Despite the Bulldogs’ lowly position on the ladder in 2021, the past week of activity suggests there is something to be excited for in 2022.
It started on Sunday night with the announcement that Phil Gould was joining the club as their general manager of football.
Gould is one of the most influential people in rugby league. Given his time as a player, coach and commentator, he wields tremendous power and is connected to almost everyone of relevance in the game, including Peter V’landys.
While that relationship has apparently soured, with rumours of a falling out in June, it doesn’t change the fact that Gould has the ear of the most powerful people in the game.
In terms of influence, connections and power, having someone like Gould associated with your club is surely a benefit, so it’s no surprise the Bulldogs decided to sign him.
But purely from a football perspective, I’m curious as to why clubs continue to chase Gould.
Many credit Penrith’s current success to the work Gould did with the club’s juniors when he was there between 2011-19.
Certainly, many players shining in the Panthers’ current squad are from that junior nursery, but we are now two years on from when Gould was at the club. How much of what is happening for Penrith on the field right now can be credited to Gould and how much is the result of other factors?
Gould has had other roles since leaving the Panthers, his most recent being as a consultant at the New Zealand Warriors over the last year.
This certainly would have been challenging given the pandemic and Gould’s limited ability to actually spend time with the team, but the Warriors are currently third-last on the ladder. Some of that is due to the pandemic, but not all, and it doesn’t give me a lot of confidence in what Nathan Brown and Gould have been able to do with a talented squad.
Nathan Brown (Tony Feder/Getty Images)
I’m also curious to understand how much time Gould actually has to devote to these roles and I ask this question with no knowledge of the scope of Gould’s role or the amount of money that the Bulldogs are paying him.
As discussed on the NRL Boom Rookies podcast this week, Gould is not the only media personality to have taken on a role of significance at a club. For example, recently, we saw Ben Ikin join the Brisbane Broncos as football and performance director. But in contrast to Gould, Ikin has stepped back from his media commitments to focus on his role.
This is not to say that Gould will not devote the necessary time to his new role, merely to highlight different approaches taken by different people. In fact, when you tune into the footy on the weekend, many of the contributors have roles with clubs, although few have roles as important as the one Gould has taken up at Belmore.
The podcast also reminded me that Gould did warn Trent Barrett not to sign with the Bulldogs because of cultural issues at the club. I wonder what has changed now so that Gould feels comfortable taking on this role.
Of course, Gould is not the only big news signing out of Canterbury this week, with Tevita Pangai Junior reportedly set to join the club from 2022.
This was an absolutely necessary signing, because to date, the Bulldogs have not signed any forwards.
I have been left scratching my head in recent weeks when it comes to the player signings the Bulldogs have announced.
Joining in 2022, among others, are Brent Naden, Matt Burton, Josh Addo-Carr and Matt Dufty. Individually, I have no problem with these signings, but it’s a lot of backs and in a squad already featuring the likes of Corey Allan, Nick Cotric and Jake Averillo, I was curious as to where all these new players would fit.
Additionally, this abundance of talent in the backs meant little without a strong forward pack leading the charge, which the blue and white have been lacking in recent seasons.
Pangai Jr will bring much-needed aggression, as well as the ability to offload and create an attacking opportunity out of very little. This is crucial for a team that has struggled to score points over the last two years.
Pangai is the sort of player that a forward pack can be built around and perhaps now that the Bulldogs have signed a couple of backs, they will be on the hunt for more forwards to join Pangai Jr.
Will all these new signings be enough to make the Bulldogs competitive?
What role Gould will play in that success or failure is yet to be seen.
