Bulldogs boss Phil Gould has responded to rumours regarding Raymond Faitala-Mariner, denying the club captain will be granted an early release from his contract.
Despite being signed until the end of 2025 and being a respected member of the squad, reports from The Sydney Morning Herald earlier in the week indicated the key forward could be on the move next year.
Faitala-Mariner had allegedly been given permission to negotiate with rival clubs, along with off-season recruit Ryan Sutton, with both players struggling for form this season.
The 30-year-old Kiwi star has had a tough run with injury in recent years, but has fought his way back to the Canterbury lineup and played 14 games throughout their campaign.
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Phil Gould denies Raymond Faitala-Mariner rumours
In the latest edition of Six Tackles With Gus, Gould shut down the notion of Faitala-Mariner leaving Belmore any time soon, despite the club's recent acquisition of Liam Knight until the end of 2024.
"I don't know where all that comes from," he said.
"People get a little snippet of information and they make big deals out of it... they're obsessed with certain things. No one's been told to look around, no one's been told to leave the club at all.
"I've heard so many rumours about us this year... none of it has ever come to fruition, no one is ever held to account for what they say.
"As a club we are always looking at our roster going forward, as do players and as do their managers, look at their position in the club and look at who else is coming through and looking at pathways and their future.
"Players are doing that as much as what clubs are, it's just the nature of our game at the moment, any conversation I've had with any player about our club and their future remain between me and them."
Faitala-Mariner's manager told The Daily Telegraph the back-rower was 'in the dark' over the potential early exit, with Goud swiftly allaying any fears and meeting with the New Zealand international on Tuesday.
With the likes of Stephen Crichton and Bronson Xerri joining the squad next year to bolster the backline stocks, Canterbury will now look to strengthen their forward pack under head coach Cameron Ciraldo.
Gould admitted the Bulldogs would be adding "a few more" players in the coming days and weeks, with the likes of Blake Taaffe and Sio Siua Taukeiaho both rumoured to be joining the cub.
Canterbury Bulldogs NRL off-contract list
| 2023 | Braidon Burns, Brandon Clarke, Corey Waddell, Declan Casey, Fa'amanu Brown, Jayden Okunbor, Kyle Flanagan, Luke Thompson, Paul Alamoti, Samuel Hughes |
| 2024 | Chris Patolo, Ethan Quai-Ward, Franklin Pele, Hayze Perham, Jackson Topine, Jacob Kiraz, Jeral Skelton, Liam Knight, Max King, Reece Hoffman, Tevita Pangai Junior, Toby Sexton |
| 2025 | Bronson Xerri*, Josh Addo-Carr, Raymond Faitala-Mariner, Ryan Sutton |
| 2026 | Karl Oloapu, Reed Mahoney, Viliame Kikau |
| 2027 | Jacob Preston, Matt Burton, Stephen Crichton* |
*Xerri and Crichton will all join the Bulldogs next season.
