Latest news with #Addo-Carr
Daily Mail
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Josh Addo-Carr lifts the lid on where he wants to finish his footy career and the pledge he made to his new coach after his Bulldogs exit
Footy star Josh Addo-Carr spent several weeks out of the game at the back end of last season. Now he's back fighting fit and has pledged to his new boss Jason Ryles that he's not going to let him down, after revealing that the Parramatta coach was the 'only one who backed him'. It's been a turbulent six months for Addo-Car, who was signed to the Parramatta Eels after his contract was torn up by the Canterbury Bulldogs with a year left on his $500,000-a-season deal. Things are now looking back on track for the 29-year-old, who told The Sydney Morning Herald that he has lost 7kg since last year. The change in weight has also helped the winger add some speed to his game, with Addo-Carr topping speeds of 10.7 metres per second. 'I don't know how much that is in kilometres an hour, but that's pretty quick bro,' he told The Sydney Morning Herald at the launch of his new range of 'Lets Trot' apparel in Bankstown. That equates to around 37.44km/h with his best-ever reading on a game day being registered as 38.7km/h by the Telstra Tracker. 'You need to run fast to get fast and stay fast, but I feel like the last few years I didn't give myself a chance because of how heavy I was,' Addo-Carr, who has turned out for the Eels in five matches so far this season, said. The flying winger believes that perhaps working on his physique too much last season may have been why he suffered a high-grade tear in his hamstring that saw him sit out of action for around nine weeks. With his body back to its best, Addo-Carr is firing hot at his new club, having scored five tries in his first five matches for the Eels. That includes his exploits this weekend, with the footy star crossing the whitewash twice to seal a 38-22 victory for Parra against the Wests Tigers and their second win of the season. Now, the footy star has one eye on getting a recall to play for New South Wales in the upcoming State of Origin series, and another eye on a Kangaroos recall. 'The hate between each state, it's real,' he said. 'When you're in it, it's mad, I love it. To play with the best players in the world, I'd love to get that opportunity again. I just need to keep focusing on what I need to do for the Eels and keep improving every day, which I am trying to do. 'And I'd love to put that Kangaroos jersey on again, 100 per cent. I definitely do miss representative football.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Let's Trot™️ (@letstrotco) Addo-Carr is also settling in well to life with the Eels. The two-time Grand Final winner and three-time State of Origin Champion also admitted that he wants to end his career at the Eels and is focused on paying back Ryles for the faith he's shown in him. 'Rylesy was the only person who backed me, so I told him I wouldn't let him down,' Addo-Carr said. 'I'd love to [finish my career at Parramatta], to be honest with you. I love Parra.'
Sydney Morning Herald
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Why Josh Addo-Carr is in a hurry – on and off the field
'I've come to terms with the fact that I'm just built the way I'm meant to be built – I'm slim, I'm not meant to be a bodybuilder. I thought I was just doing the right thing at the time, trying to get more powerful, but that's probably why I did my hammy so bad last year. 'It was the longest I've ever been out, nine weeks. But now I feel so much better, so much smoother in my running.' Addo-Carr has shown that he's pretty quick between the ears as well. With the Easter Monday game against Wests Tigers on a knife edge, the premiership-winning winger came up with a defensive play that clinched the game. On the wrong end of a two-on-one overlap – Sunia Turuva had the football with Jahream Bula looming in support – Addo-Carr read the play and intercepted Turuva's pass. 'I've seen the body language of Turuva – he had his eyes locked on Jahream Bula – and I just read his body language, knew that he was going to pass the ball and all I had to do was just time it and the rest is history,' he said. 'At the time I thought there were more Parra jerseys in the frame. It was a do-or-die moment, looking back at the replay and I just backed my instinct.' It's the sort of big-time play that, particularly with incumbent NSW wingers Zac Lomax and Brian To'o on the sidelines, has him hopeful of a recall to the State of Origin arena. 'I'd love to do it again,' Addo-Carr said at ShoeGrab in Bankstown on Wednesday afternoon, where he personally delivered his latest range of 'Lets Trot' apparel. 