Bulldogs boss Phil Gould has unleashed after a report emerged of Canterbury trying to lure Gold Coast captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui by offering him an investment in a pub.
According to a News Corp report published on Sunday, Canterbury was attempting to entice Fa’asuamaleaui with a $4 million contract, as well as a stake in a pub owned by Arthur Laundy — the owner of the Bulldogs’ major sponsor, Laundy Hotels.
The report insinuated the Bulldogs were trying to cheat the salary cap in a bid to tempt Fa’asuamaleaui into signing.
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Fa’asuamaleaui and powerhouse Titans teammate David Fifita are free agents after the axing of coach Justin Holbrook triggered clauses in their contracts.
Addressing the report of a shady pub deal on Nine’s 100% Footy on Monday night, Gould said Laundy was “extremely upset”, before ripping the article to shreds.
“This article has just come out of left field,” Gould said.
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“Someone’s added two and two together and got five, again, along the lines of trying to destabilise our club, which has been a pretty common theme right throughout this season and, in fact, ever since I joined the club. It’s just a continuing childish thing they do. But that’s life in the rugby league world.
“It’s made up, it’s made up, someone’s made it up.
“The author of the article rang Laundy on Friday or Saturday to talk about it, not saying he was going to write anything about it, not saying that he was going to be quoted, and to which Arthur tells me quite emphatically he denied any knowledge of any Tino recruitment.
“He certainly doesn’t have any rugby league players investing in (his) pubs at the moment. He’s got an AFL player, he’s got a former professional golfer, he’s got some friends and relatives, but there are no rugby league players. He had a former NRL coach years ago, who has since been paid out of the pub, but he has no rugby league players in this.”
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The report also claimed the Laundy family had contacted NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo in search of approval for the deal.
The journalist then reported on Monday that the NRL had told the Laundy family the arrangement would have to be included in the salary cap.
“You read the article today, you would think it’s a done deal — Tino’s got half a pub and he’s coming to the Bulldogs and Arthur Laundy did the deal,” Gould added.
“How embarrassing for Arthur and how embarrassing for Tino. They don’t care about who they target with this. It’s embarrassing.”
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