After screaming it with insinuation and then emblazoning it across the papers in lemon juice, Phil Gould’s message has been received loud and clear – Paul Gallen and Robbie Farah are to blame for everything wrong with New South Wales.
The Panthers supremo could take no more after the Blues extended their infallible streak to one trophy in 11 series, and with the goading of a provocative Paul Vautin in his ears, he went on the attack to specifically pinpoint the pair for criticism by using indeterminate generalisations.
For those who missed his rant and subsequent column, Gould cited a culture of “selfishness” in the New South Wales camp originating from a “domineering” leadership group too obsessed with helicopter-parenting the team’s revolving door of playmakers.
But while the transcript shows that Gus certainly went bananas on the Blues seniors, it wasn’t reckless hyper-bananas. He kept his shirt buttoned-up and his finger-pointing finger in his finger-pointing holster.
He knew that despite there being an extremely long list of blameworthy Blues from the last ten years, a narrow identity parade could be derived using powers of deduction the moment he empathised with the ball-players, praised the forwards and pardoned the coach.
Taking out all of these options, and remembering that Bozo has lifetime amnesty, all that was left was two obvious names that fit his description as senior members who ached for team control: the hard-working hard-heads of Gallen and Farah.
Well played, Gus, you crafty old sponge of rinse. You made your point, and better still, by avoiding individual accusations, you’ve done so while covered in phone books. You’re immune from retribution, which from those two I can only dream would be something involving either silence or violence.
But anyway, enough about Gus’s mazey rants and agendas and hidden desire to provoke us to beg him to return to top-line coaching. I want to know the important opinions. I want to know the people’s views.
Is the former supercoach on the money? Is the last diabolical decade in New South Wales really the majority fault of the captain and his deputy?
Following on from Tim Gore’s fine piece calling for their immediate dumping, I want to look further beyond a Game 3 swansong and in to the sunset.
With Gallen a confirmed retiree at the end of this series and Farah in deep twilight, how will this pair be remembered at Origin level?
Will they be recalled as all-time greats who represented the jumper with distinction? Or as the figureheads who oversaw a period in New South Wales history so shameful that I looked up property listings in Launceston?
Are they the posterboys for self-indulgent ball-hoarding? Or will stratospheric tackle counts and run metres earned in the game’s cauldron supersede abysmal win-loss records to see them elevated to gladiator status?
To help you put it in perspective, here are some pertinent points about the pair’s achievements at interstate level.
Did you know that Gallen has played the same amount of Origins as Blues behemoths Johns and Laurie Daley? And not once has he been caught taking recreational drugs or coaching one of the most boring sides in Origin history. It’s quite the feather.
But do we appreciate his tireless attitude that could turbocharge him to seven superhuman carries in a set? Or do we bemoan the trade-off demand that makes him a lingering first-receiver?
As for Farah, he hasn’t played in nearly as many matches as Gallen. But in his favour, he once played with a disfigured shoulder for nothing more than $30,000 and a free week at Coffs Harbour. He also never repeatedly clubbed a bloke in the head in HD.
Do we give thanks for Farah’s unerring direction and bloody-minded leadership? Or do we want to slap him when he pulls rank on kicks?
I’m absolutely bolted to this fence on this one.
In the undulating days of emotion that usually follow a 10th series loss in 11 years, there’s no better time than to make rash determinations such as this.
Gallen and Farah: will they be remembered as Blues legends, or just a couple of selfish veterans that Gus roasted with cryptics?
Chris Love
Roar Guru
Ennis is likely to give away 5 penalties and start a brawl that's likely to see the teams down to 11 men each. Time to think long term and blood Peats.
woppadingo
Guest
I wholeheartedly agree with Gould on this one. Its not just about how long they have been in the team, its the fact they hog the ball so much.... and they have been doing it for years. I remember back in about 2009 and it was Farah, Wallace, Gidley for the whole game. Hardly anyone else ever got a touch of the ball.
The EYE-BALL Opinion
Roar Pro
Can agree on CARTWRIGHT to a point - his defense was pathetic last night against Souths and at SOO level, he'll get so much pressure at 5/8 he will be a massive liability ... needs to try and make play-stopping tackles, he's all grab and try to hold on ... Re TEDESCO - the Tigers won their first 2 matches and looked to be the team they have promised for a long time - then by Rd 6 Taylor had to reign them in again because they self destructed ... Coaches know to shut down TEDESCO, shut down BROOKS ... when MOSES runs the show they tend to be more structured. Farrah is toxic to everybody ... and nobody running the Club has any idea how to handle the situation. What you make out of all that - who cares ... not my team. When TEDESCO, BROOKS and MOSES resigned ... what were they thinking?
Leviathan
Roar Rookie
Not JT, but if the Blues have Smith as hooker and captain they win. This will sound salty but it's unbelievable the amount of nonsense he can get away with because he manages the ref's so well.
