‘An embarrassment to our code’: Gus fumes over Storm rumour

Bulldogs supremo Phil Gould has lashed out with claims his club is being used by rivals after a contract rumour began to spread.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 07: Jesse Ramien of the Sharks celebrates scoring a try with team mates during the round 17 NRL match between the Cronulla Sharks and the Melbourne Storm at PointsBet Stadium, on July 07, 2022, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Bulldogs supremo Phil Gould has moved to shut down rumours of a move for Storm enforcer Nelson Asofa-Solomona.

The Daily Telegraph reported earlier this week that Bulldogs were entertaining making a play for the off-contract forward. News of the link would have come as a surprise to the Storm who farewelled fellow forwards the Bromwich brothers and Felise Kaufusi at the end of the season

Gould, however, was having none of it.

“It’s never been discussed,” Gould said on Twitter when asked about the rumours.

“He’s a terrific player, but Nelson has never once been mentioned at the Bulldogs.

“I don’t know who makes this stuff up, but they keep doing it. They are never held to any account.”

Gould then expressed his frustrations with the Bulldogs being linked to so many players as a mechanism to drive up player values.

“It doesn’t concern me, but it concerns rival clubs,” he said.

“It’s totally irresponsible. Mind you, the whole recruitment system is wrong.

“It’s an embarrassment to our code – but no one has the courage to fix it.”

It’s never been discussed. He’s a terrific player, but Nelson has never once been mentioned at the Bulldogs. I don’t know who makes up this stuff, but they keep doing it. They are never held to any account. https://t.co/OikLQzakdY

— Phil Gould (@PhilGould15) December 21, 2022

Two clubs register interest in Sharks star

The Cronulla Sharks look set for competition in their bid to re-sign centre Jesse Ramien with multiple clubs reportedly ready to make a move.

Ramien is currently in negotiations with the Sharks over a new deal but The Daily Telegraph reports Wests Tigers and the Dolphins are interested.

According to the report Wests Tigers assistant coach Benji Marshall, who will take over from Tim Sheens after two seasons, thinks highly of Ramien.

The Sharks’ talks with Ramien, who comes off contract at the end of the 2023 season, are understood to have been positive but have become drawn out due to uncertainty around the NRL salary cap.

This has potentially opened the door for a cashed-up rival club to make a big-money move for the 25-year-old Indigenous All Stars representative.

A rival NRL coach told the Telegraph the Tigers would be in the market for a high quality centre despite re-signing Brent Naden earlier in the year.

The Tigers, however, were giving nothing away when contacted by the newspaper.

“We don’t talk about player recruitment speculation,” chief executive Justin Pascoe said.

“Our focus right now is preparing the squad as best we can for the 2023 season.”

Jesse Ramien is in contract talks with the Sharks.

Originally published as ‘An embarrassment to our code’: Gus fumes over Storm rumour