Josh Curran’s partner critiques Bulldogs over Indigenous Round benching

Josh Curran's partner has voiced strong criticism against the Canterbury Bulldogs after the forward remained on the bench for the entirety of Friday night's narrow 20-18 loss to the Sydney Roosters, despite his prominent role in the club's Indigenous Round promotion.

The incident has sparked considerable debate among supporters, highlighting concerns about the team's use of its sole Indigenous player during a key cultural round.

Unused Despite Key Role

Curran, a proud Darug man, had been a central figure in the Bulldogs’ Indigenous Round activities, leading the team onto the field draped in the Aboriginal flag and featuring in four Instagram posts from the club in the days leading up to the match. However, he ultimately did not play a single minute of the contest against the Roosters, a decision that drew immediate scrutiny.

Zero Tackle reported Curran’s partner's comments, which included sharing a fan's Instagram post criticizing the club for using Curran “for clout for Indigenous around & not giving him 1 minute on the field.” She further endorsed a sentiment from another post stating, “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.”

Supporter Backlash and Coach's Intent

The decision to bench Curran prompted widespread discussion among Bulldogs fans online. Numerous comments on the club's Instagram post questioned the coaching staff's rationale, particularly given Curran's visibility in the Indigenous Round campaign. While his partner's Instagram story was later deleted, her direct comment on another critical post remains.

Zero Tackle also noted Curran had been a consistent presence in the Bulldogs' lineup, featuring in their previous eight matches, either starting at lock or second row, or coming off the interchange bench. During this period, the team won six of those eight games, with Curran scoring five tries.

Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo reportedly intended to utilize Kurt Mann, Harry Hayes, and Samuela Faalogo Tupou (Tupouniua) from his four-man bench. However, Tupouniua's early injury after just five minutes and Jake Turpin's late introduction for Bailey Hayward due to injury did not open an opportunity for Curran.