Off-contract Canterbury players admit they feel as if they’re playing for their future over the next 10 weeks before Trent Barrett takes charge of the NRL club.
Barrett is in the strange position of working full time as Penrith’s assistant while also still needing to manage the Bulldogs’ roster as it awaits a significant overhaul.
Kieran Foran is the biggest name off contract at Canterbury but Adam Elliott, Aiden Tolman, Raymond Faitala-Mariner, Sauaso Sue and Jack Cogger are among others.
Barrett has vowed not to rush any decisions and says any work done on Canterbury’s roster will be outside his hours at Penrith.
But Bulldogs players know that, in reality, they’re playing for a spot in the 2021 team.
“I have 10 weeks to prove to Trent Barrett that I am willing to stay,” second-rower Faitala-Mariner said.
“I want to put my best foot forward week in week out. That’s my goal for the next week and hopefully he is watching.
“Jesse Sue is my cousin and we talk about it every week, (saying): ‘I’m going to put my best foot forward this week and hopefully something pops up’.
“I’m just hoping and praying something comes my way … I hope to stay at the club for a couple more years.”
Faitala-Mariner has played 64 games at the Bulldogs since arriving from the Warriors in 2016 and is having his best season to date.
But he feels nervous and is well aware of the tricky spot he’s in.
Barrett isn’t expected to have significant contact with players at Canterbury until his time at Penrith finishes after the finals.
It means players such as Faitala-Mariner are playing under the tactics of one coach without knowing what type of gameplay would impress another.
“It would be good to have some sort of feedback from the coach himself,” he said.
“For him to not be here to ask for that feedback is quite tricky. But I am a big believer in that if you play good footy then it speaks for itself.
“But at the moment we are in the trenches and if I put myself in the best position to help the team win it will hopefully look after itself.”
Meanwhile, the Bulldogs’ roster is appearing to become somewhat clearer, with Nick Cotric signed and Corey Harawira-Naera expected to depart for Canberra.
However, Jayden Okunbor is expected to return after having his deregistration overturned and is likely to resume training as soon as next week.
“I spoke to Jayden the other day, he is missing the boys and is keen to come back,” winger Nick Meaney said.
“Jayden is in great spirits. They (Okunbor and Harawira-Naera) have been working together and labouring together.”
OFF-CONTRACT BULLDOGS:
Jack Cogger, Adam Elliott, Raymond Faitala-Mariner, Kieran Foran, Kerrod Holland, Tim Lafai, Marcelo Montoya, Sauaso Sue, Aiden Tolman, Isaiah Tass, Brandon Wakeham.
