Hostilities have already begun between the Bulldogs and Sharks ahead of their clash on Sunday, with the rival CEOs hitting out at each other over player discipline.
Both clubs have had off-field dramas already this season, with the Sharks suspending halfback Brett Seymour after he was caught on video wandering drunkenly through a street, before the Bulldogs stood down three players over an altercation at a leagues club.
The decision to stand down Jamal Idris, Ben Barba and Lee Te Maari was made by the Bulldogs yesterday after their investigation into the incident was concluded, after Idris had initially been named to play this week.
That had prompted Sharks boss Tony Zappia to this week question the Bulldogs’ attitude towards player discipline, which outraged Bulldogs chief executive Todd Greenberg.
“I hardly find it a coincidence Tony Zappia and Cronulla have chosen to speak out about one of our players being suspended on the week before we play them,” Greenberg told the Daily Telegraph.
“It can’t be a coincidence.”
Greenberg suggested Zappia’s stance was hypocritical considering the Sharks signed sacked Bulldogs forward Reni Maitua this season.
“Put simply, it’s none of Cronulla’s business what we do,” Zappia said.
“I also find it hard to take advice on discipline from a club that has just signed a player we sacked for misconduct.”
Zappia hit back, arguing the transfer of players between the clubs showed the Bulldogs had needed to boost their image.
“Reni must have felt the Sharks was the place to change his ways because it wasn’t happening with the discipline at the Bulldogs,” Zappia told the Telegraph.
“Reni can obviously see the benefit of playing in a disciplined environment like we have at the Sharks.
“The Bulldogs on the other hand have had to recruit two of our players, Brett Kimmorley and Bryson Goodwin, to help reform their image.”
The Sharks boss did have one message of praise for Greenberg: “It’s a pleasure to see that Todd has taken my advice and stood these players down.”
