shocking departure…

ing his time as assistant to Anthony Griffin.

“I’m glad Gus said no,” Ciraldo quips after officially being unveiled as Canterbury coach on Wednesday.

If it wasn’t for the marathon five-hour meeting with Gould, the most sought-after rookie coach in the history of the sport would have been lost to it.

Gould and Ciraldo are now reunited at the helm of the Bulldogs, armed with an assignment as large – if not greater – than the journey they embarked on together at the foot of the mountains over a decade ago.

The noise surrounding Ciraldo has been deafening. A five-year deal for a rookie coach is unprecedented.

Ciraldo is a new-age coach with an old-school attitude. His greatest strength is his ability to connect with young players on a level that many coaches in the NRL struggle to reach.

He knows he may not have the same luxuries as head coach.

“As an assistant coach players look at you differently,” Ciraldo told the Herald.

“You’re more like an older brother. As an assistant, you’re the one telling the jokes and keeping the atmosphere light-hearted. I had guys at Penrith for eight or nine years. We built trust.

“I want to come in here and build that same trust so they can come to me. I treat the players how I would want to be treated. I know things are going to be different as a head coach.”