NRL fans are calling for Phil Gould to step down from his TV role with Channel 9 after extraordinary comments on Thursday night suggesting you shouldn’t have to ground the ball to score a try. There were bizarre scenes in Game 3 of the women’s State of Origin series when NSW captain Isabelle Kelly strolled over for what looked to be an easy try in the first half.
However the Bunker official correctly identified that Kelly never grounded the ball when she slid over the line, with her own arm preventing any part of the ball hitting the turf. It was a fairly complacent error from Kelly, although it didn’t cost the Blues as they scored through Jess Sergis on the next set.
But Gould made some extraordinary remarks in commentary for Channel 9 that drew backlash from fans. The veteran commentator suggested you shouldn’t have to ground the ball for it to be a try, even though it’s one of the most fundamental rules of the game.
Gould pointed out that Kelly’s effort would have been a try at every other level of the game, but at the elite level we have video replays to examine everything to the nth degree. “I hate this interpretation, I really do,” Gould said. “In every grade of rugby league, everywhere in the world, at any time, that is a try, unless you are on TV.
I hate that rule, I hate it. I think if it’s your arm, that’s good enough. That is a try. Why are we so pedantic? That’s a try. It’s a try every Saturday morning in junior league. It’s a try every Saturday afternoon in A Grade, it’s a try every afternoon in NSW Cup.”
Phil Gould cops backlash over comments
But Gould’s comments went down like a lead balloon, with many on social media questioning how one of the leading voices in the game could think such a fundamental rule isn’t right. Some called for Gould to step down or be removed from his role with Channel 9, which many believe is a conflict of interest considering he’s the general manager of the Canterbury Bulldogs.
I can’t believe the outrage over a correct call, we can’t just start rewarding tries when the ball hasn’t been grounded,” one person wrote. Another commented: “Can Gus Gould just give up the media work… In the box tonight he is creating new rules where you don’t need to place the ball on the ground to score..Just give it up.”
While a third added: “Gus Gould wants tries where the ball hasn’t been put down to be awarded. Get this bloke off TV.”
Questions raised about Phil Gould ‘conflict of interest’
The fresh controversy comes amid even more scrutiny on Gould, with many believing the NRL should step in and demand he ends his dual roles with Nine and the Bulldogs. There have been suggestions he’s been publicly courting Lachie Galvin to sign with the Bulldogs with comments he’s been making in the media, which would be flouting NRL rules.
Leading journalist Andrew Webster revealed this week that the NRL has been looking into a rule for a number of years that would prevent Gould or anyone else in the same situation from holding both roles. And a club official, speaking to Yahoo Sport Australia this week on the condition of anonymity, said the situation was a big talking point behind the scenes at the men’s Origin game on Wednesday night.
“It’s an open joke among us that Gus is allowed to use his media position to bend the narrative his way and use his influence to the Dogs’ advantage,” they said. “It’s a clear conflict of interest and what none of us can understand is the NRL’s reluctance to do anything about it. What are they scared about? Getting bagged by Gus? Who cares?”
Club bosses were amused over Gould’s protestations on ‘100% Footy’ last week that he’s the only official forced to regularly field difficult questions on TV. “What I do know is there is not another CEO, another general manager or a recruitment manager that has to sit on a panel and answer these questions, week in, week out,” he said.
As the club official told Yahoo: “There’s an easy way out of that, Gus. Tell Channel 9 to rip up your contract.”
Queensland won 18-14 on Thursday night to salvage some pride, having already lost the series in two games. Kelly fought back tears in the post-match press conference discussing her bombed try. “I’m obviously someone who gets very disappointed when I let my team down as I am right now … sorry.”
