Josh Addo-Carr has revealed he ‘still feels a connection’ to the Canterbury Bulldogs after his contract was terminated by the footy club last October.
Executives at the club ended the 29-year-old’s $550,000-per-year deal after Addo-Carr had tested positive for cocaine during a police roadside drugs test in September.
Having played for the club for three seasons, the flying winger had become a favourite among fans of the Bulldogs and insisted during an interview on the Let’s Trot podcast, that he still feels a strong connection to the club, despite his premature exit.
‘I did (having a connection to the Bulldogs). I still feel it today,’ Addo-Carr told the Let’s Trot podcast.
‘I’m so grateful to have been part of such a strong club, a strong community.
‘The fans will hold a very special place in my heart. They showed nothing but love to me and my family, especially my son ‘little Fox’ and my daughter Shakira as well.’
Josh Addo-Carr has opened up on his exit from the Canterbury Bulldogs, stating that he still has a ‘close connection’ with the club
Speaking on the Let’s Trot podcast, Addo-Carr stated his exit from the club was ‘tough’ but has since ‘moved on’
Addo-Carr had fronted Bulldogs powerbrokers and made his case for them to not tear up his contract. Despite that Canterbury said in a statement that despite his stature around the club, ‘the failed drug test and subsequent lack of transparency’ amounted to ‘serious breaches of his contractual obligations and the club’s standards’
Eighteen days after his Canterbury exit, Addo-Carr signed a deal to join the Eels for the 2025 season, which includes a contract option for the following season which the club says is in ‘Paramatta’s favour’.
Despite having quickly found a new club, the New South Wales representative opened up on how difficult it was to move on from his old club.
‘It is tough, it was tough but you just have to move on though.’
He later added: ‘I’ve moved on from it,’ Addo-Carr said.
‘The Dogs have moved on from it, the NRL has moved on.
‘I’m at a period in my life where I’m happy at the club I’m at today and I just want to move on from everything. It was a difficult time for myself and my family.’
‘What was said was said and I just want to move on now. The main thing is that I’m happy.’
Following his Bulldogs exit Addo-Carr had published a picture of himself wearing the white and blue jersey on his Instagram account with the accronym ‘PTBAB’ which is understood to be an accronym of ‘Proud to be a Bulldog’
After he was initially suspended by the club, Addo-Carr had taken up labouring work and said the job and spending time with his family helped him ‘keep his mind turning over’
The winger accepted a three-month driving ban and a $682 fine following the incident, immediately standing himself down on the eve of the club’s first finals appearance in eight years.
The winger has maintained his innocence throughout the saga but again reflecting on the period, he revealed that going to work on a building site and spending time with his family helped him get through it.
‘It was very, very tough but I had the right people in my corner at the time,’ Addo-Carr said.
‘Obviously, my family was there, I spent a lot of time with my family in that period and just tried to stay as busy as I could.
‘Going to work sites, kicking back with my family and doing a bit of training here and there. Just trying to keep my mind turning over while I was dealing with a lot of stuff.
‘But it is what it is, and I’m moved on now.’
Addo-Carr still has two games to serve on his suspension and could be set to make his Eels debut against the Bulldogs in round three.
‘I’m so proud to be a Bulldog,’ he said.
Addo-Carr still has two games to serve on his suspension and could be set to make his Eels debut against the Bulldogs in round three
‘I took a chance on the club when no one else did so I’m very proud of that,’ he said.
‘To see where they’re at now, I can say that I was a part of that.’
He would go on to make 152 appearances with the Dogs, since joining from Melbourne in 2022.
On his new side, he revealed that he was ‘happy’ wearing the blue and gold but revealed one early observation since joining the club.
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