‘That was Gus Gould, he wants me to help out’: Mick Potter on phone call that got him Bulldogs job

New Bulldogs coach Mick Potter has revealed the shock phone call that called him back from his holidays, via Gus Gould’s house, and back into the NRL coaching ranks.

Fronting the media for the first time at Belmore, Potter spoke of his excitement to be back in the NRL, even on an interim coach basis, and how much of a surprise it was to get the call from Bulldogs GM of Football Phil Gould.

“I got a phone call a couple of days ago and met with Gus the day before I started,” said Potter. “It was about 7.30 at night and he was asking if I could come down to have a conversation. By the end of the conversation, it was on.

“I was actually in North Queensland in Yeppoon just having a little break, visiting my son who is on a caravan trip. I previously had a couple of journos ring me about an hour before.

“I didn’t have a clue what was going on. I got a phone call from Gus and it took me aback a little bit and I said to my wife ‘that was Gus Gould, he wants me to help out’. That’s how it came about.

“I’m looking forward to it. It’s a pretty big challenge and very unexpected for me. I never thought it would happen but I’m here and ready to get going.”

Potter, who had been coaching the NSW Cup with Mounties, said that he was at the right level of distance from the players to be able to provide a level of continuity while also giving a point of difference from Trent Barrett.

“It’s a situation where I wasn’t close with the players, but I knew the players, and it was an OK transition,” he said.

“It’s not a new face for the players but someone who had some inside knowledge of how the system works and knew the players enough to have rapport with them already.”

(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Potter said that he has had limited contact with the players thus far, and had left the running of the team to the assistants while he got his feet under the desk.

“My input this week has been minimal, but the assistant coaches and Gus have done a great job,” he said. “They’ve prepared very well. I’m happy with where they’re at and they’ll give the best account of themselves.

“My thoughts were with Trent and for Trent, because I’ve known him for a long time and he’s a great guy and a good coach. I didn’t want to be disrespectful for him and feel like I’m treading on his toes in front of the players.

“I wanted to help the players move forward. For Trent, it was a tough gig and it probably wore him down a little bit. He’s still got a coaching future.

“It’s about honestly and being direct. Being an interim coach, I can do that and feel a big free to be honest. Honestly as a coach is your first attribute.

(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

“I’ll still temper my words, but making sure that the players know what is required to be a good NRL player.”

He did not rule himself out of taking the job fulltime, but insisted he was happy to work as an interim and see where he ended up in the long run.

“I accepted the position on what it is, and I’m happy to have that,” said Potter. “If I keep my mindset like that, it’ll be better for me.

“It’s not to say that I wouldn’t, but right at the moment, I’m just doing this job. I feel so much freer by having the knowledge that I’ve just got a certain period to do.

“I’m interim coach until the rest of the season. At the moment, I’m worried about what I’m doing right now and I’m going to keep my head doing that.”

This is the first role that Potter has had since an acrimonious exit eight years ago from the Wests Tigers, who he will face in his first game on Friday night at Leichhardt Oval.

Mick Potter. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)

The new man said he had not missed the NRL and had harboured little ambition to return to the league, or to the Super League, where he had coached with success at Catalans Dragons, St Helens and Bradford Bulls.

“I was content with what I was doing, I had other part-time work and some part-time coaching that filled the void,” he said. “I was with Mounties, I really enjoyed my time there and I might go back there afterwards.

“I was just thinking about getting my fix of coaching. I was enjoying it and content with what I was doing.

“I was adding value into young people’s lives and honestly, I wasn’t concerned about what the media were going to say.

“I’ve learned more in the last few years. I need to be more patient, more subtle with my language and probably a little bit hard at times.

“I mellowed, because as you get older you mellow, and if I was coaching, I’d probably temper my enthusiasm for my words.”

(Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

Potter confirmed Josh Addo-Carr would miss Friday’s match due to a bout of flu, but that Luke Thompson and Matt Burton would be likely to feature.

There has been rumours that many of the players would be playing for their NRL futures with Gould briefing that as many as a third of the playing roster could be released

Potter said that the decision lay with Gould and that he would simply be trying to get the best out of the players that he had in the time that he had them.

“It doesn’t matter what you’re going to do or what you did a year ago, it matters what your last game was. The players are always doing their best,” he said.

“I’ve been here for two days but he’s been really happy. My communication with him early on was good and his understanding of the game is second to none.

“I said when I retired as a player that I didn’t want to coach. And then I said that if I ever lost a night’s sleep over coaching, I’m going to quit. And I’m still here.

“It’s just thinking I can make a difference and add value to young guy’s lives and thinking that I can make them better footy players and better people.

“I’m happy to take it on and I’m taking it a day at a time. It’s a good challenge. On the table, they’re only a game away from one rung up on the latter.

“The scores have reflected that they haven’t had too many tries scored against them, apart from a couple of blowouts. If they can keep that defence up and adjust our attack a little bit to score a few more points, we’re a chance.”