Australians
- Dogs players are reportedly unhappy with Ciraldo
- Players have a workload problem
- Team will experience another horror season in 2023
Canterbury-Bankstown staff have reportedly been alerted to a text message shared between players criticizing coach Cameron Ciraldo’s demands, including being asked to work from 8am to 5.30pm.
The underperforming Bulldogs were beaten by Manly this weekend, and news of players’ complaints about Ciraldo will give fans even more headaches.
According to the newspaper, up to eight players have complained about Ciraldo’s workload Sydney Morning Herald.
The text message alleged that the footballers considered the coach’s expectation that they would be available to train from 8am to 5.30pm unreasonable.
It’s been a dismal season for the Belmore boys, who have recorded some of their heaviest defeats of all time, despite securing the highly sought after former Penrith mastermind to lead the club.
Cameron Ciraldo has reportedly been criticized by Bulldogs players for his workload
The underperforming Bulldogs have a horror campaign in 2023 as Ciraldo failed to turn the club around after winning just seven games last year
When signed by the Bulldogs in 2022, Ciraldo was the most in-demand coach in the league and regarded as a ‘defensive messiah’, but his debut season as leader was one to forget.
Angry Bulldogs fans have booed their own team this season, and if Ciraldo wasn’t so highly regarded by Bulldogs supremo Phil Gould, he’d probably be in the firing line.
Ciraldo was furious after the team went down 42-24 against Manly on Sunday, with his side’s defense clearly not up to the task.
“He shouldn’t be able to score that close…that’s soft defense, Liam Knight didn’t chase hard enough off the marker,” Fox Sports commentator Steve Roach said after a Sea Eagles soft try.
“It’s the easiest tackle in the game, chasing from the marker there, just duck under the ball, you can make the tackle around the thighs.
“He just got pushed out of there Liam Knight, not chasing hard enough, not aggressive from marker.”
Commentator Andrew Voss also mentioned the Bulldogs’ tackles during the game.
“Call what you see, but this is one of the worst goal-line defenses I think we’ve seen this year, that was terrible,” Voss said.
The Bulldogs are currently 15th on the ladder, despite some quality players
After the match, Ciraldo was also left seething with players chasing and threatening to swing the ax if they didn’t aim upwards in the final week of practice.
“If I get the impression that someone is not ready for the game, I will find someone who is,” said Ciraldo.
“We’ve got a Jersey Flegg team doing well and getting ready for the final, so if there are any kids that want to try more I’ll throw them in.”
Canterbury, on the other hand, were poor as their difficult season reached a long overdue climax.
Matt Burton failed to hit a penalty kick in the action ahead of Cherry-Evans’ try, a play that summed up their day.
Ciraldo was also left seething with players running in chases, threatening to swing the ax if they don’t aim for the final week of training this season.
“If I get the impression that someone is not ready for the game, I will find someone who is,” said Ciraldo.
“We’ve got a Jersey Flegg team doing well and getting ready for the final, so if there are any kids that want to try more I’ll throw them in.”