LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
The Bulldogs coach, Cameron Ciraldo, opened up about the impact of Josh Addo-Carr's drug test saga on his team after a gut-wrenching loss in the finals.
Ciraldo admitted that the off-field distractions had taken a toll on both himself and his players, leaving them feeling like they had a mountain to climb.
Addo-Carr, a star winger, made the tough decision to remove himself from the Bulldogs' lineup against the Sea Eagles following reports of a positive drug test.
Despite his claims of innocence, a second test confirmed the presence of cocaine in his system.
"I know I've got nothing to hide and my name will be cleared eventually," Addo-Carr stated defiantly.
In the aftermath of the Bulldogs' narrow 24-22 loss in their first finals appearance since 2016, Ciraldo expressed uncertainty about how the off-field drama had affected his team's performance on the field.
The squad had a tough battle ahead of them, but Ciraldo remained hopeful that they would bounce back stronger than ever.