Trent Barrett has quit as Canterbury’s NRL coach after the Bulldogs’ poor start to the 2022 campaign left the club last on the competition ladder.
A 16-6 loss to Newcastle last Friday night at Suncorp Stadium in the opening match of the NRL’s Magic Round proved the final straw for Bulldogs officials, who spent the weekend discussing Barrett’s future.
It’s understood Barrett took the decision out of the club’s hands by quitting ahead of an emergency board meeting on Monday morning.
Speculation Barrett’s time at the club was done ramped up on Monday morning when the club cancelled a scheduled media opportunity with several players including captain Josh Jackson.
It has been reported Bulldogs director of football Phil Gould informed the players of Barrett’s decision before cancelling Monday’s training session and sending them home.
Barrett leaves Belmore having won just five of 34 matches in charge, despite an expensive recruitment drive that has included the additions of Josh Addo-Carr, Matt Burton, Tevita Pangai, Matt Dufty and Paul Vaughan.
The Bulldogs are yet to officially confirm Barrett’s exit while AAP has sought confirmation of the news from Barrett’s manager Wayne Beavis.
It’s unclear who will be in the coach’s seat for Friday’s clash with Wests Tigers but assistant coach David Furner or NSW Cup coach Michael Potter loom as the most likely candidates to take over in the short term.
Longer term options include premiership-winning duo Shane Flanagan, whose son Kyle is on the Bulldogs’ books, and Paul Green as the early frontrunners.
Others being speculated as potential candidates include St Helens coach Kristian Woolf and Cameron Ciraldo, who is an assistant at Penrith like Barrett was before joining the Bulldogs.
© AAP 2022
