A surprising decision by Bulldogs star Josh Addo-Carr has left footy experts expecting him to be sacked by the club as he superstar continues to fight to clear his name after testing positive to cocaine.
The Bulldogs bowed out of the finals on Sunday afternoon, victims of a 24-22 defeat from fast-finishing Manly in the second elimination final at Accor Stadium.
The result came at the end of a tumultuous 10 days for Canterbury, whose star winger Addo-Carr stood himself down from the game for fear of his presence sparking a media circus.
The 29-year-old has told club officials he is adamant he did not take cocaine before testing positive to the drug in two samples he gave to police on August 6, and is at a loss to explain the allegedly positive results.
Despite his claims of innocence, Addo-Carr has accepted a three-month driving ban and a $682 fine instead of taking the matter to court, which NRL reporter Phil Rothfield says is very unusual.
‘That will drag on this week but I’m pretty sure there will be a big story later this week and that’ll be that the Bulldogs will cut Josh Addo-Carr loose,’ Rothfield told Sky Radio’s Big Sports Breakfast on Monday.
‘They got to do their due diligence, they’ve got to dot their I’s and cross their T’s with their legal procedures but I think he’s done at the Bulldogs.
‘He still won’t admit guilt but he’s paid the fine, which is a very unusual situation.
There is speculation that Bulldogs winger Josh Addo-Carr (pictured) is set to part ways with his club after testing positive for cocaine
Addo-Carr has told club officials he is adamant he did not take the drug before returning positive results in two samples he gave police during a roadside stop on August 6
The 29-year-old has told club officials he is adamant he did not take cocaine before testing positive to the drug in two samples he gave to police on August 6, and is at a loss to explain the allegedly positive results.
Despite his claims of innocence, Addo-Carr has accepted a three-month driving ban and a $682 fine instead of taking the matter to court, which NRL reporter Phil Rothfield says is very unusual.
‘That will drag on this week but I’m pretty sure there will be a big story later this week and that’ll be that the Bulldogs will cut Josh Addo-Carr loose,’ Rothfield told Sky Radio’s Big Sports Breakfast on Monday.
‘They got to do their due diligence, they’ve got to dot their I’s and cross their T’s with their legal procedures but I think he’s done at the Bulldogs.
‘He still won’t admit guilt but he’s paid the fine, which is a very unusual situation.
There is speculation that Bulldogs winger Josh Addo-Carr (pictured) is set to part ways with his club after testing positive for cocaine
Addo-Carr has told club officials he is adamant he did not take the drug before returning positive results in two samples he gave police during a roadside stop on August 6
Fellow News Corp NRL reporter James Hooper also believes Addo-Carr will sacked by the club soon.
‘The reality of it now is that it looks as though all roads are heading towards the Bulldogs and Josh Addo-Carr parting ways,’ Hooper told Triple M’s Sunday Sin Bin.
‘Phil Gould has said on the record a number of times … that his club wouldn’t stand for that and his club wouldn’t tolerate that type of thing.
‘I think that they will end up parting ways and that he’ll end up at another club.’
Addo-Carr had requested that the results of the second test be expedited in an attempt to quickly prove his innocence, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
‘First of all I want to say sorry to my team and our fans for all headlines and discussion around me and the club,’ Addo-Carr told the publication.
Top NRL reporters are predicting that Addo-Carr will be sacked by his club soon
‘I know I’ve done nothing wrong and my name will be cleared in time.
‘It’s frustrating that the club has to deal with this situation and I feel awful for that. I want it to be known that I didn’t take drugs and I look forward to my name being cleared.
‘I want to thank everyone at the club, especially Gus [general manager Phil Gould], [chairman] Adam [Driussi] and [coach] Cameron [Ciraldo].
‘Until my name is cleared, I will do whatever is best for the team. My entire focus is on today [the elimination final against Manly] and my heart is with the boys.
‘I hope I get the chance to show what the club means to me next week.’