'The love I have for that game – the players that have played Origin know how much it means to us. 'The hate between each state, it's real. When you're in it, it's mad, I love it. To play with the best players in the world, I'd love to get that opportunity again. I just need to keep focusing on what I need to do for the Eels and keep improving every day, which I am trying to do. 'And I'd love to put that Kangaroos jersey on again, 100 per cent. I definitely do miss representative football.' Addo-Carr's switch from Canterbury to arch-rivals Parramatta appears to be a win for all parties. In five games in blue and gold, the former Storm star has scored five tries. The move was made possible due to the faith shown in him by coach Jason Ryles, who worked with Addo-Carr in Melbourne. Addo-Carr's three-year stint at Canterbury came to a controversial end when the Bulldogs ripped up his contract in September. The premiership-winning winger had a year remaining on his $500,000-a-season deal. 'Rylesy was the only person who backed me, so I told him I wouldn't let him down,' Addo-Carr said. 'I'd love to [finish my career at Parramatta], to be honest with you. I love Parra.' Having got his NRL career back on track, Addo-Carr has a burgeoning one off it. His merchandise range earned him the NRL's entrepreneur of the year award in 2023, and he has now added the Lets Trot show, a platform for other high-profile figures to share their stories. There's also Ndigi hire, an Indigenous labour hire company. The latest venture is the launch of the JAC Academy, a charitable foundation to assist Indigenous youth. 'It's something I definitely didn't have growing up – I had a tough upbringing,' he said. 'I want to build a legacy by helping people. It's based on Indigenous kids, education, cultural awareness, footy programs, mental health, all that kind of stuff. 'It's about telling my story, how I overcame a lot of things in my childhood and through my playing career. Loading 'There's a lot of things that have happened in my life: obviously growing up in housing commission, having a single mother, dad was always away for work, mum did her very best to support me and my sisters and brothers. 'I grew up with nothing, like most NRL players, and I just want to be the very best version of myself. 'There's a saying that Craig Bellamy always used to say: if you're gonna spend so much time doing something, why don't you be the best at it? 'I've always had that in the back of my head. It's not the setback, it's always the comeback, that's the message.
The Age
30-04-2025
- Sport
- The Age
Why Josh Addo-Carr is in a hurry – on and off the field
'I've come to terms with the fact that I'm just built the way I'm meant to be built – I'm slim, I'm not meant to be a bodybuilder. I thought I was just doing the right thing at the time, trying to get more powerful, but that's probably why I did my hammy so bad last year. 'It was the longest I've ever been out, nine weeks. But now I feel so much better, so much smoother in my running.' Addo-Carr has shown that he's pretty quick between the ears as well. With the Easter Monday game against Wests Tigers on a knife edge, the premiership-winning winger came up with a defensive play that clinched the game. On the wrong end of a two-on-one overlap – Sunia Turuva had the football with Jahream Bula looming in support – Addo-Carr read the play and intercepted Turuva's pass. 'I've seen the body language of Turuva – he had his eyes locked on Jahream Bula – and I just read his body language, knew that he was going to pass the ball and all I had to do was just time it and the rest is history,' he said. 'At the time I thought there were more Parra jerseys in the frame. It was a do-or-die moment, looking back at the replay and I just backed my instinct.' It's the sort of big-time play that, particularly with incumbent NSW wingers Zac Lomax and Brian To'o on the sidelines, has him hopeful of a recall to the State of Origin arena. 'I'd love to do it again,' Addo-Carr said at ShoeGrab in Bankstown on Wednesday afternoon, where he personally delivered his latest range of 'Lets Trot' apparel. 'The love I have for that game – the players that have played Origin know how much it means to us. 'The hate between each state, it's real. When you're in it, it's mad, I love it. To play with the best players in the world, I'd love to get that opportunity again. I just need to keep focusing on what I need to do for the Eels and keep improving every day, which I am trying to do. 