Panthers’ Phil Gould wants to take Broncos CEO Paul White to Penrith

HE’S the man Queensland footy fans love to hate ... and if this new plan takes off, Gus Gould could face even more animosity from Brisbane diehards.

Phil Gould, announces Anthony Griffin as the new Penrith Coach at Pepper Stadium, Penrith. pic Mark Evans

PHIL Gould says he is interested in luring Broncos chief executive Paul White to Penrith, hailing the man who fought off a brain tumour as the country’s best sports administrator.

In a bold move that would reunite him with ex-Brisbane coach Anthony Griffin, The Courier-Mail can reveal White is the Panthers’ ideal chief executive in the eyes of Gould.

White, who should have been a serious contender for the NRL chief executive role, is off contract at year’s end in Brisbane.

Whether he would want to leave the club he helped rebuild into a $40 million force is the biggest issue. He and the Broncos did not wish to comment on Tuesday.

The Panthers lost their chief executive in February when Warren Wilson announced his shock resignation.

Penrith supremo Gould said any club would be foolish to ignore White but insisted he had not started any negotiations to poach him.

“Paul White is the No.1 sporting administrator in the country,” Gould said. “(But) I’m also sure the Broncos won’t be losing him any time soon.

“Paul has been a wonderful help to me over the past five years in my role at the Panthers. As far as Panthers are concerned though, there’s been no discussion at this stage regarding a new CEO for our football club.

“We have been busy with the opening of the new academy.”

Broncos boss Paul White has long had an admirer in Phil Gould.

White toured Penrith’s new $22 million academy last week at Gould’s invitation, along with several other officials from NRL clubs.

White has opened discussions with the Broncos about extending into a seventh season. The club’s new headquarters won’t be finished until May next year, which is a project he would like to see through.

White has battled through a brain tumour to become an inspiration at the Broncos and detailed his journey to ABC’s Australian Story on Monday night. He has helped to turn the club around since arriving for the 2011 season.

Gould toured Brisbane’s Red Hill base when he first returned to the Panthers as general manager of football. When he was unhappy with Ivan Cleary’s coaching at Penrith, his only target was former Brisbane coach Anthony Griffin who came highly recommended by the Broncos.

White would fill the football chief executive role at Penrith with Brian Fletcher recently appointed chief executive of Panthers Group. White could also take over some of the responsibilities of Gould who has suggested he will step down at year’s end.