Gus Gould used to be one of my favourite commentators. Yes he could be repetitive (“No no no no no!”) and yes he would go off on tangents and start ignoring everything that was happening on the field. But when he was paying attention his insights into the game could (and still can) be remarkable.
Most impressively, his ability to read the mental state of the team or of individual players at different points during the game add to my enjoyment of the spectacle.
However, since he became the self proclaimed Duke of Penrith Gus has – there’s really no other word for it – sold out.
Back in May when Gus returned to Penrith admid much fanfare, his role was announced as “Phil will work closely with (chief executive) Michael Leary, (marketing manager) Shannon Donato, (operations manager) Jason Wrigley, (recruitment manager) Jim Jones and the management team and will have direct involvement in all aspects of rugby league and in particular the coaching and team support operation.”
This sounded great (especially if you were a Panthers fan) as Phil would have his hand in all matters footy.
And in the months since we have seen his hand in some positive moves forward such as the recruitment of Ivan Cleary to coach next year and the recent League Tag gala day he heavily promoted on TV and in his Sun Herald column.
These things fall under the guise of “the direct involvement of all aspects of rugby league” and I heartily support his involvement.
However – what about poker machines?
Now unless the coach wants the players to develop their forearms by repetitively pulling a lever – I can’t see how they have anything to do with footy matters.
Now Phil is allowed his opinion for sure – he’s already spruiked about the carbon tax this year.
However when he starts talking about poker machines – and even worse when he uses his commentary during a rugby league game to push his opinions – then it starts to stink a bit. Then when you realise that his wages are paid by the football club – who uses Poker Machines as a source of revenue – then it starts to stink a whole lot.
And when Gus uses his commentary during a game to spruik his opinion and directly uses the slogans of the poker machine lobby – and involves Ray Warren, a recovering problem gambler, then it becomes one of the worst stinks in the game.
If I were David Gallop it wouldn’t be on field behaviour I’d be worried about – it is this massive hyposcrisy from one of the leading figures of the game.
Stupid behaviour by players can be understood and relaively easily forgiven. Intentionally unethical behaviour from a person with as much influence as Gus Gould needs to be dealt with more seriously.
There is something rotten here and the longer it is ignored and tolerated, the bigger the damage to the game.
Steven Robertson
Guest
When the news broke of Gould (the after the event expert after watching a replay 4 times.) was taking over the entire rugby league sector of Penrith, I thought you beauty....no more of his comments on everything after he can't be wrong because of the 4 replays he has just witnessed.....................I hope this stupid comment lands him in hot water and channel 9 give him the boot once and for all so we dn't have to look or listeto the grub....
Charles
Guest
The problem with poker machines is that they have taken over to what clubs are supposed to be all about. Walk into any club and you see rows and rows of poker machines with people playing on hope! This was supposed to be only for casino's. They say it is for enjoyment but no one likes losing at the best of times. The social interaction that clubs are supposed to bring, is gone! Now they are bringing gambling into one of the most precious social interaction venues we have left, in football. I agree with the last comment by NickF - I say ban the pokies and give the clubs back to the community. If not at least just keep it out of football altogether!
Boomshanka
Guest
To blow up the pokies and drag them away
NickF
Guest
The thing is the leagues club don't fund the football clubs. They are different entities. For instance St George Leagues clubs gets about $32-$33 million dollars each year and this year they gave the St George Illawarra Footbal Club about $1.5 miilion. The Salary cap and membership/ticketing, merchandising and food and alchol outlets get the football club the much larger majority of the funds used to run the footy team. And the salary cap is being talked about going up to 7 million from a new television deal. And the St George Leagues club gave $500,000 towards the community development and support expenditure. Not very much from the $33,000,000.00 is it. I say ban the pokies and give the clubs back to the community.
League_coach101
Roar Pro
Feel free to write to the Panthers Club Board and say that...
NickF
Guest
I think you might find that Ray worked of the script, I'm not so sure about Gus.
Pacman
Guest
Panthers fan here. I find the clubs reliance on poker machines and sponsorship by centrebet to be shameful. That is all.
