Cameron Ciraldo has come to the defense of Travis Touma, the trainer at the center of the lawsuit brought by Jackson Topine against the Canterbury Bulldogs. Ciraldo asserts that the Bulldogs are fortunate to have Touma at the club.
Topine initiated a $4 million lawsuit against Canterbury following a training session incident last year, where he was compelled to wrestle 30 of his teammates as punishment for being late at Belmore. This incident led to Topine’s departure from the club and his subsequent legal action against the Bulldogs, casting uncertainty over his NRL future.
While Touma’s name was implicated in the lawsuit, it has raised concerns about his methods, despite support from figures like Trent Robinson, who defended the highly-regarded trainer.
In a media statement on Tuesday, Ciraldo commended Touma for his role in reshaping the culture at Canterbury since his arrival, emphasizing his commitment to high standards within the squad.
Ciraldo stated, “Trav is good, he is going about his normal business… it’s a shame his name has been brought into it through the media, but it is what it is. What we can’t control is reputations, but what we can control is character, and Trav is of the highest character of possibly anyone I have ever met.”
He further added, “He cares about everyone he works with, he’s a family man, he lives a very clean life, and he’s a guy that we’re really lucky to have at the club.”
Ciraldo dismissed suggestions that the lawsuit could distract the team, expressing confidence that it wouldn’t impact their performance. Canterbury is set to face the Wests Tigers on Saturday afternoon.
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