By Steve Kaless
April 27th 2009 @ 8:03am
Related coverage
Memo to Ricky and Gus: We don’t care
Sydney, July 7, 2004. NSW Blues Coach Phil Gould celebrates a try. The NSW Blues beat the Queensland Maroons 36-14 in the third State of Origin match to win the series at Telstra Stadium, Sydney tonight. AAP Image/Action Photographics/Colin Whelan
Maybe I’m totally out of step with the rest of the rugby league community, but the public saga of the fallout between Ricky Stuart and Gus Gould is surely one of the most boring things to grace the code in living memory.
Considering rugby league never seems to have trouble filling newspaper space in Sydney; the fact that both major newspapers seem to want to fill their endless column space documenting the latest chapter in the lover’s tiff makes things even more astounding.
If there was ever proof that the editors of the Sunday papers took us all for morons, this is it.
It is the sort of thing you’d expect from the women’s mags as they detail a Hollywood divorce, and the fact that both men seem are so keen to continue things under their own column does little for either one’s reputation.
During his tenure Phil Gould has told anyone who’ll listen that the Telegraph is full of untrustworthy journalists who are constantly misrepresenting him and anyone else who said for the side of right in rugby league, but then suddenly he is happy to do any interview with them when they give him a call.
He is very lucky his players were never so naive.
Honestly, just what is the problem? So a couple of blokes don’t like each other. Big deal. I don’t like certain people and certain people don’t like me, it’s a fact of life and in the world of rugby league it is hardly earth shattering.
It is the sort of thing you might occassionally get from a lovestruck teenager constantly retelling the mistakes of their past relationship before it all headed south.
You‘re supportive for a while figuring it is good therapy, then it gets boring and finally you give him a break until they find something else to talk about.
So while it gets irritating from a teenager, it is embarrassing that two grown men who advertise themselves as the leading thinkers of the game retell their versions of history with such obvious bias and spite while each scrambles for the moral highground.
Isn’t it obvious to both that they are coming across as military grade peanuts.
So you both left the Roosters with a lot of baggage, but why do we both need to suffer for what seems like eternity for it?
Where are the sport’s editors of the respective newspapers to tell either of them that maybe it is time to move on and we don’t need any more trees cut down in defence of their egos?
Clearly someone thinks it is selling newspapers, but just who is deciding to buy either the Telegraph or the Herald in order to read about which sook has spat his dummy?
Honestly, so much for balanced journalism. You really would hope that the sports section might be one area of the paper we can keep the agendas to a minimum, but alas that seems like a bit too much to ask. Just ask Denis Fitzgerald.
Give me an alcohol related incident any day.
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Both the sydney clubs seem to be pitching for the more committed...
The Link said | April 27th 2009 @ 8:35am | Report comment
Touche Steve. Although as a lesser of two evils i’ll take Gus anyday. His coaching record is starting to look very favourable against Ricky’s.
Jason said | April 27th 2009 @ 8:53am | Report comment
If it is so boring, why did you write an article about it?
LeftArmSpinner said | April 27th 2009 @ 9:47am | Report comment
with you completely. no one cares. both are immature and petulant and have an exagerated sense of their own self importance.
Hemjay said | April 27th 2009 @ 10:30am | Report comment
Steve I agree with you it is childish but at the same time its funny, also it is working because like Jason said your writing about it and we’re all reading it then commenting about it.
As a Kiwi Ricky lost all credit that he did have after his massive meltdown post final at the the World Cup. Gus is just plain annoying he is a know all and tends to think his opinion is more highly sort than anybody elses. This spat makes great Sunday reading or whatever day you decide to read it. Lets face it it adds to the spectacle that is rugby league and keeps bringing the fans back for more. Its human nature we love controversy in all aspects of life, but as a footy lover we get great sport and day time soaps all rolled into one.
