‘Our players are really lucky to have him’: Bulldogs leap to defence of Travis Touma amid ongoing legal stoush

Canterbury coach Cameron Ciraldo declared NRL was “not for everyone” but denied suggestions the Bulldogs don’t care as much about welfare as other clubs in his first response to legal action taken by a former player.

Ciraldo was confident the legal action launched by Jackson Topine, amid allegations he was forced to wrestle up to 35 players during a controversial training session, wouldn’t be a distraction this season.

He he also praised trainer Travis Touma who has been at the centre of the allegations and declared he was happy with the way players were treated and the culture at the club.

“I think we do as much, if not more, than any other club with a number of people that care about the welfare of our players,” he said.

“We do a lot of stuff around cultural activities to understand each person’s culture, and I’m very happy with where we’re heading.

“It’s a different workplace and it’s not for everyone.

“It’s a tough environment, it’s a tough game and it’s different. It’s hard to do, and if it wasn’t hard then everyone would be doing it.”

Topine, who is no longer at the Bulldogs, was late to a training session last year and alleges he was forced to wrestle the rest of the squad, a punishment he claims was “assault”.

Ciraldo wasn’t able to comment on the case given it’s an ongoing legal matter, but he says it won’t bring the squad undone as they head into round 9 inside the top eight.

“I’ll probably just read the room and see how the boys are, but I’m very confident it won’t be a distraction,” he said.

“I haven’t had to (address it). No one has asked me about it.”

Touma’s alleged actions are the crux of the case, but his character has been vehemently defended by Roosters coach Trent Robinson and five-eighth Luke Keary, who both spoke about how important he was during their premiership runs before he joined the Bulldogs.

That sentiment was echoed on Tuesday morning at the club’s headquarters in Belmore.

“It’s unfortunate that his name has been brought into it through media, but it is what it is,” Ciraldo said.

“What we can’t control is reputations, but we can control the character. Trav is of the highest character possibly of anyone I’ve ever met.

“He cares about the people he works with, he’s a family man, he lives a very clean life, and he’s a guy we’re really lucky to have at the club. Our players are really lucky to have him.

“I could see a number of players would have said that about Trav over the years.

“He’s helped develop better players and better people, and that’s why we wanted to bring him to the Bulldogs. He fits what we’re trying to do here. It’s not easy bringing change to a club, and Trav has been a guy who has helped me in that regard.

“I know that every decision he’s made has been in the best interests of the club, and that’s something we want to do here – we want to put the club first before ourselves.”

Bulldogs halfback Drew Hutchison was also at the Roosters while Touma was there, and he spoke glowingly of how the trainer has been able to get the best out of players using his own methods.

“There’s no hiding that he demands absolute excellence from all of his players. That’s the environment people want to be in, and that’s the environment that breeds success,” he said.

“Knowing Travis personally, he has nothing but care and respect for everyone in the organisation.

“When I had him at the Roosters, the way the older blokes spoke about him and the care that they had for him and he had for them, it’s something that’s always stuck with me.”