‘That is rubbish’: Phil Gould, Paul Gallen clash over NRL ‘embarrassment’

Phil Gould and Paul Gallen have butted heads over one of the most controversial decisions of the weekend’s NRL action.

Phil Gould and Paul Gallen have butted heads once again as the NRL’s controversial obstruction rule continues to divide the footy world.

The Eels’ 28-24 victory over the Sea Eagles on Sunday afternoon revitalised the debate after a controversial obstruction penalty robbed Manly of what could have been a matchwinning play.

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With time running out at the Sea Eagles 10-points down, an inside pass to Tom Trbojevic saw the fullback race through a gap and put Tolu Koula through to score.

The final pass from Trbojevic was controversial on its own with Fox League commentators calling out the pass — but there were no issues from the referee as it looked as though the lead would be cut to four.

That was until the Bunker intervened.

Bunker official Chris Butler ruled that Jake Trbojevic had stopped in the defensive line and Eels interchange forward Luca Moretti ran into him on purpose before failing to chase down Tom Trbojevic with the afterburners on.

On Nine, Andrew Johns and Gould blew up over the call, calling it “an absolutely terrible decision”.

It instantly sparked debate as by the letter of the law it was a penalty, and yet even the most diehard of Eels supporter would struggle to argue Moretti could have made the tackle on Trbojevic and keep a straight face at the same time.

Jake shouldn't have stopped in the line. Photo: Channel 9

Speaking on Channel 9’s 100% Footy on Monday, Gould called the match “exhilarating”.

However, when the conversation turned to the controversial obstruction call, Gallen and Gould found themselves at odds.

“I heard everything Gus and Joey said on the call yesterday and I absolutely agree with every single part of it — including the part where they said Jake Trbojevic stopped in the line,” Gallen began.

“You can’t stop in the line. You just can’t stop in the line. Moretti is looking for an excuse there, I have no doubt he’s looking for an excuse.

“I agree with Gus, he probably doesn’t get there. But the fact is, if Jake Trbojevic completed his job, went through the line like he’s supposed to do, Moretti doesn’t have the opportunity to find an excuse and that is exactly what he found, an excuse, because Jake Trbojevic stopped in the line and we all know you can’t stop in the line. It is quite simply not a try.

Unsurprisingly, Gould disagreed.

“You want me to respond to that rubbish? That is rubbish,” Gould began.

Gallen: “How is that rubbish?”

Gould: “That is absolutely rubbish. He had absolutely no intention of chasing that play. None whatsoever.

Gallen: “I’m with you there.”

Gould: “Jake stopped short of the line actually and he walked over and patted him on the back to say ‘I’ve got you’.

Gallen: “If he doesn’t stop in the line, he has no reason for an excuse. I remember Joey spoke moments before that saying we’d had about five minutes of play which means their heart rates must absolutely be red-lining. And they would have been. And he said, good players just find a way to get through it. Moretti found an excuse. There was an excuse for him and he went and found that excuse and ran into Jake Trbojevic and got the penalty.”

Paul Gallen says that was not a try. Photo: Channel 9

Gould: “So that’s what the game is about? About finding excuses to use the bunker as a defender? Is that what it is?”

Gallen: “Moretti got a penalty a moment after that, he got hit off the ball and fell over and I heard you say …”

Gould: “That’s you and Wade Graham.”

Gallen: “Oh, now you’re blaming me. It was Greg Bird last year, now it’s Wade Graham.”

Gould: “It was him too, I wonder where he got that idea from …

“Making a fool of the rules and making a fool of the bunker, suddenly that’s the game’s fault?”

Gallen: “It’s not the game’s fault, it’s no one’s fault. You know whose fault it was? If Jake wasn’t there, it doesn’t happen. Jake is as honest as the day is long, if you asked jake if he should have stopped in the lin, I guarantee you he‘ll answer ‘I shouldn’t have, I should have got through’.

Gould: “Where was he going to go?”

Gallen: “Through the line like he’s supposed to.”

Gould: “Where was he going to? His run was finished. He never looked like getting the ball.”

Gallen: “He probably wasn’t.

Gould: “Whoever made up that rule, whoever made up the rule about inside-outside shoulder should be taken down to Martin Place at lunchtime and publicly stoned — and if you keep on, you should be going with them.

Phil Gould has changed his mind. Photo: Channel 9

“That is an embarrassment to our code. That is an embarrassment to refereeing. That is an embarrassment to the people who make the rules and enforce the rules. I have stopped listening to the Monday report about whether it is right or wrong because they get all of that wrong too. That is an embarrassment. To anyone who supports this decision — it’s embarrassing. Embarrassing!”

Gallen: “This is where you get me, I agree it is embarrassing. Moretti was looking for an excuse to take the shortcut …”

Gould: “Two wrongs don’t make a right.”

Gallen: “But he had an excuse there. If Trbojevic doesn’t stop in the line, he doesn’t have the opportunity to find that excuse. Trbojevic shouldn’t have stopped in the line.”

Gallen added that he didn’t believe the referees had started the year well but claimed the obstruction rule had to be “black and white”.

Gould wasn’t done though, calling the decision “absolutely ridiculous” before adding: “Anyway, no point arguing with fools.”

Originally published as ‘That is rubbish’: Phil Gould, Paul Gallen clash over NRL ‘embarrassment’