Brett McKay said | April 27th 2009 @ 11:02am | Report comment
Steve, I think most people will agree with you, and that on the whole, it’s boring-as-buggery playground-childish. That said, there’s been some gold medal sledging in this little saga, and that’s where Hemjay makes a good point. As funny as it sounds, the Gould-Stuart episode is both boring and entertaining sports fans!!
znotty said | April 27th 2009 @ 12:03pm | Report comment
i think Jason has nailed it……Personally i find the Brian Smith destroying the Knights from within saga much more compelling even if inevitable from the day of his signing.
The Link said | April 27th 2009 @ 2:10pm | Report comment
On the undercard for Green v Mundine perhaps? Gotta love the Terrorgraph…..
Gould and Stuart given fighting chance
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,25389439-5001023,00.html
Steve Kaless said | April 27th 2009 @ 4:01pm | Report comment
Well it certainly seems to have legs.
Brett you have nailed it, it is one of those issues that polarises sports fans. There are those who like things fairly straight up and down and focused on the field (I’m probably certainly of that persuasion) and others who like a bit more hollywood gossip thrown in the mix. Which type you are will probably determine whether you want to pay for a ring side seat.
Znotty, Brian Smith destroying the Knights from within? They have probably been one of the most overachieving side’s this season, would love to hear more of your theory.
Cheers
sheek said | April 27th 2009 @ 4:06pm | Report comment
Link,
I agree, Gus is the lesser of two evils. Apart from listening to him solve all the world’s problems, he likes a punt, he likes a drink, by the looks of him, he likes a good feed also. Just like me.
And Brett tells me I go around the world to explain myself, just like Gus!
However, their public spat is quite pathetic, & of course, I’m exercising my individual right not to pay any attention to them!
Brett McKay said | April 27th 2009 @ 4:33pm | Report comment
Sheek, no-one explains themselves quite like you!!
I didn’t think the Gould-Stuart thing could get any more pathetic, but as Link as shown, the Terror knows no bounds when it comes to stupidity.
This is now reminding me of a Simpsons episode (stay with me people) where they discover that the only way to get rid of mutant killer billboards is to ignore them. Sadly, I’m sure when this latest installment dies a natural death this week – and it will – the Terror will breath new life into it come Origin time…
The Answer said | April 27th 2009 @ 5:29pm | Report comment
Sadly for many league fans, the Herald is quickly showing that the monopoly the Tele had on beat up, hype and stupidity has been smashed in a way the ACCC would be proud.
I think as this post has shown the Herald, which promotes itself as a paper of record, has dropped to the level of the tabloid in order to keep this feud going. That is probably the most embarassing thing of all. Rather than being the Analyst, Gould seems to be spending the majority of his working life playing the “Arrogant moi?” card and write full features about how he doesn’t have an ego.
Col the Bear said | April 27th 2009 @ 6:10pm | Report comment
Ahh it sells papers
cosmos forever said | April 27th 2009 @ 6:37pm | Report comment
the whole saga will be taken care of when a dementia ridden Rabbits Warren pulls out a shotgun and takes out Gus during a channel nine call.
“It’s called the rulebook, the rulebook…” he cries as he finally desposes of the waste of space Gould.
Only problem is it will be on delay and the other ‘commentators’ in the box will miss it
znotty said | April 27th 2009 @ 7:21pm | Report comment
The Knights were once a team of locals boys playing for the local team with the big boys from Sydney,Every single young fella wanted to play for the Knights & those days are over,Smith has systematically punted all the senoir locals & replaced them with mid card average first graders (just like he did at St George & Parramatta) until the side bears little resemblance to the proud local team it was ,its the same at every club for Smith identify the best player & punt him,Gordon Tallis sat out a whole season rather than play under him,Jamie Lyons retired & Danny Buderus was shown the door quick smart,25 millions dollars worth of players Smith went through at Parra & came up with a duck egg,you can be sure that Smith is probaly working out a way to punt Gidley & replace him with Hornby (no offence Ben) & now that Mullins is out & Gidley will certainly be on Origin duty you watch the nose dive about to come,Smith will leave the knights in tatters & he will blame the knights for it but at least then the locals can have their team back..
one thing further i`m from Newcastle & the locals really dont like Smith running about 8 to 2 against him & i mean “really”
Mullos said | April 28th 2009 @ 12:14am | Report comment
Mungoes eat their own non-shock.
