NRL 2022: Has Phil Gould’s first year as Bulldogs boss been a success or failure? | Weekend Read
Since joining the Bulldogs Phil Gould has rocked the boat, sacked a coach and signed some high profile stars. So after 12 months in charge, has Gould been a success or failure?
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COACHING: GRADE C- (A if Gus lands Cameron Ciraldo)
Phil Gould made an impact early but since the sacking of Trent Barrett in the middle of May, little has happened at the Bulldogs. At least little that they have been willing to share with the public.
Gould has been quietly going about his business, chipping away at Cameron Ciraldo while keeping his options open on the coaching front.
If Gould lands Ciraldo after he rejected interest from the Wests Tigers and pleas to stay from his current club Penrith, his first 12 months in charge would be something to write home about.
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As it is, the jury is out. Gould has shown one coach the door but is yet to find a replacement. He fronted the media when Barrett parted ways with the club - only a matter of weeks after Gould declared he would be at the club long after he left - but has gone about his business lately in the shadows.
As there always is with Gould, you can’t believe everything you hear. In Canterbury’s pursuit of a successor, Gould has offered the usual cocktail of spin and mixed messages to keep the media guessing.
He claimed he wanted an experienced coach to replace Barrett but has been speaking to Ciraldo, who is yet to be the head coach of an NRL side save for standing in for Cleary. At one point he suggested he wasn’t speaking to anyone about the job, comments that were laughed off by those who knew better.
He has told the Bulldogs hierarchy that he will come to them when he has an option to present to them. Clearly, Gould won’t shut the door on Ciraldo while there is a glimmer of hope that he can be convinced to join the club.
The alternative is to appoint interim coach Mick Potter for 12 months and then have another lash at Ciraldo. Gould won’t give up without a fight.
ROSTER MANAGEMENT: GRADE B
Gould has made some key signings but the roster still looks short of challenging for a place in the top eight, let alone a premiership.
Five days after Gould joined the club they signed Tevita Pangai on a big deal. There were rumours recently that Pangai was on the outer, although his form has improved in recent weeks.
Twelve days after Gould arrived they added Paul Vaughan. His time at the club will be up at the end of the year as he heads to England.
Gould presided over the sacking of Adam Elliott for his toilet tryst on the Gold Coast and Lachlan Lewis after an NRL-supplied speaker was placed on ebay. Lewis hasn’t been sighted since.
November can claim to be Gould’s finest month. In the space of eight days, Canterbury announced the signing of Viliame Kikau and Reed Mahoney.
They were big moves and the first evidence that Gould’s arrival would be a drawcard for players, the first sign that he can still wheel and deal with the best of them. Both were lured to Belmore amid a touch of controversy.
Mahoney was pictured at dinner with Gould and others at Canterbury leagues Club, setting tongues wagging. Kikau was caught in a Canterbury jersey when a picture leaked onto social media.
The club is yet to formally announce either signing, which prompted suggestions they were having salary cap difficulties. Gould shot those claims down and then added Ryan Sutton, whose signature is yet to be formally proclaimed as well.
Gould has made a solid start but there are still huge decisions on the horizon. Beyond the coach, Gould must work out how to handle the future of Kyle Flanagan, who has another year remaining on his contract.
Most importantly, he must convince Matt Burton that his future lays at the Bulldogs - he is off contract at the end of next season and is likely to be offered as much as $900,000 a season to leave.
On field performance: grade D
The Bulldogs were last when Barrett was shown the door and although they have gradually improved since then under Mick Potter, they could still finish with the wooden spoon.
The good sign for Bulldogs fans is they have been in the mix most weeks since the coach was changed. Potter has found something that Barrett couldn’t.
In recent weeks they have battered the Wests Tigers and remarkably put the cleaners through Parramatta. They appear to be getting better but it has taken nearly 12 months for any signs of improvement.
The key for Gould and Potter is for the ‘Dogs to finish the season with some pride, avoid the wooden spoon and maintain their signs of improvement.
That will give the fans some genuine hope, and help the club when it comes to keeping Burton and attracting new blood.
Overall grade: B-
LATRELL’S EMOTIONAL PLEA OVER AFL ABUSE
An emotional Latrell Mitchell launch an impassioned please this week for an end to racism as he spoke in support of Fremantle Dockers AFL star Michael Walters.
Walter and teammate Michael Frederick were racially abused on social media after their side’s win over St Kilda in round 17.
Mitchell used his Instagram account to plead for people to make change start in their own backyard.
“It is ridiculous that this shit still happens in this day and age, especially [to] a lot of sports stars,” Mitchell said.
“I am definitely someone that knows that first hand. At the end of the day racism is something that is taught.
“I think a lot of people have to look in their own backyard and see what they are teaching their own kids. It’s pretty shit that this still happens.
“I am pretty disappointed. It opens up a lot of scars for my old people and being a proud black man … yeah, it is disappointing.”
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