NRL 2021: Trent Barrett responds to Phil Gould’s Bulldogs return

He infamously told Ivan Cleary ‘he was looking tired’ but Trent Barrett doesn’t foresee any problems with Phil Gould’s appointment as Bulldogs GM of football.

Trent Barrett and Phil Gould.

Trent Barrett was 17 when he first met Phil Gould.

The pair have remained friends since, with Barrett leaning on Gould for advice and direction during different periods of his playing and coaching career.

However, across the game, Gould’s appointment to the GM of football role sparked the question of how heavy his influence will be on day-to-day coaching and that of Barrett?

Barrett said it’s their 26-year relationship that gives him comfort Gould will only benefit both he and the Canterbury club.

“I’ve known Gus since I was about 17, we shared the same manager (Wayne Beavis) and then he coached me in State of Origin,’’ Barrett said.

“We’ve been very close since.

“He’s not only ultra-smart from a footy-sense, but in terms of club administration and knowing what a club needs, he’s at the top of the tree.

“We have some pretty good conversations about coaching and his input is invaluable.

“We know each other well enough to handle that. We’ve worked a lot of times before, so it will be all good.’’

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Trent Barrett has known Phil Gould since he was 17.

Barrett said he was hopeful that Gould’s role would deliver an outcome similar to that of Penrith with elite pathways and development structures.

He also said Gould would be crucial in recruitment.

“I think we all know what Gus‘ strengths are and to have someone of his ability here, with his standing in the game, it will only fast-track what we want to do. It’s exciting for the club.

“There’s been some really good things happen here, this is just another one to keep us moving in the right direction.

“He’ll make sure our pathways and development is set-up properly and we’ve got systems in place that will be there forever. And also, he’ll work in and around our recruitment.

“Peter Sharp and myself have been handling it in the short-term and it will enable me to really focus on the coaching.

Phil Gould’s signing will be of massive benefit to the Bulldogs.

“We all know what he put together at Penrith, but we sit in a slightly different demographic to Penrith, as far as development and recruitment.

“We’re different to Penrith, but 100 per cent, our aim is to be just as strong, if not stronger.’’

Penrith coach Ivan Cleary was famously sacked in 2015 after being told by Gould, “he was looking tired.”

Cleary smiled before answering professionally when asked for his reaction to Gould taking over at the Dogs. “When it first popped up I thought that sounded like something that could be good for both parties.

“Obviously the Warriors thing ended up being completely different to what it was first envisaged because of Covid.

“He’s got a connection to the Dogs and they’re a club with a position to fill there. In terms of Sydney clubs, they have a little junior base that isn’t too bad.

“They’re junior teams go okay and without knowing the details, I’m pretty sure there’d be some sort of role (for Gould) in trying to tie that together.’’