When Wallaby coach Michael Cheika met with Rugby Australia in August last year, his job was on the line.
The men in gold had lost ten of their 14 internationals in 2018, lowlighted by three All Black hammerings of 38-13, 40-12 and 37-20 for an overall 115 points to 45, with the All Blacks crossing for 17 tries to just five.
And still no Bledisloe Cup since 2002.
Cheika survived that meeting, with Rugby Australia stating he will see out his contract until the completion of the Rugby World Cup in Japan in November.
But there would be changes to reign in Cheika’s status as the sole selector.
In December, Scott Johnson was appointed to a new position as the Australian Director of Rugby and a selector.
The former Parramatta and Eastwood flyhalf-centre was Scotland’s Director of Rugby at the time, and a former coach of Wales, USA and Scotland.
In February, Michael O’Connor, the former dual international centre-winger and former Australian Sevens coach from 2008 to 2014, was appointed the third selector – the new status was complete.
Two highly qualified selections who are not only strong-willed but have long track records at the highest level.
Those appointments took some courage from Rugby Australia, an organisation not renowned for having any vision nor for making the tough decisions.
Yet the general reaction among rugby fans has been negative, believing Cheika will still get his way thanks to O’Connor being quoted as saying he should get the team he wants.
Why O’Connor said that remains a mystery – it’s not the man as he’s proved to be over the years.
The reason why he was appointed a selector was to debate selections, not rubber-stamp Cheika’s thoughts.
In short, future Wallaby selections will be lively affairs with the emphasis on form, not CVs, and players in their rightful positions.
So Rugby Australia got it right. The Panthers, however, got it so wrong.
I’ve known Phil Gould for 40 years, since he kick-started his playing career with the Panthers.
He has always been a highly intelligent performer, a privilege to interview, and as the years rolled by, he’s forgotten more about rugby league than the vast majority will ever know.
He’s about to end his club career where it started at the foot of the mountains.
To use his own words, his job as general manager of Panthers rugby league has become redundant.
If there’s one word in the English language that will never apply to Phil Gould, it’s redundant.
He’s the most successful NSW State of Origin coach in history with six series wins and a draw in eight attempts.
He’s a two-time NRL premiership-winning coach with the Bulldogs in 1988 with a 24-12 win over the Tigers, and a 19-12 victory over the Raiders in 1991, plus a losing 14-18 grand final to the Raiders in 1990.
His long-term stints with Channel Nine and columns in Fairfax have been right off the top shelf, so how on earth could Gould be redundant?
Panthers chairman Dave O’Neill can provide the answer.
While Gould was successfully organising the NRL’s most productive coach in Wayne Bennett to take over at Penrith, O’Neill was blindsiding Gould by signing on Ivan Cleary, who Gould sacked in 2015.
(Photo: Renee McKay/Getty Images)
There was a second reason: that with Cleary as the coach, there was little likelihood his talented son Nathan would go elsewhere.
The balance sheet reads O’Neill’s decisions has the Panthers with two wins from six in 12th spot on the ladder and struggling with a 45-point for and against deficit despite a strong roster.
Gould’s balance sheet reads getting the Panthers out of debt, building one of the biggest junior bases in the NRL with 24 clubs and over 8500 registered players and completing an academy that is the envy of all sports.
As Panthers CEO Brian Fletcher said yesterday – “We probably wouldn’t be standing here today if it wasn’t for Phil Gould”.
Yet the saviour of the club is about to ride into the sunset.
That will be a lucky break for a rival club as the Phil Goulds of this world are very rare.
