Phil Gould on Josh Addo-Carr’s Future: “You’ll Lose the Best Winger if You Let Him Go”
SYDNEY, Australia — Canterbury Bulldogs General Manager of Football, Phil Gould, has spoken out on the swirling rumors surrounding star winger Josh Addo-Carr, sparking intense speculation over whether the speedster has played his final match for the Bulldogs. Addo-Carr, who was recently ruled out of the 2024 NRL Finals after failing two roadside drug tests, faces an uncertain future with the club.
There have been whispers throughout the league that the $550,000-a-season winger may be set for an early exit, with some sources suggesting that a departure could happen as soon as the end of this week. The 28-year-old’s contract, which runs until the end of the 2025 season, is now under scrutiny amid the ongoing fallout from his positive drug tests.
Gould, breaking his silence on the matter, addressed the speculation during his appearance on 100% Footy, though he remained cautious in his statements. “It’s too early to say,” Gould began, neither confirming nor denying the possibility of Addo-Carr leaving the club. However, he did state that any decision regarding the player’s future would be made with the “best long-term interest of the club” in mind.
“Right at the moment there’s a process to go through,” Gould explained. “Josh has to front the NRL Integrity Unit this week. They called today and asked for a Zoom meeting with him, and we’ve passed that on to his manager who’s organizing that meeting.”
Gould went on to outline the steps that the Bulldogs are currently taking, including final medical assessments for all players and exit interviews to evaluate their seasons. “At the end of the day, I’ll come up with a decision on what I think the future of Josh Addo-Carr and the club should be as a partnership, and I’ll take that to the board.”
He also revealed that, ultimately, the decision may not rest entirely in his hands. “They [the board] may or may not take my recommendation; they may have another point of view. We’ll sit down and discuss it. At the end of the day, we’ll do what we think is in the best long-term interest of the club.”
The drug test failures have thrown Addo-Carr’s future at the Bulldogs into question. Gould admitted he had not spoken directly with Addo-Carr since the second positive test, noting that “he’s still protesting his innocence.”
“At the end of the day, it’s in his system when he takes a drug test on Friday night. How it got there? He needs to work that out and explain that to the people that count,” Gould said. “It was certainly disappointing from a club perspective. It wasn’t good timing, and it wasn’t good for the club.”
Nicknamed ‘The Foxx,’ Addo-Carr joined the Bulldogs ahead of the 2022 NRL season, where he quickly established himself as one of the team’s standout players. Over 52 games, he has racked up an impressive 38 tries, adding to an already decorated career that includes two NRL premierships with the Melbourne Storm (2017 and 2020), seven appearances for the Australian Kangaroos, and 15 Origin caps for New South Wales.
The Bulldogs face a critical decision regarding Addo-Carr’s future, with his immense talent and value undeniable. Gould’s comment, “You’ll lose the best winger if you let him go,” underscores the gravity of the situation. However, with the NRL Integrity Unit’s investigation still pending and Addo-Carr’s fate hanging in the balance, the Bulldogs must weigh their options carefully.
As the NRL community awaits the outcome of the investigation, Addo-Carr’s fans and supporters are left hoping for clarity in what has become one of the most high-profile off-field incidents of the year.
