Alarming statistic reveals why Phil Gould should stop taking potshots at NRL rivals

While Phil Gould takes potshots at the Broncos and Latrell Mitchell, we reveal how his Bulldogs are on target for one of the low points in Canterbury’s proud 88-year history.

04/07/23. The Daily Telegraph. Sport. Belmore, Sydney, NSW, Australia. Pictures of Phil Gould, General Manager of Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, taken at the press conference he gave this morning at Belmore Sports Ground following the teamÕs 66-0 thrashing at the weekend. Picture: Julian Andrews

It is the embarrassing stat that exposes why Phil Gould should look in the mirror and start criticising his own performance instead of throwing hand grenades at rival NRL clubs.

Last week Gould took a potshot at the Broncos when he said they didn’t have the defence to win the comp.

This week it was the Rabbitohs’ turn when Gould called out Latrell Mitchell for failing to stand up on the big stage.

Meanwhile, Fox Sports Stats reveal the Bulldogs are actually in the midst of one of the top three worst seasons defensively in the club’s proud history dating back to 1935.

Languishing 15th on the ladder, the Bulldogs have by far the worst defence of any side this season, conceding a gobsmacking 615 points in their 20 games (which is an alarming average of 30 points a match).

To put that in perspective last year after 20 games the Dogs had conceded 455 points, which averages out at more than eight points a game better than this season.

Coach Cameron Ciraldo was Penrith’s defensive coach, but that hasn’t translated at the Bulldogs. Picture: NRL Imagery

Don’t forget that came after Trent Barrett was sacked and Mick Potter took over as interim coach.

Yet what paints an even grimmer picture for Bulldogs fans is that this year’s average of points conceded is only the third time in Canterbury’s existence it has been this bad.

The only other two times they have conceded more than 30 points on average was in 2008 (32.6) and 1935 (41.3).

What makes it even more puzzling is that this year the Dogs brought in the highly touted Cameron Ciraldo who was previously the defence coach for back-to-back premiers Penrith.

Even though everyone realised the job ahead of Ciraldo was going to be huge and would take time, most at least thought defence would be one area of the game where the Bulldogs would improve.

But instead of taking his own club to task, Gould throws the focus on the Broncos who actually have the competition’s third-best defence, conceding only 351 points (an average of 17).

Meanwhile, Souths chief executive Blake Solly had every right to fire back at Gould’s criticism of Mitchell, and Solly was bang on the money when saying “Gould’s criticism of other clubs is becoming tiresome”.

The Bulldogs have had injury issues like with big-money signing Viliame Kikau, but it’s no excuse. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

It is worth pointing out Gould has now been back at the Bulldogs for two full years after being appointed as the Canterbury general manager of football in July, 2021.

You think of the job Wayne Bennett and Peter O’Sullivan have done building the Dolphins roster from scratch in less time and it puts what Gould has done at the Dogs to shame.

The Dolphins first signing was Felise Kaufusi in November, 2021.

There is no question the Dogs have had a heavy injury toll this season but it has been no worse than what the Dolphins have had to contend with through injuries and suspensions.

And while the Bulldogs got the one point win over the Dolphins last weekend, the Dolphins are still two wins ahead of them on the ladder.

It’s probably time Gould started giving Bulldogs fans an honest assessment of his own performance.

Originally published as Alarming statistic reveals why Phil Gould should stop taking potshots at NRL rivals