Doubts grow over Barrett’s future at Dogs

Ed Jackson | May 16, 2022

The future of Trent Barrett as Canterbury’s NRL coach is looking increasingly uncertain as Bulldogs officials grow progressively worried by the club’s poor start to the 2022 campaign.

A 16-6 loss to Newcastle last Friday has left the Bulldogs dead last on the NRL ladder after 10 games with just two wins so far this season.

Bulldogs board members have reportedly spent the weekend questioning whether Barrett was the right man for the job and a decision on his tenure could be made as soon as Monday.

Since replacing Dean Pay at Belmore, Barrett has won just five of 34 games despite an expensive recruitment drive that has included the additions of Josh Addo-Carr, Matt Burton, Tevita Pangai, Matt Dufty and Paul Vaughan.

Bulldogs director of football Phil Gould has been a staunch supporter of Barrett and the pair took time out over the NRL’s Magic Round in Brisbane to share a few beers on the Gold Coast amid the growing speculation.

No official word of an extraordinary board meeting has been announced but speculation some kind of decision is looming only increased when the Bulldogs cancelled a scheduled media opportunity with players on Monday morning.

If Barrett is sacked there are a number of names already in the mix as possible replacements including premiership-winning duo Shane Flanagan, whose son Kyle is on the Bulldogs’ books, and Paul Green.

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.

Canterbury face Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval this Friday before a home game against St George Illawarra at Belmore Sports Ground the following week.