'And I'd love to put that Kangaroos jersey on again, 100 per cent. I definitely do miss representative football.' Addo-Carr's switch from Canterbury to arch-rivals Parramatta appears to be a win for all parties. In five games in blue and gold, the former Storm star has scored five tries. The move was made possible due to the faith shown in him by coach Jason Ryles, who worked with Addo-Carr in Melbourne. Addo-Carr's three-year stint at Canterbury came to a controversial end when the Bulldogs ripped up his contract in September. The premiership-winning winger had a year remaining on his $500,000-a-season deal. 'Rylesy was the only person who backed me, so I told him I wouldn't let him down,' Addo-Carr said. 'I'd love to [finish my career at Parramatta], to be honest with you. I love Parra.' Having got his NRL career back on track, Addo-Carr has a burgeoning one off it. His merchandise range earned him the NRL's entrepreneur of the year award in 2023, and he has now added the Lets Trot show, a platform for other high-profile figures to share their stories. There's also Ndigi hire, an Indigenous labour hire company. The latest venture is the launch of the JAC Academy, a charitable foundation to assist Indigenous youth. 'It's something I definitely didn't have growing up – I had a tough upbringing,' he said. 'It's about building a legacy. It's based on Indigenous kids, education, cultural awareness, footy programs, mental health, all that kind of stuff. 'It's about telling my story, how I overcame a lot of things in my childhood and through my playing career. Loading 'There's a lot of things that have happened in my life: obviously growing up in housing commission, having a single mother, dad was always away for work, mum did her very best to support me and my sisters and brothers. 'I grew up with nothing, like most NRL players, and I just want to be the very best version of myself. 'There's a saying that Craig Bellamy always used to say: if you're gonna spend so much time doing something, why don't you be the best at it? 'I've always had that in the back of my head. It's not the setback, it's always the comeback, that's the message.
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bulldogs win scrap to continue Eels' winless woes
Parramatta are still searching for the maiden win of the Jason Ryles era after being pipped 16-8 by Canterbury at CommBank Stadium. Unlike the first two rounds of the season, where they conceded 88 points at the hands of Melbourne and Wests Tigers, the Eels dug deep to hold the Bulldogs to only three tries on Sunday afternoon. Momentum was with them for large parts of proceedings, but their struggles to capitalise when it mattered continued with an evident lack of cohesion between new halves pairing Dylan Brown and Dean Hawkins on show. Despite the loss, one positive in the form of prized recruit Zac Lomax was a highlight for the home side. The incumbent New South Wales and Australian representative continued his solid start to the season, trying everything in his power to inspire his team. Lomax, who often swapped between wing and centre, produced game-high numbers in metres (291) and tackle breaks (eight). While Canterbury's undefeated 2025 campaign continues, they did it tough without key stars Matt Burton and Viliame Kikau, who were both missing due to knee injuries. Their former teammate Josh Addo-Carr received a villain's reception from the loud cohort of Bulldogs fans in attendance throughout his Parramatta debut. Addo-Carr was all smiles before kick-off, ahead of his first game since testing positive for cocaine during a September 2024 roadside drug test which resulted in his 'Dogs contract being terminated. Though the veteran winger would struggle early with his error in the first three minutes resulting in Canterbury securing first points. The try came through a bullocking Daniel Suluka-Fifita run, who left J'maine Hopgood and Jack Williams in his wake to crash over between the posts. Suluka-Fifita makes it look easy! 👊#NRLEelsBulldogs — NRL (@NRL) March 23, 2025 Addo-Carr wasn't alone on the ill-discipline front with his Eels teammates struggling to capitalise on several early opportunities. Will Penisini's try midway through the first half was supposed to be the circuit breaker, but their persisting errors kept proving advantageous for the Bulldogs. Bronson Xerri rewarded his team for chancing their arm on the fifth tackle to extend the deficit in the 25th minute, before an acrobatic effort from Blake Wilson helped the Bulldogs to a 10-point halftime lead. Parramatta scored the only try of the second half, through Addo-Carr in the 47th minute, but couldn't find another to equal the ledger. A penalty goal in the dying stages completed Canterbury's eight-point victory and ensured their undefeated start remained intact.
