Raymond Faitala-Mariner, a former Canterbury Bulldogs club captain, has revealed that the club never pushed him out at Belmore.
The second-rower has had a wild ride over the last year.
After successfully recovering from a long-term injury in 2022, the second-rower, who has added middle forward to his skill set, was named club captain in 2023.
That didn’t last long, though, as he had some reported issues and a falling out with rookie coach Cameron Ciraldo before contracting pneumonia and being admitted to the hospital.
His 2023 season was ultimately cut short, with constant speculation and rumours that he would be forced to find a new club despite having years remaining on his contract with the blue and white.
Things got so bad at the end of the 2023 season that Faitala-Mariner missed the start of preseason training due to club instructions.
He returned to training after settling things with club director of football Phil Gould, but was still looking for a new club. He eventually found one, signing with the St George Illawarra Dragons effective immediately, with Canterbury willing to release him from the final two years of his contract.
Speaking to The Sydney Morning Herald though, Faitala-Mariner revealed he was never pushed out and the decision to leave was all his.
“They weren’t pushing me out the door at all,” Faitala-Mariner said.
“It was just this opportunity that arose. I thought about it, spoke to my partner, to my family and parents, (and) they said maybe a change was what I needed. I took their advice and I’m glad I did.
“Now that I was in camp with the Dragons this week, I can see why the change was needed.”
Intriguingly, Faitala-Mariner told the publication his absence from training was a “miscommunication” rather than him being asked to stay away, and that he was in constant contact with Ciraldo and Gould over his future as reports that he was being shopped to find a new home persisted.
“(Reports were) saying they didn’t want me there, but every time something came out in the media, I’ve always had a conversation with Ciraldo and Gus. They always confirmed with me that it wasn’t true,” he said.
“I don’t know where it came from. Whenever things were out in the media saying they were shopping me around and whatnot, I would always go to the coach, and Gus would be there at times, and they gave me their word, they said it wasn’t true and didn’t know where it was coming from.”
Faitala-Mariner’s likely first hit out for the Dragons will come against the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the Charity Shield at Kogarah on February 17, with the Dragons then playing the Tigers in Mudgee during their second trial. They open their season proper against the Gold Coast Titans away from home.
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