Brisbane legends have described Phil Gould’s prediction that Penrith will beat the Broncos by 20 points in the NRL grand final as “an absolute gift”.
The former Panthers player, 1991 premiership winning coach and general manager was asked on Channel Nine’s 100% Footy on Monday night what would transpire in the decider.
“Panthers win by 20,” Gould replied.
He went on to predict a scoreline of 30-10 in Penrith’s favour, just two months after asserting on the same program the Broncos did not have the defensive clout to win the competition.
Former premiership winners with the Broncos told AAP Gould’s words would not be lost on the club’s present players.
“It’s an absolute gift. You don’t get too many better than that in grand final week,” 2006 title winner Brent Tate said.
“It just adds to the under-siege mentality where no one gives you a hope. It builds the want and need to go out and get the job done.
“I respect Gus (Gould). He is paid to have strong opinions and he’s earned the right to have them.
“Gus knows exactly what he said and what it would cause. It is almost comical in one respect.
“If the Panthers get on a roll they can put 20 on anyone, so it is not the most outlandish statement I’ve heard, but the Broncos can win.
“It is all pointing towards an upset.”
Chris Johns, who won premierships in 1992 and 1993, said the current Bulldogs boss had reasons for the remarks.
“Gus must have had a bet on the Broncos, he is trying to fire them up,” Johns grinned.
“If you need a Churchillian speech or to get inside people’s heads, go and see Gus Gould.
“All I can see here is that he is trying to get inside the Broncos’ heads but he’s a Penrith man so I don’t know why he is doing that. That’s why you should go and check his betting account.
(Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)
“What he’s said doesn’t hurt. It is a gift to the Broncos. They will read that.”
Another 1992 and 1993 premiership winner, Kerrod Walters – the twin brother of current Broncos coach Kevin Walters – said Gould’s opinion “won’t affect the result”.
“The Broncos don’t need Gus to motivate them but it will be in the back of their minds,” he said.
“He did say earlier in the year the Cowboys were a good chance of winning the comp, and he was wrong there.
“Gus normally has reasons behind his quotes … but I don’t know how anyone with his knowledge can say that.”
Johns suggested there was little to choose between the teams.
“Whichever team turns up with more desire is going to win. It’s as simple as that,” he said.
“The Broncos are a very special football side but we are seeing one of the most special sides ever in Penrith.”
Pickett
Roar Rookie
Gus is wrong. It will be 32 - 12 Penrith.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Sounds like Gus is helping out the Panthers again, just like when he took Fitler & Sing to the Chooks ! Check his betting sheets.
scrum
Roar Rookie
Get over yourself Polymath
wilbas
Roar Rookie
You do not need birds eye view..You just need to square to the touch line...and run a line which is square or parallel to the other lines running up field..Then you have the problem of pass thrown in correct direction but the ball is affected by mass moving forward or forward momentum. Another great problem is the nit picking that has entered when a player loses possesion momentarily and it touches the opposition...This is technically a knock on but the bunker has began to rule any ball lost into opposition and retrieved again as a knock on even when the player loses the ball back towards his own goal line..If a player loses the ball backwards and it contacts the opponent before coming back into the attacking players possession is play on and tackle restart,,,,but we saw one on the weeked when the players were on the ground and it came away slightly and made contact with opponent...but ball went backwards...The bunker is ruling EVERYTHING that is the attacker losing into defender as a knock-on even when he lost the ball in a backwards direction...Bring back former players into the bunker and get rid of these robots.
Nat
Roar Guru
Good on ya Gus.
Nat
Roar Guru
Give it a break or go be a ref.
Polymath
Roar Rookie
The NRL and broadcasters need to provide better quality footage to the viewers. The angles are all wrong to judge off-sides, there are no birds eye views from above. It is simply not good enough. When the referee blows an off-side penalty it should be confirmed who was off-side and the viewer should be able to confirm it themselves with a birds eye replay. The fans demand change!