Bulldogs unrest over Barrett’s resignation after losing support to club power brokers

Trent Barrett has set his own future as coach of Canterbury before he resigns before the club’s top officials decide whether to stay in the role.

The DRLs are anchored at the bottom of the NRL ladder with a 2-8 record after a 16-6 loss to Newcastle in the opening match of the Magic Round on Friday night and are looking at the possibility of their second straight wooden spoon under Barrett.

Club chairman John Khoury was expected to meet with general manager Phil Gold earlier this week to discuss whether Barrett’s role should continue. Gold, who coached Barrett at the State of Origin Arena on NSW in the early 2000’s, was a staunch advocate for the former Kangaroos’ five-eighth team and recently said he would coach the team for a long time.

Gold told the players not to bother with practice on Monday morning and the squad was sent home with instructions not to speak to the waiting media.

Barrett was signed until the end of next year, but despite the arrival of high-paid recruits this year, including Josh Ado-Carr, Matt Burton, Tevita Pangai Jr., Brent Naden, Paul Vaughan, Matt Duffy and Braydon Burns, he has been unable. Turn the team’s fortunes around.

William Kikau and Reed Mahoney of Canterbury are coming to the club next year.

After successfully serving as Penrith’s assistant under Evan Cleary, they were far from averaging a record 3-21 last season in Barrett’s first season.

After Friday night’s loss, Barrett said: “I sound like a broken record when his team went down against Newcastle without winning seven matches.

“It’s the same every week and it’s not good enough. I think everyone does (needs to improve). We’re just making too many mistakes and making it too hard for ourselves. “

Former Riders coach David Farner is with Barrett’s staff as an assistant and could be parachuted into the lead role.

The Dogs will face fellow West Tigers at Leichard Oval next Friday.

They were scheduled to have a player media session in Belmore on Monday morning but were canceled at the last minute.

North Queensland has a number of former first-grade coaches looking for new jobs, including 2015 Premiership-winner Paul Green and 2016 Grand Final winner Mentor Shane Flanagan.

Flanagan’s son, Kyle, was sent back to the Canterbury NRL squad in a controversial round 5 match but his form was irresistible as the dog was bad at scoring points.

Barrett’s previous tenure as NRL coach ended in 2018 in Manly after a dispute with management over the club’s assets.