Phil Gould has taken to radio to hit back at claims his commentary during the NRL grand final wasn’t up to scratch.
Speaking on Sydney talkback station 2GB on Monday morning, the former Panthers boss said he wasn’t biased in favour of his old team during his call for Channel Nine on Sunday night.
“They need to go back and listen again. They only hear what they want to hear. There is a difference between bias and honesty, I’m always honest,” Gould said.
We’re not sure he’d have too many people backing him up with that assessment though.
While Penrith took a while to work their way into the game, not scoring until well into the second half, Gould was steadfastly positive towards the Panthers all night.
That included saying the minor premiers were “on top” towards the end of the first half – even though Suliasi Vunivalu had just scored Melbourne’s second try to open up a 14-point buffer with a kick still to come.
“The run of the play – I feel like they’re doing better than the Melbourne Storm but the Storm have been able to keep the scoreboard kicking with a penalty try and penalty goal and now intercept,” Gould said.
“So the scoreboard is not as bad as what it obviously feels for (Penrith). They’ve got to go on the feel of the game. The feel of the game is they’re well in it. The scoreboard’s just not friendly.”
And after Ryan Papenhuyzen crossed to extend the lead to 26-0 with only half an hour remaining, Gould’s take was that it was “danger signs now for the Panthers”.
Fans, players and pundits alike took to Twitter during the game to take issue with the long-time commentator’s calls.
Still, the news wasn’t all bad for Channel Nine, whose television audience for the grand final was 2.97 million people, an increase of 12 per cent on last year’s decider.
Gus O
Roar Rookie
Isn’t it obligatory for TV league commentators to get a free pass when calling games involving their team? This is standard practice and we are about to experience the concentrated form of this during SOO. Why the fuss? Will this new standard for league commentary by ex-players apply all?
Tom Davis
Guest
I am an American and watched the game in the US and I thought Gould's commentary was especially Homer, and that was before half time. When he tried to say that the Penrith player kicking at the ball on the first try wasn't intentional I was amazed especially as he is saying it as they are showing it in slow motion.
U
Roar Rookie
Spoken just like George costanza
Marlin
Roar Rookie
At 26 - nil i thought the Panthers were very bloody lucky to be nil
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
The cricket commentator was Merv Hughes. Australia was playing South Africa and Hanse Cronje was batting and Merv was calling him KronGee. When the other commentator told him how it was pronounced Merv said "Well I'm calling him KronGee".
mushi
Roar Guru
Gould used to do that, he's just a negative now.clear negative to the viewing outcome.
Vic
Guest
Gould is not welcome in Victoria. And he should have his Ch. 9 contract cancelled/not renewed. Melbourne Storm should be on the phone to the NRL demanding that CLOWN is dumped like a bad habit.
Eagle
Roar Rookie
If you believe what you say, it is true ;)
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
I am referring to a racecaller calling his horse especially in a big race. As a professional it is encumbered upon him to remain unbiased. Same as Rugby League callers with connections to a particular team. Sorry the analogy was vague although I understood the point I was making!
Ben Pobjie
Expert
I always loathe the "what else was he to do" style of commentary. The fact is, if there is no way a player can prevent a try without breaking the rules, what he is *supposed* to do is let the try be scored. That's the whole point of, you know, "rules". Might as well see a player throw a pass ten metres forward to get a try and ask, "well what else was he supposed to do, there were defenders in the way!"
Rellum
Roar Guru
"inside shoulder" I mean
mushi
Roar Guru
Yep it was the decoy runners fault one of many unforced errors for the Panthers.
Larry1950
Guest
No retired racehorses were harmed by my opinions expressed about PV.
steveng
Roar Rookie
What are you talking about John? What’s that got to do with anything? Please explain as Pauline would said :laughing: I know Fields Of Omagh won the 2006 Cox Plate so what?
Tom A
Guest
The rule book thing with Gus is a 'heads I win, tails you lose' situation for the referees. If the referees ignore transgressions, they are wrong. If they apply the letter of the law, they are also wrong...
Tom A
Guest
Exactly right Dexter. Joey is actually insightful and great at breaking down defensive / attacking structures and explaining why a play did / didn't work. He tells me things I genuinely couldn't work out myself. Gould does nothing of the sort.
Nick
Roar Guru
They loved all the talk about the cricket commentators too... and then suddenly they lost the rights
Rellum
Roar Guru
Tone down the fan boyness. He's not the messiah. He got lucky there was no major outbreaks.
Rellum
Roar Guru
I think 9 are loving all this talk about Gus.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Luke Lewis on ABC talks far more intelligently about the rule. He says if you take out the inside should of a talker and/or stop in the line it is no try. Watching on the day it was clearly no try based on what I have head him say.