Canterbury coach Trent Barrett has admitted the two off-field incidents that hit the NRL club during the week affected preparations for Sunday's clash against Manly.
The Bulldogs put up a spirited display before falling to a 36-18 defeat to the Sea Eagles after a week where Adam Elliott and Lachlan Lewis were both stood down in unrelated incidents.
Elliott has been handed a breach notice by the club after being fined by the NRL for an incident involving NRLW player Millie Boyle which led to the backrower being kicked out of a Gold Coast restaurant last week.
Lewis meanwhile was reportedly in hot water for putting a speaker for sale online that had originally been provided by the NRL to the club while in the Queensland hub.
The incident is being investigated by the NRL's integrity unit, with officials trying to ascertain if it was a practical joke gone wrong.
Barrett refused to comment on the specifics of the Lewis incident but said there was no doubt it had been a bad few days for the last-placed club.
"You don't need those distractions," he said.
"The club certainly doesn't need any adverse publicity as well so that was disappointing, but you saw the effort from the players today, they do care a lot about their performance and they're disappointed in the sheds again.
"It's been a tough week."
Canterbury will get one last chance to snap a 10-game losing streak when they face Wests Tigers next weekend in their final fixture of the 2021 season.
Barrett said after some positive signs in recent weeks, it would be a boost to all at the Bulldogs if they can end their year on a victorious note.
"It'd be nice," he said.
"That game should have been a hell of a lot closer there.
"Next week's a big one for us. We'll throw everything we can into trying to finish the season with a win."
