Canterbury have landed a sizeable catch in their bid to fix up their forward pack, luring Josh Curran on a two-year deal from the Warriors starting next season. Told by the Warriors he won’t be re-signed beyond 2024 but he could start looking elsewhere, Curran was officially snapped up by the Bulldogs on Thursday.
After arriving at the Warriors in mid-2019 from the Sydney Roosters, Curran has been one of their most consistent back-rowers for the past four seasons. His signing could be key for Canterbury. While they have talent in the halves and outside backs, their forward pack has long been lacking.
The Bulldogs have signed more than enough talent for 2024 to start turning things around, with Stephen Crichton, Blake Taaffe and Jaeman Salmon joining the embattled club. Bronson Xerri is also returning to the sport following a drug-ban.
‘From the first time I saw Josh Curran play, he looked like a Bulldog to me,’ general manager Phil Gould said. ‘Once he became available, we just had to sign him up. ‘At 24 years of age, his best football is clearly in front of him. We are very excited to have Josh at our club.’
‘Signing workhorses like Curran is exactly what we need, not overpaying forwards,’ wrote one Bulldogs fan on social media. ‘Kiraz, Preston, Curran and Wilson. Our Doggies have a massive future,’ said another.
The forward’s arrival comes as questions continue to swirl around the future of star winger Josh Addo-Carr. The Bulldogs are adamant they are not about to release the representative flyer, but it’s understood other clubs have been sniffing around the 28-year-old.
The former Melbourne winger has provided some moments of spark in his two years at the Bulldogs, with 27 tries in 38 matches. But he has been adversely affected by Canterbury’s lack of starch up front and stodgy momentum in the middle of the field.
Parramatta, Newcastle and Wests Tigers are among those believed to have shown an interest in landing the winger after rumblings of discontent in recent weeks. Addo-Carr recently copped a two-game ban, served in the Pacific Championship, for his role in a Koori Knockout brawl on grand-final weekend.
Gould, however, took to social media on Wednesday night, appearing to deny suggestions Addo-Carr is poised to exit the club. ‘Sometimes I just sit here and laugh at the things people say and do,’ Gould posted on X. ‘I have no idea what motivates them They are obviously too smart for me They are operating on a whole different level.’
