Vegas Nightclub Bust-Up: Reed Mahoney Falls Out With Former Bulldogs Teammates After Heated Exchange

Reed Mahoney’s messy exit from the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs has taken a fresh, ugly turn. The hooker, now wearing North Queensland Cowboys colours, is reportedly “off” with his former teammates after a heated exchange in a Las Vegas nightclub last weekend, according to veteran Sydney Morning Herald reporter Danny Weidler.

 

The incident occurred in the days immediately following the NRL’s Las Vegas showcase. Mahoney, out with the Cowboys, crossed paths with a large group of Bulldogs players celebrating their trip. What began as a casual catch-up quickly soured when Mahoney directed pointed remarks at winger Marcelo Montoya. Sources close to the club say the comments “fell very flat” and left the majority of the playing group unimpressed. The exchange has since become an open secret inside Belmore, extinguishing any lingering goodwill Mahoney retained after his acrimonious departure at the end of 2025.

 

The former Parramatta Eels recruit arrived at Canterbury in 2023 as a high-energy leader. Standing just 175 cm but built like a tank, he quickly earned the captaincy and the respect of teammates for his fearless approach. But 2025 proved disastrous. Benched in the run home by coach Cameron Ciraldo in favour of young Bailey Hayward, Mahoney was released a year early from his contract. He signed a three-year deal with the Cowboys, publicly admitting the split “looked ugly” but claiming he still didn’t fully understand why he fell out of favour.

Weidler’s column reveals the Vegas flare-up has now erased whatever quiet support Mahoney still had among the Bulldogs squad. Club management appears unconcerned — they have praised Hayward’s progress — but the playing group is carrying extra motivation into their Round 9 clash.

 

That matchup, scheduled for Friday 1 May at Accor Stadium, now carries extra spice. Mahoney has declined to comment on the reports, but the narrative is clear: old mates are no longer mates.

 

In a competition where personal rivalries often decide tight games, this one has all the ingredients for fireworks. The Bulldogs will be desperate to prove they moved on the right man; Mahoney will be equally determined to show Canterbury what they lost. One nightclub conversation in Vegas may have just turned a regular season fixture into the most anticipated grudge match of 2026.