'Try and get out': Bulldogs player twist emerges in Trent Barrett exit
Trent Barrett's exit from the Bulldogs could have "seismic ramifications" for the NRL strugglers, with clouds now hanging over a number of high-profile signings.
Barrett called time on his tenure with the Bulldogs after stepping down from the role effective immediately on Monday morning.
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He leaves the Bulldogs sitting on the bottom of the ladder after averaging fewer than 10 points per game this season.
Barrett's record since taking charge at the Dogs also makes for ugly reading, with the club winning just five times in his 34 matches in charge.
However, the 44-year-old was a key part of a massive recruitment drive for the Bulldogs, with the future of star signings Matt Burton and Tevita Pangai Junior now reportedly up in the air.
“This is going to have seismic ramifications in terms of the Bulldogs roster because as much as Trent Barrett hadn’t got on field wins, Matt Burton signed to play under him, Josh Addo-Carr, Brent Naden, Tevita Pangai Junior, next year it is Kikau and it’s Reed Mahoney,” Fox League’s James Hooper said on NRL 360.
“So there is already mail that for a player like Tevita Pangai Junior he might look to try and get out and go and join Wayne Bennett at the Dolphins.
“Burton was the big signing for them, and he was also really close to Barrett.
Burton has a player option in his contract meaning is free to negotiate with rivals clubs from November 1.
Pangai Junior is another player who's being strongly linked with a move away - specifically to NRL newcomers the Dolphins.
“Another bloke who I know for a fact went there because he wanted to play under Trent was Tevita Pangai Junior," Hooper added.
“There has been strong suggestions today and Wayne Bennett has publicly spoken about the fact that he has a high opinion of Tevita, Tevita may now try and seek a release to go up and join the Dolphins for next season.”
Just last month, veteran coach Bennett admitted that he would not hesitate to sign Pangai Junior for the Dolphins if the rampaging forward was on the market.
However, Pangai Junior signed a three-year deal with the Bulldogs and would have to seek and be granted a release if he were to move on.
Bulldogs football manager Phil Gould said a phone call where Barrett "poured his heart out" led to the coach's exit.
Trent Barrett resigns from Bulldogs in 'difficult decision'
Gould and Barrett spent time together on the Gold Coast on Saturday before the coach picked up the phone the following day and said he could no longer continue in the role.
"I wasn't going to sack him," Gould said on Monday.
"I think the performances and pressure, he just got the feeling that he probably didn't have the solutions to what was going wrong.
"It was a very difficult discussion, it was very raw and he poured his heart out.
"He put his heart into this job and he wanted to end the speculation on the board to make any decision and he made the decision."
Gould said he wouldn't be stepping into the role and explained one of the club's existing coaches would take charge in Friday night's match against the Tigers.
Former Canberra coach David Furner has been working as Barrett's assistant and Mick Potter is the club's NSW Cup coach.
Beyond that Gould said the picture was unclear.
The Dogs could recruit an unattached coach immediately or stick with an internal hire until the end of the season.
Shane Flanagan, whose son Kyle is on the Bulldogs' books, and former North Queensland coach Paul Green are both free agents.
Penrith assistant coach Cameron Ciraldo is the most likely candidate but the Panthers will put up a fight to prevent him leaving mid-season.
with AAP
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