The Sporacle
Roar Rookie
I maybe get the Mbye thing, certainly not on the money he is on currently. If you gave me a choice of Mbye on 450 vs Norman at 450 I am boarding the train to Mbye :thumbup:
John Shaw
Roar Rookie
It is reported today that the Dragons are after Moses Mbye again. I cannot fathom how that makes any sense to anyone.
catcat
Roar Rookie
Well I'm a happy Bulldogs fan. The team needs forwards and TPJ was on the market, also looking at Vaughan from reports. The Des era featured a neglect of proper recruitment and development of players within the club. There are a few players coming through now (Averillo, Okunbur, Shoupp, Alamoti) but its been a long time. From the looks of it Gould has set up successful pathways at Penrith. This is in fact benefiting the Dogs as we are signing NRL players they cannot fit into the starting line up (Burton, Naden). They say winning starts at the front office, and Gould will be part of this. The only issue I can see is too many chefs (Barrett/Gould/Laundy/the board) however if they can all work together we will have a strong and competitive club in future (I hope).
EagleWal
Roar Rookie
Won't the Dogs be happy when in the last game of the season he gets suspended for a high shot and gets 8 weeks!!!
The Barry
Roar Guru
If it’s the one I’m thinking of, that list wasn’t all talented young players but included guys like Luke Walsh and Travis Burns…
The Barry
Roar Guru
You don’t have to live the same life as me at all… I never said you did… I just think someone who doesn’t watch footy but comes to a footy page to t. roll people with constant spiteful uneducated internet conspiracy quasi politics is a bit sad But you do free thinkin you…
Adam
Roar Guru
They just better hope the 4 games is in a game where they have a chance of winning.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Agree completely Adam. Gus was the smart pick up - but recruiting TPJ for $2.2 mill looks like madness. Maybe 4 good games per year, 6 games where he doesn't care, 4 games injured and at least 8 games suspended.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
You can be sure of that Albo with the way TPJ plays! The odd barging run followed by an offload - and the odd barging head high tackle that results in either 10 in the bin or a suspension. He wouldn't blow out a candle at the end of a match. TPJ would have pretty low kms on the odomoter - a used car salesman's dream! I'm amazed Penrith picked him up. But maybe he comes cheap if they only need him for the rest of 2021.
Paul
Roar Guru
You have no idea what you're talking about. This guy spent 9 years at the Panthers letting well over 30 guys, mostly Penrith juniors, go to other Clubs and all so the Panthers could not play in a Grand Final. And of course, now that he;s gone, according to you, the Panthers will wither and die? What a ridiculous comment - "if not for Gus, there are no Panthers".
Paul
Roar Guru
Which Club do you work for, expert?
Paul
Roar Guru
but more than 30 players? If your explanation is correct, surely that's another reason to wary of Gould.
mushi
Roar Guru
Without seeing the names and the salaries tough to opine based on that piece of info, but I do recall many veterans being let go. Even that aside it largely comes down to the - how much of a part do you think he played in the current roster, culture and pipeline. Even if you think it is say only 25% the flip side is say you get someone who is massively better at it who doesn't have a "name" (mind you they will also have to cut players people think are good because it's all relative value to the contract and future development). That person is unlikely to survive the inevitable darkness before the dawn and so you never see the plan followed through.
Brett Allen
Guest
Because you’ve got so much experience working in a professional club.
Brett Allen
Guest
Those players were on fat contracts and the Panthers salary cap was a mess. Moylan, Lewis, Jenko, we’re all luxuries the club couldn’t afford at the time.
Brett Allen
Guest
He did the job at the Panthers whilst doing his various media roles. The man lives and breathes Rugby League, his little finger has forgotten more about the game and it’s people then most everyone else in the game will ever collectively know in a thousand lifetimes.
Brett Allen
Guest
Expert, now I’ve heard everything.
Brett Allen
Guest
Ivan Cleary lives in the house Gus built
Brett Allen
Guest
If you don’t understand how much Gus did for the Panthers then you know about Rugby League. Bottom line, if not for Gus, there are no Panthers. Period. And he did it whilst continuing on with his media roles. He is comfortably the Dogs best decision.
Paul
Roar Guru
" I do see a benefit to Gould if his platform is building a retention focused roster." You're right of course, but I recall a comment a few years ago while Gould was still at Penrith from a diehard Panthers fan, who listed all the talented young players Gould had released from the Club. There was well over 30 names, all of whom had moved into other first grade spots. That makes me question whether he's the right guy to do as you suggest?