LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
Phil Gould, the director of football for the Canterbury Bulldogs, has dismissed any speculation regarding the team pursuing Tino Fa'asuamaleaui or signing other high-profile players. He emphasized that the Bulldogs' roster and salary cap are currently at capacity.
In response to inquiries about signing Fa'asuamaleaui or acquiring a renowned fullback, Gould was straightforward in his comments, indicating that such moves are off the table for 2026.
He stated, "the roster and the salary cap are full thanks... Looking forward to the players returning to work soon. It's been quiet around here without them," on X (formerly Twitter).
The Bulldogs have four roster spots available for 2026 but, due to salary cap limitations, are expected to promote players from their development and trial lists, which now includes ex-Wests Tigers forward Justin Matamua.
Over the past three seasons, Canterbury has nearly overhauled their entire team and signaled that they are not done yet. This suggests they could explore free agency for 2027, especially now that the November 1 deadline has passed. However, their salary cap situation is believed to remain challenging for the upcoming season, which may hinder their ability to recruit high-profile players.