There are calls for the NRL to “censor” Canterbury Bulldogs general manager Phil Gould for some of his comments on television and social media platforms.
Gould, who is considered one of the smartest minds in the game, has held the Bulldogs job since 2021 while continuing his longstanding role with broadcaster Channel Nine.
Often outspoken, Gould isn’t afraid to share what he really thinks about the game’s big talking points, with the NRL often in the firing line.
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This, some clubs believe, is a double standard considering the league are quick to come down on the controversial and critical comments of coaches, according to the SMH’s Michael Chammas.
Per NRL rules, club employees are not allowed to publicly criticise registered officials and because of Gould’s apparent lack of regard for this rule, “several complaints have been made” about some of the 65-year-old’s comments.
Chammas, who appears on Nine’s 100% Footy talk show alongside Gould, says other clubs “believe head office is too afraid of him (Gould) to sanction him.”
“Rival clubs have been recording the comments, and screenshotting social media posts with the aim of presenting it to the NRL if they try to fine one of their coaches for comments they deem inappropriate,” Chammas wrote.
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“The NRL is aware of the angst among the clubs and pressure is mounting on NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo and ARLC chairman Peter V’landys to intervene.”
Gould has been especially vocal of late.
Three weeks ago, the Bulldogs GM and Roosters coach Trent Robinson debated fiercely through the media in the wake of Joseph Suaalii’s defection to Rugby Union after Gould suggested Suaalii should leave the NRL immediately.
Gould also called out the NRL’s crackdown and inconsistency around what constitutes a hip-drop tackle during the live broadcast of his team’s Good Friday clash against the Rabbitohs.
Bulldogs forward Jacob Preston had earlier been penalised for a hip-drop tackle on Izaac Thompson, which prompted Gould to react.
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“This is professional football, it’s not tiddlywinks,” Gould said.
“That is not a hip-drop tackle. It’s not a penalisable offence, it’s not even a sin bin offence.”
More recently, Gould blasted the NRL over their scheduling of games after the Bulldogs played on Good Friday, five days after a golden point win against the Cowboys.
“It’s a very short turnaround. We go from playing the last game on Sunday night to Friday afternoon. It’s a four-day recovery, it’s ridiculous,” Gould said on the Six Tackles with Gus podcast.
“People want to talk about welfare, and the RLPA want to argue about time off during the holidays. What about this?
