Trailblazer Castle to quit early at Bulldogs
Kiwi chief executive to hand over reins at end of season amid rumours of club tension
Kiwi Raelene Castle has resigned as chief executive of Canterbury and will leave the NRL club at the end of the season despite having one year to go on her contract.
Castle, who became the first woman to run a NRL club in 15 years when she was appointed in 2013, oversaw three finals appearances including one grand final in her time at Belmore.
“Raelene has made a significant contribution over the last four years,” Bulldogs chairman Ray Dib said in a statement yesterday.
“She has strengthened all areas of the club and will leave us in a strong position for the new chief executive to take over.
“We are appreciative of her professionalism in signalling this early enough for us to find a replacement in time for next season.”
Castle’s resignation comes two weeks after reports of tension with Dib following an email Castle sent to rival clubs complaining about a breach in protocol by the players’ union.
The Rugby League Players’ Association was alleged to have met with a select group of club chairmen that was set up by Dib, over the ongoing collective bargaining agreement talks.
It is believed Castle forwarded the complaint, which was written by NRL salary cap negotiator Dean Kino to the RLPA, to club bosses.
Her decision also comes after the club this year controversially extended the contract of coach Des Hasler, and lured big names Aaron Woods and Kieran Foran for 2018.
It is widely tipped the Bulldogs, who were last week fined $61,474 for salary cap breaches in 2016, would have to offload some players to fit the star pair into their books next year.
Castle, who this time last year negotiated a new deal to stay on as Bulldogs boss until the end of 2018, said she loved her time at the Bulldogs and would oversee the handover.
“The time is now right to look for my next challenge. I wish the club and the team every success for the future,” she said.
“I am pleased that together with the board we could give the club leadership continuity and a professional transition to new leadership.”
Her move came as no surprise to rugby league commentators close to the club’s boardroom tensions.
— news.com.au
David Skipwith
Frustrated Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson admits he is struggling but says the side’s problems are team-wide rather than down to any individuals.
Nothing has gone right for the Kiwis playmaker since the Anzac test loss to Australia in Canberra three weeks ago, and Johnson knows he has let his teammates down in consecutive NRL defeats to Penrith and St George Illawarra over the past fortnight.
The 26-year-old’s defence, kicking and attacking play have all come in for criticism and he is under pressure to get the Warriors back on track in tomorrow’s must-win NRL clash against Brisbane at Mt Smart Stadium.
“I definitely think over the last couple of weeks I’ve let them down,” said Johnson.
“There’s a lot of people that think they know the answer and there’s a lot of different answers coming from a lot of different directions, but I can’t actually tell you why it hasn’t clicked for me or the team.
“I went into the [Dragons] game feeling really good, really fresh and excited about playing, and as long as I can get myself there every week, I know it will happen for me. It will come, it will click for me.”
Privately, in the wake of the last two results, the players have been honest with one another about their own individual failings, but publicly, and not