Cameron Ciraldo has defended Travis Touma – the trainer at the centre of the lawsuit filed by Jackson Topine – claiming the Bulldogs are "lucky to have him" at the club.
Topine lodged a $4 million lawsuit against Canterbury last week after a training session gone wrong last year, which saw him forced to wrestle 30 of his teammates as punishment for arriving late at Belmore.
The young utility has since left the club and is now facing an uncertain future in the NRL, which led to his decision to take legal action against the Dogs.
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Touma's name was part of the lawsuit and has led to question marks over his methods, despite the likes of Trent Robinson defending the highly-regarded trainer.
Speaking to media on Tuesday, Ciraldo praised Touma for helping change the culture at Canterbury since arriving at the club and demanding high standards within the squad.
"Trav is good, he is going about his normal business … it's a shame his name has been brought into it through the media, but it is what it is," the coach said.
"What we can't control is reputations, but what we can control is character and Trav is of the highest character of possibly anyone I have ever met.
"He cares about everyone he works with, he's a family man, he lives a very clean life and he's a guy that we're really lucky to have at the club.
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"It's not an easy job trying to bring change to a club and Trav has been a guy that has really helped me in that regard. Every decision he has made has been in the best interest of the club. Trav has been a big driver of change within our culture and our team.
"It's a different workplace and it's not for everyone. It's a tough environment, it's a tough game … if it wasn't hard, everyone would be doing it."
Touma has spent time at a number of NRL clubs over the years, including the Roosters and Rabbitohs, but has been with the Dogs since Ciraldo took over last year.
The second-year head coach also shut down suggestions the lawsuit could distract his side, who are sitting inside the top-eight after two months of the season.
"I haven't [addressed it] actually, no one has asked me about it," Ciraldo said.
"I probably just need to read the room and see how the boys are, but I'm very confident it won't be a distraction. Everyone is in a really good place."
Canterbury will take on the Wests Tigers on Saturday afternoon.
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