Max King has had good reason for feeling below his best over the past six weeks and it’s not just Canterbury’s worrying late-season form that has left the front-rower under the weather.
King has been living with a mould infestation at home that he is glad to have finally eradicated in the lead-up to Friday’s qualification final at Melbourne.
The 28-year-old said he felt as if he had been hit with a six-week bout of flu, with the mould infestation also impacting his wife Christy, who is six months pregnant with their second child, and their baby son Hercules.
As if preparing for the challenge of a wounded Melbourne wasn’t enough, King has prepared for the finals clash while packing up his life and moving into a new place.
‘I’ve been crook – coughing, flu, phlegm, lethargic, down – and I haven’t been getting better. I’ve been sick for six to seven weeks,’ King told News Corp.
‘There were games where I thought I was on my deathbed. Someone suggested mould and when I read into it, I knew that’s what it was.
Max King revealed he and his family endured weeks of illness at home, leaving him drained before finals football
King described relentless flu-like symptoms, with both his pregnant wife and young son also suffering through the ordeal
The Bulldogs forward admitted he felt ‘crook’ for over a month, struggling to shake symptoms that wouldn’t disappear
‘I had hot and cold sweats and a really bad cough. I’ve never been exposed to it but you don’t want it.
‘I have been on every different antibiotic under the sun.
‘My young fella is a one-year-old and he’s been really crook. My wife, who is six months pregnant, has also been crook. We’ve all been sick as. I didn’t want my young fella getting it.’
The situation got so bad the young family were forced to leave their rental property in Miranda to move into a two-bedroom unit in Mascot, assisted by the Bulldogs.
‘We have moved out and we’re not going back,’ King said.
‘Given there’s been a lot of rain, we traced it back to mould exposure in the house. They [the Bulldogs] said to get out of there.
‘It’s crazy, a day or two later, we are all feeling great again. Honestly, I’ve never heard about it before.
‘It’s awesome to be out and I’m feeling sweet again. I feel a million bucks. I could tell after the first night. The better you feel as a person, the better you play as a football player.’
He said the issue left his family weak and worried, making everyday life difficult alongside football commitments
King credited his club’s support during the troubling period, saying teammates and staff helped keep him and his family going
Mould is common in Australian homes, especially in warm, humid, or poorly ventilated spaces.
Studies show between 33 and 50 per cent of homes report mould or dampness issues each year.
It thrives due to climate, poor building design, and excess moisture, creating serious challenges for households nationwide.
Exposure can trigger allergic reactions, infections, and in severe cases, dangerous illnesses caused by toxic moulds.
With his home life on the up, King’s attention now turns to the Bulldogs’ form.
Canterbury began 2025 as red-hot favourites to claim the minor premiership but have limped into the finals in third spot and with just two wins from their past six outings.
They are expected to be undermanned against the Storm, with Bronson Xerri (concussion) sidelined and concerns over the fitness of starting wing duo Marcelo Montoya and Jacob Kiraz.
Montoya was spotted on crutches at Belmore on Monday while Kiraz was still in a moon boot.
The Bulldogs can take solace from their most recent outing against Melbourne, when if not for the errant goalkicking of Stephen Crichton, Canterbury could well have won.
‘I thought that Melbourne played well and for us, we probably missed a few opportunities out there,’ King said.
‘We probably need to take more advantage of opportunities and the Storm give you nothing. They’re a hard team to score against.
‘When you get a chance in a game against them you really have to ice it.’
