Bulldogs captain Stephen Crichton has backed the club’s leaders as they deal with what he describes as a “less than ideal” situation after it was revealed star player Josh Addo-Carr will not play against the Sea Eagles on Sunday afternoon.
What should have been a special week for the NRL club as they prepare for their first finals match since 2016 has been ruined when Addo-Carr withdrew from the must-win match after testing positive for a banned substance at the roadside. The club now awaits the results of the second sample.
They didn’t need the distraction, but Crichton is confident the players will move on quickly.
“We have a very important game this week that we have to focus on. We’ll put that aside for a while and the club will focus on that now, while the players focus on something very important next Sunday,” he said.
‘It’s probably not the ideal preparation, but the boys have prepared very well.
‘He [Addo-Carr] has been a key figure for this club in recent years and for us this year as well, so it will be quite difficult, but the guys who come will do the job.
“Things happen, but it’s just the way you react to it. It wasn’t the best situation, but the boys have a job to do and the club will take care of that.”
Centre Bronson Xerri normally plays as a left winger behind Addo-Carr and he says their only option is to continue without the man he described as ‘the best winger in the league’.
Bulldogs captain Stephen Crichton has backed the club’s leaders to deal with what he described as a “less than ideal” situation after it was confirmed that winger Josh Addo-Carr will not play against the Sea Eagles on Sunday
Addo-Carr withdrew from Canterbury’s must-win NRL finals match after testing positive for a banned substance at the roadside last Friday.
‘It’s a tough day for the club, but we have a task [to do] “This weekend, so we can switch off all distractions and focus on the game,” he said.
“We will miss him of course, because he is the best winger in the league. It is a big loss, but we will move on.”
Addo-Carr is reportedly being investigated by New South Wales police after he tested positive for cocaine on a roadside drug test.
The 29-year-old was arrested by police last Friday evening and reportedly tested positive while driving, according to reports News Corp.
The NRL star has not yet been charged, with further investigation into the test still to be conducted.
It may take up to 10 weeks before you receive the results.
Addo-Carr is said to have informed the Bulldogs of the incident, but there has been some confusion as boss Phil Gould initially stated the test was ‘negative’.
The New South Wales Police Service released the following statement: ‘At approximately 10.45pm on Friday evening, officers from Auburn Police Area Command were patrolling Baywater Drive, Wentworth Point, when they stopped a Toyota hatchback for a random check.
‘The driver – a 29-year-old man – was subjected to a roadside test which reportedly returned a positive indication for cocaine. The sample has been sent for analysis.’
Gould posted a message on social media about the incident on Monday, saying there was “no truth to the rumours” that Addo-Carr was concerned.
‘In response to the circulating rumours and now several media inquiries regarding Josh Addo-Carr,’ the Bulldogs supremo posted a message on X.
Josh Addo-Carr (pictured) is reportedly being investigated by NSW Police after allegedly failing a roadside drug test
The Bulldogs winger was arrested by police on Friday evening and reportedly tested positive while driving
‘On Friday night, Josh was pulled over and given a random roadside drug test. The test results were negative and Josh was allowed to continue on his way.
“It happens to all of us on the road. ‘There is absolutely no truth to the rumors that Josh had a problem. Nothing at all.’
This comes after Addo-Carr endured a tough few seasons, with ongoing injury concerns.
He was sidelined again last weekend during the Bulldogs’ defeat to the Cowboys at Accor Stadium due to a leg injury.
The NRL has not yet commented on the situation.