Phil Gould backflip clears path for New Zealand Warriors job
Phil Gould is a big step closer to taking on a surprise role with the New Zealand Warriors, who are set to unveil Nathan Brown as their new coach.
NRL
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Phil Gould’s plan to revolutionise the player management industry has barely lasted a week with the former State of Origin coach withdrawing his application to pursue a job with the Warriors.
Gould is expected to be appointed to a role with the Warriors in the coming days. Nathan Brown is also expected to be revealed as the new coach of the Auckland-based club for the next three years from 2021 on Saturday.
Gould will oversee the club’s pathways and development. The role with the Warriors essentially stops Gould from being a player agent.
Under NRL rules, accredited agents “must not be employed, contracted or otherwise engaged to provide coaching, management, consultancy, advisory or administration to any club or any rugby league team other than a school team for which the accredited agent is a member of staff or a team competing at district junior level.”
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An NRL spokesman confirmed on Friday player agents cannot be employed by clubs.
Gould withdrew his application to be an accredited agent by lunchtime on Friday. He formally applied to join the player manager ranks just last Friday ahead of the July 31 deadline for the latest intake of accredited agents.
Gould still needed to undergo an orientation day, sit an exam, have an interview with the agent accreditation board next month before being formally adopted as an agent.
He registered Limitless Management Pty Ltd in February this year and listing son Jack as a co-director.
Gould did not reply when asked for comment on Friday. He was also considering an approach from ARLC chairman Peter V’landys to review the referee’s department.
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Brown and Gould will form a formidable partnership in trying to awaken the struggling Warriors club.
Brown had to be convinced to take on the Warriors job after rejecting initial advances six weeks ago. He had also pursued the vacant Cowboys job but withdrew his application.
Talks between the Warriors and Brown stepped up in recent days after Todd Payten knocked back the offer. The Warriors also considered appointing a 12-month interim in the hope of securing Craig Fitzgibbon in 2022.
Brown will now turn his attention to recruitment before taking on the coaching job next year. The Warriors have offers out to St George Illawarra duo Jack de Belin and Euan Aitken. They are hopeful of landing Parramatta prop Kane Evans while a decision on Adam Elliott’s future is expected by early next week.
Originally published as Phil Gould backflip clears path for New Zealand Warriors job