Public outcry follows benching of Josh Curran
The Canterbury Bulldogs are facing significant public scrutiny following their 20-18 loss to the Sydney Roosters on August 7, 2026, specifically regarding the decision to keep forward Josh Curran on the bench for the entire 80 minutes. The controversy has been amplified by the fact that Curran, a proud Darug man, was the face of the club’s promotional campaign for the NRL’s Indigenous Round.
Curran, who had started or played in each of the Bulldogs’ previous eight matches—a period during which the team won six games—led the side onto the field draped in the Aboriginal flag. Despite his prominent role in marketing materials, including featuring in four separate Instagram posts in the days leading up to the fixture, he did not receive any game time.
Social media backlash and partner’s intervention
The decision drew immediate criticism from supporters on social media. One viral comment on the club’s official Instagram account questioned the optics of utilizing Curran for “clout” during Indigenous Round while failing to field him. The comment stated: “It’s crazy using Curran for clout for Indigenous Round & not giving him 1 minute on the field when he’s been one of our best the last month.”
The situation escalated when Curran’s partner publicly endorsed this sentiment on her Instagram story, sharing a screenshot of the criticism. She also commented directly on another post, stating: “As a Blackfulla, it’s so disappointing to see your ONLY Indigenous player listed get no time on the field during the one round where we’re meant to be celebrating our Indigenous players.” While her Instagram story post has since been deleted, the public discourse surrounding the club’s management of the situation continues.
Coaching rationale and future outlook
Internally, it is understood that coach Cameron Ciraldo had a specific rotation strategy for the bench. According to reporting, the intended plan involved utilizing Kurt Mann, Harry Hayes, and Samuela Faalogo Tupou. Injuries impacted the match dynamics, with Tupouniua forced off after five minutes and Jake Turpin entering the fray late following a head injury to Bailey Hayward. Consequently, Curran and Bronson Xerri remained unused.
The controversy arrives at a sensitive time for the club as Curran is set to depart the Bulldogs at the end of the 2026 season to join the Perth Bears for their inaugural 2027 campaign. As of the latest reports, the Bulldogs organization has not issued a public statement regarding the selection decision or the ensuing backlash.