Josh Addo-Carr has expressed his gratitude to the loyal Bulldogs fans following his dismissal from the Canterbury club on Thursday. The club made the difficult decision to terminate his contract immediately after he returned two positive results from roadside drug tests last month.
Addo-Carr’s fate was decided when he was called before the Bulldogs’ board to explain why he should not be let go. This occurred after the 29-year-old was stopped by NSW Police in September, just a week before the club’s first finals appearance in eight years. To avoid becoming a distraction, Addo-Carr voluntarily stepped down in the days leading up to the match.
The 15-time NSW State of Origin representative failed the initial roadside test, and a subsequent sample confirmed the result. Despite maintaining that he did not knowingly consume recreational drugs, Addo-Carr’s hopes for leniency from the Bulldogs’ board were ultimately unfulfilled. On Friday morning, he took to Instagram to share an emotional message thanking the Bulldogs’ fans.
“To all the Bulldogs fans and family, thank you for a memorable three years. The love and support you’ve shown me since I arrived at Belmore has always been amazing, and the memories will last forever. Thanks to the Bulldogs sponsors and board for your ongoing support; I appreciate you all,” he wrote.
He continued, “I’d also like to thank my teammates and coaching staff. We built a brotherhood that will last forever, and I will miss our time together both on and off the field. When I joined the Bulldogs in 2022, the club was struggling, and I aimed to help restore it to its former glory and create a winning culture. I am proud of the progress we made in three years.
“Unfortunately, circumstances have led to my departure from the Bulldogs, but I wish the club, my teammates, and especially the fans all the best moving forward. Much love, Fox.”
Bulldogs chairman Adam Druissi cited a lack of transparency as a key factor in the decision to terminate Addo-Carr’s contract. “Josh has been a significant part of our club over the past three seasons,” he stated. “He has given us many memorable moments. We understand how popular he is among our passionate supporters, and we share their disappointment at how his time with the club has ended.
“However, this season has highlighted the importance of building a culture based on clear standards and values. The NRL Integrity Unit has completed its investigation and imposed a four-match suspension, but the combination of the failed drug test and subsequent lack of transparency were serious breaches of Josh’s contractual obligations and our club’s standards.”
With Addo-Carr’s axing, the Bulldogs will free up nearly $500,000 in salary cap space as the NRL free agency period begins. Although several clubs may be interested in signing him, he is unlikely to command the same salary he had at Belmore. Since the news of his second positive test emerged, Addo-Carr has been permitted to negotiate with rival teams, but no deals have materialized yet. He still has to serve the remaining three games of his four-game suspension in the 2025 season.