MarkH said | April 28th 2009 @ 4:16am | Report comment
Both have done damage to the game. Sometimes things are just better off not being said.
The Link said | April 28th 2009 @ 8:25am | Report comment
cripes znotty, i’d hate to see what you had to say if the knights had a bad start to the year!!
i’d say they are the most improved side from last year. besides putting the foot off the pedal on Sunday they look the goods and will be up there this year.
better to have a platform for the young kids to come through into rather than an old boys club
kingmarty45 said | April 28th 2009 @ 12:16pm | Report comment
znotty, I am also from Newcastle and am prepared to give Brian a decent go. I ask you which of the players he let go you would keep? On top of that, which of them would make the starting team now?
Newton left and couldn’t find another NRL club to give him a contract. Perry’s game has improved, but I think getting the arse provided the spark needed to revitalise him. After watching him get belted each week, I was sure he was made out of putty. Reynoldson was a shame, but I still think the starting players we have now are better. Let’s be honest, we were never going to win a premiership with those players. Brian simply knocked it on the head early instead of waiting a few years for these guys to leave on their steam.
It is easy to hold on history and the notion of a “proud local team” when the local boy is Andrew Johns and he is winning premierships! It is now time for the Knights to grow up and get competitive again without the best player in the world.
znotty said | April 28th 2009 @ 1:46pm | Report comment
Kade Snowden,Anthony Quinn,Josh Perry..the next time someone like Andrew Johns comes along the last bloke he`ll play under is Smith,to say Newcastle are going better than expected is a joke,they should be a powerhouse with the coalfeolds,hunter & Newcastle mid north as the base no one should touch them,now the base dosen`t even go to games..a joke & will finish down the bottom of the table with Smith bolting to England if he stays true to form.
Steve Kaless said | April 28th 2009 @ 5:17pm | Report comment
Znotty,
I’ll now take a lot more interest in the Knights season. I guess it is definately “a watch this space”. One thing in Brian Smith’s defence though was that he was hired by the Newcastle board with directions to clean out the club and rebuild. There were many rumblings about a destructive culture within the club and that is why Smith had such a large broom.
J said | April 29th 2009 @ 2:20pm | Report comment
You’d keep Josh Perry even though he said he wasn’t putting in? I hope they don’t make you the coach.
You’d keep Quinn over Aku Uate? That’s an interesting move.
Kade Snowden over Taufua? No chance.
znotty said | April 29th 2009 @ 2:24pm | Report comment
Perry won the comp,Snowden will rep & Taufua?…who
J said | April 30th 2009 @ 9:00pm | Report comment
LOL, Snowden is stank. he’s the a-typical man-child who was only good because he grew 8 inches faster than anyone else.
As for the perry winning the comp thing, so did Sean Rudder, maybe we should make overtures toward him returning from French union? C-L-O-W-N.
znotty said | April 30th 2009 @ 9:20pm | Report comment
J,you & Brian Smith have 2 things in common you dont know what a footballer is & you`ll both never win a comp & its the idiot Newcastle supporter like you who have got them in this mess you`ll make excuses for Smith no matter what its the same attitude that saw steriods & drug addicts rot the club from within,wave your flag fool & cheer them to 2nd last.
PS Steve..Remember me saying Bronco`s to build the team around Karmichael Hunt & Lockyer to St George ? well i may have had that arse about…its happy days for Saints..
J said | May 2nd 2009 @ 2:11pm | Report comment
I’m wondering what your point is here genius. You’ve said steroids and drugs, but all that happened under Hagan’s tenureship.
You mention B.Smith making excuses, yet all I see is MARKED improvements both on and off the field.
You mention second last, but we came second last with all the nuffies that Hagan brought into the team, not Smith?
Snowden is awful. He’s slow, unfit, has no ball-skills. The only thing he had going for him was a bit of pace, now he’s bulked up, he lost all that, and has got nothing. Luke Douglas is twice the player he is.
I repeat again, what, exactly, is your point here, genius?
