Phil Gould Feeling the Jitters as Josh Addo-Carr Gears Up to Face His Former Club

Bulldogs chief Phil Gould has confessed that he will feel “nervous” when Josh Addo-Carr pulls on his new jersey for the first time this weekend against the team that let him go last year.

Addo-Carr was released by Canterbury after being found guilty of driving under the influence of drugs last year.

The 29-year-old quickly joined fierce rivals Parramatta on a multi-year contract but has yet to take to the field due to his NRL suspension.

That situation will change on Sunday afternoon when the Eels face off against the Bulldogs.

“He’s the fastest man in the world – we need to keep an eye on him,” Gould shared with 9News.

“I always feel a bit anxious when The Foxx is on the field, whether he’s representing us or playing against us.”

“We have a lot of affection for The Foxx, and it’s regrettable how things concluded.”

Addo-Carr played three seasons at Belmore and was among the club’s most significant acquisitions since Gould took on the role of general manager of football.

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Canterbury will be missing a number of key players for the round three clash, with Matt Burton and Viliame Kikau both sidelined due to knee injuries sustained in their victory against Gold Coast.

Gould is optimistic that the Bulldogs can cope with these setbacks.

“We’ll certainly miss those guys over the coming weeks, but we expect to have them back,” he remarked.

“Depth-wise, we’re much stronger than a few years back. There are some promising young talents coming through, and the squad is packed with depth and versatility.”

As for who will step into the No.6 position to replace Burton?

“You’ll have to direct that question to the coach,” Gould joked.

“He has numerous options since we have a wealth of utility players capable of filling various roles.”

In brighter news for the Bulldogs, seasoned utility Kurt Mann has signed a new contract with the club, extending his stay until the end of 2026.