Phil Gould making rod for his own back with Taylan May comments | Weekend Read
Hopefully Phil Gould has had the chance to reflect on his surprising comments and realised the error of his ways, writes BRENT READ.
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Phil Gould blocked me on social media not so long ago. Not sure what set him off. Suspect it may have been something to do with some comments I made on the highly-popular The Daily Telegraph NRL podcast.
I was making a guest appearance and seem to remember having a little shot at Gould. Just a subtle dig. Nothing too overboard. But it clearly touched a nerve and Gus put a line through me during one of those social media culls he occasionally goes on.
Anyway, with my access to his social media blocked, I like many others, woke to quite a surprise on Thursday morning after Gould explained away the actions of Taylan May as a footballer attempting to defuse a situation before it escalated.
Apparently Gould felt May should have been congratulated. The same May whose actions were described by a Queensland magistrate as “reprehensible” and “cowardly”. Quite the contradiction.
A magistrate couldn’t use stronger words to denigrate May’s actions. Gould virtually branded May a hero. It makes you wonder what Gould will say to the next Canterbury player who crosses the line.
What happens when a Bulldogs footballer finds himself in trouble. Perhaps in a stink at a nightclub or bar. All he has to do is tell Canterbury officials that he was being pestered and Gould will stick a medal on his chest.
Maybe Gus will organise a street parade or a knighthood. After all, using Gould’s logic the bloke should be given a pat on the back and a shake of the hand. Play on, nothing to see here.
Hopefully Gould has had the chance to reflect on his comments and realised the error of his ways.
If not, Canterbury officials should have a word in his ear. Point out that he is making a rod for his own back by lavishing praise on a footballer who has been found guilty of assault after blindsiding a bloke who couldn’t defend himself.
May’s victim avoided serious injury, but only by the grace of God. Watch the footage again and it is easy to picture him hitting the deck a few centimetres to the side, where a pot plant was placed. Anything could have happened.
The bloke was being a pest. He was annoying Penrith captain Nathan Cleary. But surely that doesn’t warrant being dragged down from behind by a bloke who was bigger and clearly stronger.
What happened to turn the other cheek? To being the bigger man? How easy would it have been to ask one of the security guards standing nearby to intervene?
Mind you, Gould’s comments were a direct result of the NRL making a decision that defies logic and belief. Head office bizarrely didn’t think enough of it to suspend May for a finals game.
They delayed his suspension until the start of next season in a move that ARL Commission chair Peter V’landys claimed was a nod to the fans.
Which fans exactly? Certainly not Parramatta fans, who must watch May run out against their side on Friday night knowing that he has a suspension hanging over his head.
The only fans who won out of the decision are Panthers supporters and they already had plenty in their favour given they were playing at home on the opening weekend of the finals.
What more did they need? As for Gould, he is one of rugby league’s biggest brains and respected voices. He may be the smartest bloke in the sport. More often than not, he makes plenty of sense.
On this occasion, he missed the mark. He got it horribly wrong. Happens to the best of us I suppose.
BEST THING OUT OF MANLY’S WEEK FROM HELL
It’s been a hell of a week on Sydney’s northern beaches. Hopefully though, Manly has emerged from days of introspection and soul searching a more united club.
One thing is clear, coach Des Hasler and captain Daly Cherry-Evans continue to enjoy the support of the playing group amid speculation over the respective futures of both men.
The survey of the players, which was covered extensively in the pages of this newspaper much to the chagrin of the coaching staff, came back overwhelmingly in favour of Hasler and Cherry-Evans.
They are not the problem as far as the playing group are concerned. Far from it. Cherry-Evans has been dragged into the saga amid talk of his relationship with the Trbojevic brothers.
Much of the reporting has been incorrect. As we reported last weekend, they were never at war. They respect each other and always have.
They may not be bosom buddies but they have a working relationship and are pulling in the same direction.
Cherry-Evans has been a magnet for criticism at times in his career but he has been at the top of the game for more than a decade, captained Queensland to a State of Origin series victory earlier this year and will tour with the Kangaroos next month.
He has a deep love for Manly, demonstrated by his decision to take a pay cut when he opted to extend his contract at the club for the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
Cherry-Evans could have gone to market and attracted a seven-figure salary from the Dolphins or another club. Instead, he pledged his loyalty to Manly and left money on the table. For that alone, he deserves enormous credit.
Perhaps the best thing to emerge out of this week is that Cherry-Evans and the Trbojevic boys have thrashed things out and acknowledged things need to change next season if the Sea Eagles are to rediscover their mojo.
They will be signing from the same hymn sheet next season. That spells danger for the rest of the competition.
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