Canterbury coach Cameron Ciraldo has spoken out after the club parted ways with one-time teenage prodigy Karl Oloapu on Tuesday.
Oloapu, who turned 20 last month, was one of the hottest young talents in rugby league when he ditched the Broncos to join the Bulldogs two years ago.
The Dogs had to pay a $500,000 transfer fee to take him from Red Hill where he had signed until the end of 2025 as an 18-year-old, only to fall out with the Queensland club.
Oloapu played seven NRL games in 2023 and looked destined to become a superstar, until a devastating neck injury forced him under the knife and put his football future in serious doubt.
While Oloapu plans to return to the field this year, News Corp reports the Bulldogs didn't want him to train or play for fear of suffering serious long-term damage to his neck.
Ciraldo appeared on Sky Sports radio and wouldn't confirm or deny if that was true.
"I don't want to get too much into that and medical stuff, but whatever Karl chooses to do he has got my full support," Ciraldo said.
"I just want to see him safe and healthy. But at the end of the day it is his decision what he wants to do and him and his family will get to that."
Karl Oloapu. NRL Imagery
"He's such a good kid, we signed him when he was 18 years old and he was just a baby.
"It's just a shame that he had that injury that put him back a bit. But the main thing for us is that Karl is healthy and there is no catastrophic injury to his health.
"It has been such a tough time for him, but he is such a good person that he has handled it well and while we would have loved to have seen him in our squad this season it was not to be.
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"We just wish him and his family well into the future, but he is such a good person and it is such a shame that he had that injury, but the way he dealt with it I thought was outstanding as well."
Last month Wide World of Sports exclusively reported the 19-year-old had quit the Bulldogs and wanted to join the Dolphins.
Oloapu was born in New Zealand and has Samoan heritage.
Oloapu was signed by the Broncos as a 13-year-old from Redcliffe and went on to captain the Australian Schoolboys in 2022.
He was 17 years old when the Broncos signed him to a three-year NRL deal to remain at the club until the end of 2025.
He left Red Hill after a bitter falling out with Brisbane and joined the Dogs, with whom he played seven NRL games in 2023.
A freak neck injury and subsequent surgery ruined his 2024 season and threatened his playing career.
"This has been a challenging period for Karl and his family," Bulldogs boss Phil Gould said in a statement on Tuesday
"He's shown tremendous courage throughout this process and we've worked closely with him to provide all possible support.
"While we're disappointed things haven't worked out as hoped, Karl's long-term welfare, along with his playing future have always been our primary concern.
"We thank him for his contribution to the club and wish him all the best for the future."