Leviathan
Roar Rookie
Apologies, I misunderstood "Name the best 3 fullbacks, five-eights, halfbacks, and hookers in the game and how many hail from QLD" - with Hodgson etc. - Tedesco was creating havoc without Brooks at the start of the season, if you pick other offensive threats in tandem, he'll be lethal - running off the hip of Cartwright or off a deft inside ball from W.Graham. - I was happy with Moylans progress between Game 1 and 2 and I had him pegged for the future 5/8, but the more I see of Cartwright playing there, the more I prefer that option.
Jackson Henry
Roar Guru
I actually think that it is it. You'll notice too that Gould rarely called games in the same commentary box as Ray Hadley - who is a close Fulton associate. I remember only one game in Canberra. The commentary box atmosphere was very strange...
Leviathan
Roar Rookie
I rate Tamou at club level but always doubted his genuine care factor for the Blues. NSW have a big pool to select from with forwards so its probably time to drop him long term.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Is there the possibility that Farah and Gallen have too much influence? Perhaps the problem is above the coaches.
Albo
Guest
I'm with you peeeko ! The underlying problem has been that for a decade now we have not had any decent half backs to manage our game on the park and provide any regular creative opportunities to consistently win matches. Hence NSW has had to try to come up with a style of play relying solely on trying to steamroll down the middle with gang of bruisers ( you know the BS term always used " fit for origin" ) to wear the Maroons out and sneak a couple of tries off fatigue or a lucky kick ! And fitting this mould are guys like Paul Gallen and Greg Bird ( "fit for origin" ) and who up until this series at least, regularly both demanded two hit ups in every set of six ! Whilst that is admirable for taking the responsibility and working tough and hard, it is also very dumb as it made the QLD defensive job much easier as they always knew who would have the ball ! Like grist to the mill for the likes of Cameron Smith and Corey Parker ! Farah was a part of this strategy to keep feeding the boppers and defend all night, but has offered little in creativity but from the odd kick out of dummy half. Both are now way past their prime and will both be gone after the next match or sooner. But you cannot necessarily blame them. They too are the victims, firstly of having no decent half backs or a genius like Cam Smith to run the game out on the park, and furthermore they would have had to be running this strategy fully endorsed by the coach. My beef is with the last lot of coaches of NSW who have seen this strategy fail 9 out of 10 series ( up until the current series where I believe an effort was made to vary things) and kept running with it.
rod pombart
Guest
Gallen and Farah kept being selected by various coaches over the years so one can only assume that the coaches were happy with their performances. If there is any criticism then surely it has to be at those coaches who instructed them in the style of play
The EYE-BALL Opinion
Roar Pro
Clarify - 'hail' SOO elligible ... I understand your point re Inglis ... My intent was to show the options/depth QLD had when selecting a 'spine' as compared with NSW ... QLD have pretty much the best 3 in each of the spine positions. re your picks - - TEDESCO - against good defensive sides, his attacking options are stimied. He relies so much on Brooks and his inside kicks ... when Brooks missed games he was not as effective ... highlighting his need for familiar surrounds to shine, I think he is still not ready for the big time. - MOYLAN - pretty much showed he is still not really ready for SOO level - not to say he won't be but as Captain of Penrith, his leadership is still raw and uninspiring ... - COOTE - always had what it takes but injury was always the problem. His form at NQL made him an altenate choice - Daley went with youth as opposed to experience. - HODGSON - I believe he is not elligble [a pom] ... - GRANDVILLE - I believe he is QLD elligbel ... - ENNIS - believe he should have been NSW's 1st choice hooker for last 2-3 years and more so this year with his relationship with the other Shark selected on SOO. Daley is an idiot ...
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Perhaps it was more so bozo that gus was taking aim at?
Seeujim
Guest
Inglas is from Macksville NSW , how did he become a Queenslander?
Seeujim
Guest
Frankel was a specialist miler ( 1600m) , BC was a sprinter, never raced at that distance.Apples and oranges mate.
bear54
Gould's opinion could be attributed to Gallen & Farah but is more relevant to Bob Fulton. Bozo's selfish attitude towards his beloved Sea Eagles and their salary cap has seen Jason King, Jamie Buhrer, David Williams and Dylan Walker inflicted on the NSW side. In the segment Vautin asks Gould if he would return to Origin and he declines offering he is too old. If Gus is not youthful enough to contribute then what the hell is Bozo doing there? He last played in 79' and hasn't coached since 99'??????? It's Bozo's selfishness which has caused more damage to our Origin campaigns than Farah & Gallen.
Leviathan
Roar Rookie
Fullback - Tedesco, Boyd, Moylan/Coote (can you define "hail from" for me please RE: Inglis Halves - No argument other than DCE Hooker - Hodgson, Ennis, Smith, Granville
Badjack
Guest
Can anyone put a feasible case against Phab Phil. He is spot on. Farrah has been a pain in the butt at the Tigers and in the Origin team and Gallen is Gallen a whining whinging sook.
pjm
Roar Rookie
How is it not?
pjm
Roar Rookie
Not in the mainstream.
John
Guest
The players reluctantly took a deal VOR, under extreme pressure and never admitted to anything like the nonsense that has been bandied around since. "Unwittingly and unknowingly"....digest it, objectively. Kind of of takes away the whole "his decisions to use" crap.