Robert
Guest
How does this article look now Australian Rugby still not achieving any great heights Penrith 2 grand finals in a row one victory and a club going from strength to strength Nathan Cleary the number one half back in the game and one of the best players in the game Maybe Penrith got it right
Pete
Guest
Maybe Phil Gould might join the rugby ranks David....hmmmm highly unlikely
Marlin
Roar Rookie
Yep they are geniuses aren't they? As for ARU having done the right thing, I guess we'll find out soon enough and I am not opti.istic
bigbaz
Roar Guru
Could say something 1/2 smart about the revelance of soccer etc but unfortunately that would apply to union as well.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Agree, a committee of 3 hard heads is probably worse than 1 hard head. Never really understood this move. If a coach is a poor selector at this level he’s surely a poor coach also. You only need a panel when one selector isn’t able to see all players in action regularly, eg Aus cricket team. Really not a problem for Aus rugby.
Pablo
Guest
Roar played at Suncorp on Thursday
The Slow Eater
Roar Rookie
Wow. So it’s Genia and white to the World Cup?
Jonestown PA
Guest
Ya couldn’t make this schit up.
Boomeranga
Guest
Some comments from Johnson to provide hope it isn't just more of the same. “I have sat abroad and in the cheap seats for 12 years. I have got to get down and dirty and that’s what the trip was about,” Johnson told media on Wednesday. “Don’t let anyone tell us we don’t have talent in this country. We have good talent. It is impressive and I am buoyed by it. “And the depth is better than I thought from afar. Four teams, it shows there is good talent out there.” “Players pick players and by that I mean if their form is good enough, they get picked,” Johnson said. “If their form warrants it, they get picked. They usually determine their fate. It’s the odd choice that we have to split them but if a players’ form warrants selection, he will get selected.
bigbaz
Roar Guru
There was no footy scheduled in QLD at all on Thursday , coulda had Reds v anyone from NZ and would have filled Suncorp and Tahs v anyone in NZ , Super rugby , braindead.
John
Guest
Her RA appointment is trumped only by NRL's appointment of Beattie.
Ex force fan
Guest
Agree, you cannot say anything changed until you see the results in better selections and better outcomes. We will only see this across the international season and especially the RWC 2019
Brian
Roar Rookie
Not sure we will know anything about the RAs "bold move" until a few days prior to July 20 and the first international against SA and see who is selected. If it's the same old same old then there was no point adding 2 additional selectors. With so little few internationals left to experiment leading into the WC the whole things is just one big catastrophe.
dazell
Roar Rookie
Her appointment after the Bulldogs fiasco was just plain terrible.
dazell
Roar Rookie
The scheduling in Australia has been pretty much terrible all season. Should be a game on Friday and Saturday night every week where possible.
Redsfan1
Guest
Very obviously pro Cheika piece with no evidence at all the RA 'got it right'. Link with NRL club tesm totally irrelevant. Roar needs to QA these articles better. This isn't a valid opinion piece.
Puff
Guest
David, sadly your article don’t achieve any level of comfort for either code or perhaps Phil Gould should be assisting the RU, if his recruitment / financial skills are so desired. The RU with Raelene Castle in the driver’s seat is no breath of fresh air. She appears to stumble and hesitate when difficult questions need addressing. With the plethora of good players struggling to be recognized, Cheika is not about to implement change. Static one dimensional thinking has plagued his tenure at the top. The tactic now is increased fitness, not skills, ability or a different approach, if what is employed requires adjustment. To be fair both O’Connor & Johnson have accomplished nothing to date to enhance the Wallabies WC winning capability. Five months before Japan, major change may not be possible. I don’t see an upsurge in public interest only missed opportunities like Anzac Day or other national holidays covered by others. Why do other codes recognize the financial attraction of such public holidays but the RU continue to accept falling gate attendances and vanishing patronage. Even our highly rated 7’s teams have lost momentum.
Doctordbx
Roar Rookie
Did I miss a Wallabies game this year or something? There is zero proof Rugby Australia got anything right.
Pogo
Roar Rookie
And the bulldogs roster is still messed up due to some bad contracts (sound familiar)
Pogo
Roar Rookie
Yet only a few years ago they scheduled games against NZ with military involvement in the day at canberra stadium. So the sport is going backwards. Meanwhile nrl and afl schedule the same teams for Anzac Day to build the event. Even if all we did was guaranteed each Aus team vs NZ would be a massive step forward