The Canterbury Bulldogs have launched an investigation into the treatment of one of their NRL players, who walked out on the club recently after a disagreement with the coaching staff.

This masthead can reveal the player recently turned up to training and was told he was late. It is understood he believed he was well within the time limit set for training to begin but there are allegations he was then made to wrestle more than a dozen players as his “punishment.”

He became distraught and left training.

The player is under contract at the club until the end of next season but has vowed not to return.

This masthead has chosen not to name the player because of sensitivity around the case and his welfare. However, the Rugby League Players Association has also been made aware of the situation and is also investigating.

The Bulldogs are trying to manage the explosive situation behind closed doors.

“The whole process is very sensitive – I can’t comment,” chief executive Aaron Warburton said.

A text message was sent to various media outlets on Tuesday night outlining what had happened. Coach Cameron Ciraldo declined to comment when contacted by this masthead.

This masthead can also reveal, another player, Braidon Burns, walked out on a training session last week. He and his manager Allan Gainey met with Bulldogs general manager Phil Gould on Tuesday to discuss the situation.

Burns was struggling with a hamstring and could not complete training drills. He has now left the club and Gainey is looking for opportunities in the UK super league.

The Bulldogs are coming to the end of a disastrous season, having kicked off round one surrounded in optimism following the appointment of Ciraldo and the arrival of Reed Mahoney and Viliame Kikau.

However, their season has slowly unravelled and in recent weeks they have been on the end of a series of hidings culminating in another embarrassing performance against Manly at the weekend.

Bulldogs players were turned into turnstiles by a Manly side that was already out of finals contention. That performance only added to talk in recent weeks of player unrest and suggestions that the coaching staff is ready to usher several players out the door as they look to rebuild the culture at one of the game’s biggest clubs.

Ciraldo, who was given a five-year contract by the Bulldogs, has been particularly scathing of the playing group following some substandard performances and the sense is that it will be a defining off-season for the club and their coach as they put a broom through the organisation.

The Bulldogs will be strengthened by the arrival of Penrith’s Steve Crichton, former Cronulla centre Bronson Xerri and premiership winner Sio Siua Taukeiaho.

However, unless they can find a way to end some of the apparent dissension within the playing group it may not matter who they bring in from outside.