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NRL backflips on Reece Walsh decision as Ezra Mam has extra game added to ban
The NRL's decision to block Ezra Mam from using the All-Stars game for part of his nine-match suspension seems fair enough considering he's never actually played in the fixture. But it flies in the face of a precedent that was set with Brisbane Broncos teammate Reece Walsh back in 2022. The NRL ruled this week that Latrell Mitchell and Josh Addo-Carr can use the All-Stars game for part of their bans, meaning Mitchell is available to play in round one and Addo-Carr can return in round four. Mitchell was hit with a one-game ban after he was pictured standing over a white substance in Dubbo last year, while Addo-Carr was banned four games for a positive road-side drug test. But the ruling means Mitchell won't miss any official NRL games, and Addo-Carr will only miss three. Conveniently, it means Mitchell is available for the grudge match between Souths and the Dolphins in round one, which marks Wayne Bennett's first game against his old club. And Addo-Carr's first game is against his old club - the Bulldogs. The NRL came to their decision because Mitchell and Addo-Carr have regularly played for the Indigenous All-Stars against the Maori All-Stars and therefore would have been selected this year. But their situation differs to that of Mam. Broncos fans would have been hoping the Mitchell and Addo-Carr ruling would mean Mam could also use the All-Stars game as one of the nine he'll miss due to his suspension, meaning he could return in round 9 rather than round 10. But the NRL has deemed that because Mam has never played for the Indigenous All-Stars before, he can't. It effectively adds an extra game into Mam's ban (from nine to 10). That seems a fair enough decision, but it's a complete reversal of a call that was made with Walsh three years ago. Walsh is eligible to play for the Maori All-Stars, but despite never playing in the All-Stars fixture he was allowed to use it as part of a suspension he received while with the Warriors in 2022. It means Walsh was afforded different treatment to that of now-Brisbane teammate Mam. Walsh and Mam's suspensions were both for off-field matters, and Mam will miss nine weeks after a car accident last year while unlicensed and with a drug in his system. He's also been blocked from playing in the Queensland Cup with one of the Broncos feeder teams during his ban. RELATED: Newcastle great makes scary call on Kalyn Ponga amid halves dilemma NRL fans rally around Sam Thaiday after awful revelation made public As for Mitchell and Addo-Carr, the NRL's decision has proven highly divisive. Rabbitohs legend Craig Coleman has described it as "great news for fans", but Broncos great Corey Parker isn't happy. 'Latrell Mitchell was suspended for bringing the game into disrepute,' he said on SEN radio. 'The NRL have allowed him to use the All-Stars game as his suspension. Is that sufficient? I don't think so. 'The Brisbane Broncos could use the All-Stars game for Ezra Mam. I don't think they will (because) the heat that would be brought on the Broncos wouldn't be good. 'If you bring the game into disrepute, you have to serve a suspension. It's as simple as that. If you're guilty of a high shot at club level, you should be suspended for club football. Your club is your employer and when Mitchell had those allegations, he brought his club (into disrepute).' And former Wests Tigers player Joel Caine agrees, saying: 'You must serve your suspension in the competition that you're in. Every year, we have a player who isn't serving their suspension because they use it for when they play for their country or the All-Stars game. I'm against it big time. 'Joseph Suaalii after his hit in State of Origin Game 1 should've copped a ban for Games 2 and 3. He should've been allowed to play for the Sydney Roosters. The Roosters shouldn't have paid the price.'
