NRL star Josh Addo-Carr is now facing an uncertain future as he awaits a meeting with Bulldogs officials, scheduled for Friday. The meeting comes after the 28-year-old has recently made headlines for all the wrong reasons. First, the flying winger was involved in an on-field brawl at the Koori Knockout on the NSW central coast. And then, more recently, he found himself in hot water for comparing the current conflict in the Middle East with Indigenous land rights in Australia.
Earlier this week, Addo-Carr issued an apology on Instagram after uploading a photo featuring the Palestinian and Aboriginal flags, with the caption ‘One struggle, one fight.’ In his statement, Addo-Carr expressed that he saw the image as a message of support against displacement and land rights, but acknowledged that he shared it without fully understanding the current events overseas. He deleted the post once he became aware of the mistake and expressed remorse for his actions. Addo-Carr also emphasised the importance of respect for each other’s culture and recognised his role as a public figure, stating that he wants to do better.
It is understood that Canterbury officials, led by football boss Phil Gould, are prepared to have a serious conversation with the representative star. There’s a possibility that Addo-Carr may face disciplinary action or even be moved on from the Bulldogs.
Sources close to Addo-Carr have revealed that he is not satisfied with the level of support he has received from the Bulldogs after being suspended for two matches by the NRL due to video footage showing him punching a man during the Koori Knockout. Unfortunately, this suspension means that Addo-Carr will not be able to participate in upcoming matches for the Kangaroos against Samoa and New Zealand.
Canterbury officials are equally disappointed with Addo-Carr’s behavior at the Koori Knockout and his social media post regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict. Despite the Bulldogs‘ struggles on the field, Addo-Carr has been a standout player following his five-year stint with the Melbourne Storm, where he won NRL premierships in 2017 and 2020.
Last year, Addo-Carr scored an impressive 16 tries, and he has already crossed the try line 11 times this year. Should the Bulldogs decide to release Addo-Carr, it is expected that he will receive offers from other NRL clubs, considering his exceptional track record.