The Canterbury Bulldogs will appoint an interim coach for the rest of the 2022 NRL campaign after Trent Barrett handed in his resignation.
The Bulldogs are priced at 22/1 to finish in the top eight of the NRL this season but they have had a disastrous start to the season and have won just two games.
Newcastle loss the final straw
Barrett has been under pressure following the poor run of results but it looks as though the 16-6 defeat against fellow strugglers Newcastle in the Magic Round was the straw that broke the camel’s back.
Bulldogs footy boss Phil Gould still supported Barrett and was going to stand by him through the rough times. However Barrett has taken the decision to stand down.
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“It was Trent’s decision. I certainly wasn’t going to sack him. It’s sad it’s come to this," Gould told the media on Monday.
“I think the performances and pressure, he got the feeling he didn’t have the solutions for what was going wrong. That’s how he felt at the time. He made the decision on Sunday night.
“He wanted to end the speculation and any pressure on the board to make a decision, so he took it upon himself. It’s sad the way it has ended. Hopefully he finds a bit of respite now and a bit of peace.”
Barrett’s assistant David Furner is now expected to be handed the job on an interim basis until the end of the season.
