Inside the meeting that saw Josh Addo-Carr be axed by the Bulldogs after he tested positive for cocaine

Josh Addo-Carr was dismissed by the Canterbury Bulldogs following a meeting with club executives on Thursday.

It came after the winger had tested positive for cocaine during a roadside drugs test in September.

The 29-year-old, who accepted a $682 fine and a three-month driving suspension following the incident, unsuccessfully pleaded his case to executives of the club after they had issued him with a breach notice.

The club had initially backed their star outside back in the immediate aftermath of the events, but subsequently issued the winger with a breach notice and moved to terminate his $500,000-per-year contract.

On Thursday, the Bulldogs fan favourite and former State of Origin star was pictured arriving at Belmore alongside his Lawyer Elias Tabchouri for a meeting with Bulldogs’ bosses.

During that meeting, it is understood that Addo-Carr had again stipulated that he had ‘not knowingly taken drugs’ according to The Sydney Morning Herald.

The outlet has also revealed some of the details that were discussed during the meeting and claims that in the days leading up to the event, the NRL star had a ‘growing number of hangers-on’ around him.

Sources close to the paper claimed Addo-Carr had pledged to those in the meeting that he ‘would disassociate himself from the growing entourage – a pointer towards how he believes he could have recorded a positive result’.

It is also understood that Addo-Carr had again apologised for any distractions that he may have caused the club. The incident had taken place in the lead-up to the Bulldogs’ elimination-final defeat to Manly, which Addo-Carr had stood down from, following his positive test.

The outlet adds that Addo-Carr had urged bosses to give him another chance having previously asserted his innocence, with the club arranging the meeting to ensure the 29-year-old had the chance to provide his version of events.

Tabchouri is said to have spoken at length during the hearing and told the board there was some confusion around the testing process.

Addo-Carr had been allowed to drive away from the initial roadside drug test before police attended his home to take a second sample.

On Friday, Addo-Carr issued a statement to Bulldogs fans to thank them for their support over the past three years.

‘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,’ he wrote on social media.

‘Bulldogs sponsors and board thank you for your ongoing support, I appreciate you all.

‘I’d also like to thank my team-mates and coaching staff. We built a brotherhood that will last forever and will miss our time together on and off the field.’

He added that he was proud of helping the Bulldogs turn their form around after joining when the club were struggling in the league back in 2022.

He added: ‘Unfortunately, circumstances won’t allow me to be at the Bulldogs any longer but I wish the club, my team-mates and most importantly the fans nothing but success.’

It is understood that Canterbury bosses had ‘lost trust’ in Addo-Carr.

General manager Phil Gould had previously spoken of how there were ‘too many contradictions’ in Addo-Carr’s version of events.

‘I’ve said all along that Josh Addo-Carr came to us with a certain version of events, and over time, that changed slightly from day to day depending on what had been revealed,’ he said on his Six Tackles with Gus podcast.

But in a statement revealing the grounds for Addo-Carr’s dismissal, Canterbury had affirmed the importance of building a ‘culture based on clear standards and values’.

‘Josh has been a significant part of our Club over the past three seasons. During this time, he has provided many memorable moments for our Members and fans,’ chairman Adam Driussis said on Thursday.

‘We understand Josh’s popularity with our passionate supporter base and we share their disappointment that his time with the club has ended this way,’ Driussis said.

‘However, this season has demonstrated the importance of building a culture based on clear standards and values.

‘While the NRL integrity unit has completed its investigation and imposed a four-match suspension, the club views the combination of the failed drug test and subsequent lack of transparency as serious breaches of Josh’s contractual obligations and our club’s standards.’

Now a free agent, there is some speculation on where the 29-year-old could move to next.

It is understood that the Dragons had shown an interest in the flying winger.

Addo-Carr would go on to score 38 tries in the three seasons since his arrival at the club in 2022, but since his dismissal has taken up a new role working on a building site alongside boxer Garth Wood.

And in a bid to keep his footy career alive, he revealed that he has recently been training in a boxing gym with Johnny Lewis.

‘I’ve got a point to prove. I want to show people I’m not done,’ Addo-Carr told News Corp.

‘I’ve been doing some boxing sessions with Johnny Lewis for the past week at Erskineville.

‘In the last few days, Garth asked me if I wanted to do some work.

‘He was a boxer and he knows what it’s like to be in touch with reality working every day.

‘It’s certainly been a reality check.

‘It’s definitely tough getting up and working day in, day out like many footy fans do every day.

‘I’m up early for boxing training and then I’m coming to work and getting stuck in with the labouring.

‘People out there who do this sort of work on the tools every day, it’s bloody tough mate.

‘Hopefully, this hard work pays off.’