No one person in rugby league is more polarising of opinion than Philip Ronald Gould.
A man who has been in and around rugby league for the best part of five decades, you either love him or really really hate him – there’s not much in between.
As the casual observer who supported neither team in this year’s grand final, many were neither fussed nor cared who came away with chocolates, particularly as neither the Panthers or the Rabbitohs have had much recent success.
The one thing however that agonisingly sat in the back of everyone’s mind was that, rightfully or not, Phil Gould was going to take some sort of credit for this Penrith team’s victory.
Even though Gould left Penrith as an administrator a number of years and a few clubs ago now, we are still treated to his rhetoric during Channel 9 games. He likes to tell us all about how he played the “doting uncle ” to many a Penrith junior cum first grader as they rose through the ranks
Even though he has had tenures at the Warriors, the Dragons and is now the newly appointed head of operations at the Bulldogs – without so much as hint of any success at either club – it always comes back to him being the messiah of the ‘chocolate soldiers’.
Some may say he is the most successful State of Origin coach, but then some may say his winning percentage in first grade coaching of 59 percent, pales in comparison to Craig Bellamy’s at 70 percent.
Others will argue that Billy Burns could have coached that Melbourne side to as many wins, but Gould’s detractors will tell you when he coached the Roosters from 1995 to 1999 ,he was given an open cheque book by Uncle Nik and still couldn’t get further than a semi final berth.
Graeme Murray then took the Roosters to a grand final in his first year.
When all is said and done, next year when the Panthers kick off their title defence we will wait with bated breath for the first claim to surrogacy from Uncle Gus.
egbert
Guest
As a Panthers fan I stood by Gould for years despite his obvious narcissism and distastefulness, because of what he achieved in 1991 and his important work at Penrith over the last 10 years. He was a titanic figure who can only be regarded as immensely successful in the game. The tipping point for me was his nonsense about Mitchell/Manu incident this year, which showed he is an anachronism in the modern game. Clueless. I know most people wrote him off long ago, but I still had a soft spot for him until this episode.
Greg
Roar Pro
Lol, i dont like Anasta but this description fits perfectly with my opinion of Yvonne Sampson.
Gus O
Roar Rookie
Super league split comp began 1997 ?? I don’t know how this is a knock on his coaching performance as the 94-96 results already show a turnaround at the club. I don’t need to defend Gould, my point is that the criticisms in the article seem pretty damn thin, and some criticisms (such as no improvement yet at the Bulldogs or Dragons) are flat out ridiculous. If you don’t like him as a commentator, that’s fine with me - suit yourselves. But piling on in response to BS claims in the article seems weak to me. That’s why i commented to begin with. Again, i find most commentators to be annoying at times, but nothing worth getting upset about… and it’s really insignificant compared to the frustrating inconsistency of the refereeing.
Cyril Snodgrass III
Guest
Gould is full of himself At Canterbury he will have another 25 year plan for the Dogs to win the comp Barrett better watch his back
Redcap
Roar Guru
"he and most other commentators forgot the game was the entertainment not them." Exactly. The Sterlo's and Richie Benaud's of the world are rare as hen's teeth and now, sadly, gone.
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
I’m always the odd one out on this, I had had enough of Gus during the Super League war. That gave him a huge platform, any like or dislike expressed by him with an undercurrent of how much more he knew then everyone else, ARL and channel nine putting him on a shinny pedestal to help their point if view. Made his big ego bigger.
MUCK
Roar Rookie
When Gus talks footy I tend to listen. He was great on Boots n All but then he started those god awful intros to Origin games , trying to emote with long winded bollocks. Then out of nowhere he tried to start this passive aggressive old man Statler and Waldorf thing with Rabbs . It was just painful. Somewhere along the line he and most other commentators forgot the game was the entertaiment not them.
PGNEWC
Roar Rookie
Yep only 2 I know of -- Penrith and Canterbury --Easts he only made the Semis
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
Got me there. "Baby Gus" gets on my nerves something chronic. Anasta looks like Rain Man with the inordinate amount of head nods and rocking back and forth in his chair. He looks like he is going to speak only to say nothing then purse his lips and nod staring at his desk or at his co-commentators as if he were contemplating some deeper truth. When in fact he is listening for his next line from the FOX Sport producer through his earpiece. :laughing:
ferret
Guest
The trouble with Gus is that there is very little humility in the man.
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
Always, the smartest man in the room
Rossi
Roar Rookie
I'll see your Gus and raise you a Braith
GregM
Roar Rookie
does anyone love the sound of Phil Gould's voice more than Phil Gould?
Max power
Guest
Ricky is the only coach-in your list. Brandy has never coached, Daley was a failure and Freddy was awful at the roosters
Max power
Guest
There was a little thing called super league and roosters piling millions into their roster with Fittler etc
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
‘ he has won premierships with three different clubs’. Which three?
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
Gould may know his stuff, but he should be banned from ever talking into a microphone again
Dimitri
Guest
Phil Gould is a supercoach, right up there with Wayne Bennett, Tim Sheens, Craig Bellamy. His record speaks for itself too. As a first grade coach, he has won premierships with three different clubs, and been involved in so many grand finals. He is the best NSW coach I have ever seen. The 91-94 series, was Simply the Best in my eyes. If not for Super League, it was going to be 10 in a row for NSW. It's no coincidence great players he has coached have gone on to become high profile coaches. Stuart, Daley, Freddy and Brandy to name a few. In terms of rep coaches, they put Phil on a pedestal. Like him or not, the man clearly knows how to win at the highest level.
Succhi
Roar Rookie
For me, Gus is too quick to claim credit for anything that happens in the NRL and just as quick to shut down anyone who has a different opinion. Lost me when he sang the praises of the Warriors and Pacific Islands and how committed he was, then left.
Simoc
Guest
Watching videos of a junior Phil Gould and after he retired he comes across as a genuinely nice person. His commentary form is up and down, rambles on about the refs to much, but he still seems to get great enjoyment out of the game. He has helped Penrith build a pathway for new players which should keep the talent in the area. Apart from Sterling he is the best explayer, comments person out there.