Josh Addo-Carr, meeting with Phil Gould, Bulldogs future, contract, Peter V’landys, suspension, Koori Knockout brawl

Josh Addo-Carr’s manager says the star winger has “at no time been shopped around by the Bulldogs”.

It comes after Addo-Carr met with the club’s general director of football Phil Gould on Friday following a rollercoaster few weeks in which he was caught up in two controversial incidents.

Addo-Carr’s manager Mario Tartak said The Sydney Morning Herald that the 28-year-old was assured his future was secure at the Bulldogs, but was asked to become more of a leader.

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“Phil Gould has just met with Josh to check on his welfare and let him know he is part of Canterbury’s plans,” Tartak said.

“He asked Josh to take more of a leadership role within the group. “Gus” sees him as an important part of the team in the future and welcomes him to the club.

“Gus saw this as a chance for Josh to reset after a few small hiccups. At no time was Josh Addo-Carr shopped by the Bulldogs.

“Josh was grateful for the reunion and we all want him to get back to playing his best football.”

Addo-Carr received a two-match suspension last week for his involvement in a brawl at the Koori Knockout, which cost him a Kangaroos jersey.

Then this week he shared a controversial post on social media, for which he later apologized. Addo-Carr compared the Middle East conflict to indigenous land rights by posting a photo of Aboriginal and Palestinian flags side by side with the caption “one struggle, one fight” while the phrase “Land Back” was accompanied by two Arabic words.

Via a statement, Addo-Carr later said the post was “a mistake.” He apologized for “any offense” he had caused and said he “felt remorse” as soon as it was brought to his attention that he had made a mistake.

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This has since been revealed by Danny Weidler via the Herald that Addo-Carr was due to meet ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys days before he was involved in the brawl.

According to Weidler, Gould arranged the meeting to help the representative winger plan his life after football – and the Bulldogs supremo came up with the idea for him to become the face of indigenous rugby league.

Addo-Carr withdrew from the meeting due to his selection in the Australian Prime Minister’s XIII – from which he later withdrew due to injury – but Tartak attended on his behalf.

“I was happy to have this meeting because not enough is being done to help players transition to retirement,” V’landys said.

“This is a major issue, and when Phil Gould asked to meet with me, I was very happy to meet with them and try to plan something for Josh and his family.

“I am open to meeting players who have ideas on what they would like to do and I will help them as much as I can.”