Bulldogs head of football Phil Gould has delayed his flight to Las Vegas for 48 hours to liaise with the NRL about unlocking up to $300,000 in salary cap dispensation for injured prop Leo Thompson.
Thompson broke down in Maori All Stars camp last weekend with a grade-three calf tear, which is set to sideline him for up to ten weeks.
Bulldogs captain Stephen Crichton.Credit: Sitthixay Ditthavong
Under NRL rules, if a player misses up to 12 games because of an injury suffered whilst on representative duty, clubs can apply to be reimbursed and use the money to sign a replacement.
In the past, clubs have divided a player’s annual salary by 27 rounds then multiplied that figure by the number of games they miss to work out the amount.
Using that formula in the case of Thompson, who signed a four-year deal worth around $800,000, a 12-week layoff would amount to salary cap relief of around $300,000.
The Bulldogs were the first NRL club to set off for Las Vegas on Thursday, with Gould to join the group in the US on the weekend – but only after trying to resolve the Thompson issue with head office.
Lachlan Galvin checks in.Credit: Sitthixay Ditthavong
The Bulldogs were seeking clarity on whether the All Stars game should count towards Thompson’s number of games missed. Even if Thompson misses the opening 12 games, and the club is unable to sign a suitable replacement, the money will still flow back to the Dogs’ coffers.
Front-rower Lipoi Hopoi was the final player added to the Dogs’ 26-man touring party.
“[Thompson] came back from All Stars camp, we initially thought it was a tight calf, but scans showed it was a bit more than that,” Canterbury coach Ciraldo said.
“It’s unfortunate he’s not joining us, but his best possible preparation for the season is to stay in Sydney and get the right treatment.
Matt Burton is good to go in the season opener, according to coach Cameron Ciraldo.Credit: Sitthixay Ditthavong
“He was building nicely. It’s a shame he won’t play in Vegas, but we’re comfortable with the depth in the squad we’ve built up the last few years. Sam Hughes played well in his absence against Newcastle during the trial, so I’m sure he’ll get an opportunity.”
While Thompson’s injury is a huge blow for the Dogs, there was brighter news for Matt Burton, who is expected to shake off a hamstring scare and take the field on Sunday week against St George Illawarra.
Burton came from the field in the first half against the Knights. But Ciraldo said his five-eighth had trained strongly this week.
“The scans came back all clear; he’s looking very healthy now – he’s ready to go,” Ciraldo said. “He won ’t be [a risk], not the way he trained on Wednesday. I think it was a bit of a scare for him. It can be quite stressful leading up to Vegas – when you feel something little, you can make it out to be much bigger than what it is in your head. He trained with no restrictions.”
All eyes will be on halfback Lachie Galvin this season, after he was heavily scrutinised – even by his own fans – following his messy mid-season exit from the Wests Tigers.
Ciraldo has been a fierce supporter of Galvin, and knows the youngster is in for a big campaign.
“What I really like about him is how quickly he learns,” Ciraldo said of Galvin. “He’s a 20-year-old kid who is learning a lot about the game. It’s not always perfect, but he comes in, reviews it, and goes out the next session and does it better.”
Of the four teams competing in the US this year, including St George Illawarra, Newcastle and North Queensland, only the Bulldogs are a realistic chance of pushing for the premiership.
As was the case in previous years, the NRL has paid for a coach to transfer the Bulldogs’ training equipment from Los Angeles to Vegas, so there is no chance of any important cargo going missing.
North Queensland and Newcastle will depart on Friday, while the Dragons leave on Saturday.
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