Simon Q
Guest
this is not just bad for the game it's bad for australia. I 'm seeing it more and more . The big compaies that have really gotten to big for their boots are really trying to run the country. Mining companies, Tobacoo companies, Gambling compaies, and commericial media. These are the guys who are batting for themselves but keep on telling Australians that they have our best interest at heart. Dont believe them these people are facist. They consider themselves the molders of public policy in this country. They dont care about you, Wake up Australia. What they do is get guys like Gould, who will say anything for money and not think much about it. Appeal to the "dumb" working folk with football commentators, That guy off the Block Scotty the tradie- During 07 election coming out and talking up Johnny howard contray to the Trade unions opposition to work choices it shows these guys arent working class they consider themselves above all us plebs. This is how a fabriant democracy is taken down and turned facist. You dont have parliment operating for the people but dictated to by big business. Australian should be wary of their efforts and take this seriously. I find this more important then football, it strikes at the heart of this countries soul and what kind of country we want our kids living in.
BennO
Guest
Gold!!
League_Coach101
Guest
There are whispers of him having major health problems - his appearance has certainly changed a lot in the last twelve months. Maybe his mind isn't as sharp either?
League_Coach101
Guest
"footballers haven’t performed to well when dabbling in politics over the years." I dunno - Mal Meninga managed to stay scandal free for his entire political career. :)
mushi
Guest
I'm going with option1
soapit
Guest
from smh.com.au "The Australian Communication and Media Authority has opened an investigation into the Channel Nine pokies matter after receiving a complaint." seems like gould and warren may have bitten off more than they can chew. was bound to happen, footballers haven't performed to well when dabbling in politics over the years.
Charles
Guest
I have a great respect for Phil Gould for what he has done for Rugby League and for his knowledge of the game. However I feel he has lost the plot of late, he does not seem as switched on. Some of his calls in the game seems over the top and making more mistakes of late. I could have sworn he said Broncos in the grand final instead of Manly but maybe I was wrong. In regards to getting into the political issues of poker machines I think both him and Ray are lowering their standard.
bilbo
Guest
And I wish, I wish I knew the right words....
Boomshanka
Guest
What's missing here in these discussions is that Channel Nine plastered the wontworkwillhurt banner during the discussion. If the banner hadn't been there, then I could accept (just) that the commentators had maybe overstepped the mark. With the banner there, then I'd make the observation that the implementation of this ad / endorsement was wider than just the commentary team. More concerning (and adding weight to self interest here) is how Gould never cross promotes. Even during one of the grand final build up games (can't remember which), Voss tried to bring Gus into a commentary about the RWC and Gould just grunted.
Jimbo
Guest
Well interesting you say that, as the Sydney Morning Herald reported today that Ray Warren came out and said that Gould and himself were given a script by Channel 9 to work off regarding the pokie reforms...
League_Coach101
Guest
I think the part that really grates on a lot of people is how he and Ray Warren claim their comments weren't paid for or endorsed by the Clubs Australia campaign yet they used the EXACT WORDS the clubs have been using in their campaigns. Which leads us to two conclusions: 1 Either Phil Gould is a liar or 2 Phil Gould has been so indoctrinated by his masters at Penrith Leagues Club that he spews out slogans and talking points without realising it. Either one is a scary proposition. Of course Channel 9 will get at most a slap on the wrist for this and everything will go on as normal next year - no doubt with commentators making sure to plug the betting agencies as much as they possibly can wihile they commentate.
Cathy
Guest
I know a thing or two about football as I had 2 older brothers who played and back then they did it for the love of the game more than anything else. Unfortunately, I grew up to know more about the poker machines than football. One comment that struck me in this article was "most impressively, his ability to read the mental state of the team or of individual players at different points during the game add to my enjoyment of the spectacle". I wonder how Gus Gould would feel if some amateur came along and made sweeping generalisations that were quite misrepresentative about teams or players 'he reads well'. His anticipated reaction to this is exactly how I feel toward him for his stance on this issue which no doubt is tainted by a vested interest in the revenue these machines bring. The fact that he states 'it is a rubbish policy' and it 'won’t work' is highly presumptuous and just goes to show how badly he reads the individual mental states of those who get into trouble with these poker machines.
drongo
Guest
lol "the best grand final play ever" that's expert commentary from gould? expert in what? problem gambling, poker machine reform, kickbacks, payola, kissing the hand that feeds, sus mates and bad hairdo's! having a mouth does not a commentator make