Russell Bussian said | May 5th 2009 @ 8:41pm | Report comment
Knights are looking good IMO. I backed ‘em to make the top 8. To an outsider it looked like they had a culture problem like so many teams a few years after they win a premiership. Basically every team apart from the Broncos that have won a premiership since Super League has hit the bottom of the table a few years after: Melbourne after ‘99, Knights, Roosters, Bulldogs and Tigers. Premiership players seem to lose their hunger. When Brian Smith came to the Knights they were a rabble. The team has really improved since he’s been there. I’m not saying he is the mesiah and maybe another coach could have done even better. But at least they’ll the give you a good honest run for your money when you back them now…
znotty said | May 18th 2009 @ 12:14pm | Report comment
my point is made in the 12th word,get it,by the end of the third State of Origin they will have had it & then we`ll see what you have to say,Brian Smith is a destroyer.& i`m afraid i`ll have to report you for abuse for calling me a clown .
J said | May 18th 2009 @ 7:35pm | Report comment
you’re soft champ, and you are a clown. Look at the comments you made so far on this thread? you’re moving the goal post inch by inch so it suits your little vendetta.
probably one of those terrible knights fans that wanted a team full of locals, whether they were nuffies or not.
Btw, who you think is playing better this year, McManus or Quinn? Uate or Quinn?
Ask a Storm fan, i’m sure they’ll tell you
.
J said | May 18th 2009 @ 7:36pm | Report comment
btw, what kind’ve soft website reckons that the word ‘clown’ is abusive?
Christ almighty. (hope that doesn’t offend the delicate eyes of the bible bashers amongst us
(((()
J said | May 18th 2009 @ 7:38pm | Report comment
Whose playing better out of Taufua/Richie/Houston/Simmo and Perry this year on form? They’ve all had a crack in the front row, and, imo, played better than ANYTHING Perry has put in this year. Old Perry straight back into his ‘ hey we won the comp, i must be a pretty great natural footy player, i just won’t put any effort in, get back to being fat, lazy, slow and a penalty machine.
znotty said | August 2nd 2009 @ 1:30am | Report comment
LMAO!!!
znotty said | May 18th 2009 @ 9:03pm | Report comment
Quinn hasn`t played for weeks. at the end of the season the knights will be nowhere with the coach babble crap about how its not his fault,they`ll be even less supporters going to games.
znotty said | May 18th 2009 @ 9:05pm | Report comment
Knights supporter are such an easy touch…
znotty said | May 18th 2009 @ 9:08pm | Report comment
& thanks for reading my stuff
“J” its great to have fans.
J said | November 4th 2009 @ 10:08am | Report comment
Hey, looks like we did make the finals afterall! Who was right again?
Me, of course.
J said | November 6th 2009 @ 6:30pm | Report comment
Got nothing to add now Znotty?
How’d Snowden and Quinn (lol) go this year again?
J said | November 6th 2009 @ 6:32pm | Report comment
What about Perry (lol lol lol!).
I’ll keep Taufua thanks
.
znotty said | November 8th 2009 @ 8:44am | Report comment
your kidding your the one who was bragging about how great Smith had the Knights going..How they go the last three game’s before Smith was sacked to save them from total disaster & an awesome semi final display too BWAH…lol.lol.lol keep your winger.
j said | November 18th 2009 @ 10:40am | Report comment
lol, you should really quit while you’re behind. Whilst we’re quitting, you should also quit moving the goal-posts. The quote was…
‘a joke & will finish down the bottom of the table’. So Znotty, oh wise sage of league (Perry, Quinn and Snowden LOL), where’d we finish again?
Wake up to yourself. I win, you lose. Surprise, surprise.
znotty said | November 18th 2009 @ 7:01pm | Report comment
Next you’ll think you won the comp,loser’s who run around claiming imaginary victorys are just that “loser’s” the clown is bragging about a team that lost last years comp & it’s the same clown that thinks Brian Smith is the great Knights coach..oh by the way your team finished 7th BWHAHAHAHAHAAH yeah you won …loser lmao…