Monday Buzz: Phil Gould’s commentary on Latrell Mitchell was as damaging as hit itself

Phil Gould is one of rugby league’s most knowledgeable and experienced figures. But comments in the past week prove he’s wedded to a bygone era of the game, writes PHIL ROTHFIELD.

Television commentator Phil Gould is seen during the Round 22 NRL match between the Brisbane Broncos and the Penrith Panthers at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Friday, August 16, 2019. (AAP Image/Darren England) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

The collateral damage from Latrell Mitchell’s shocking high tackle on Joey Manu is immeasurable.

This was an incident that sickened even hardened rugby league followers who are used to the toughness, blood and brutality of the sport and understand there will always be unfortunate injuries.

For every boy and girl Latrell has inspired to take up rugby league we lost mums and dads on Friday night who will never allow their children to play the game.

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It was made worse in that it was so appallingly handled by experienced match officials who inexplicably declined to send him off.

And then these horrific photos (below) from Manu’s hospital bed on the front page of Australia’s highest selling newspaper, The Sunday Telegraph.

That look on Joey’s rearranged face. Shattered facial bones now being held together by three metal plates and a dozen screws. A bandaged eye. Oxygen tubes down his nose.

Surgeons later revealing this reckless tackle had the force of a car crash.

The sickening impact of Latrell Mitchell’s hit on Joey Manu.

Manu’s season is over after needing three metal plates inserted in his face.

What a terrible look for rugby league.

This was an act of thuggery from a player who needs to urgently address his anger and his character because right now he is an out-of-control ego-maniac.

Latrell carries on like he is bigger than the game and has done so for some time.

The fact he showed absolutely no remorse made it even worse. No apology after the game, nothing until reports on Sunday that he sent Manu a text message.

The fact he slammed the ball onto the ground after scoring a try was like he was saying “up yours” and “I couldn’t give a s*** about what happened.”

Like he has this sense of entitlement.

That he would so recklessly hit the head of an old premiership-winning teammate and such a popular player and decent man made it an even lower act.

Joey Manu is a great person and the most magnificent role model and mentor.

Sydney Roosters star Joey Manu after surgery to repair a broken cheekbone. Picture Instagram

Joseph Manu’s gruesome facial injury (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

He is almost too nice, even too gentle to be playing NRL football.

There is not one nasty bone in his body in a game where often the aim is to hurt your opponent.

Latrell’s behaviour was inexcusable.

The six-week ban is barely sufficient.

The sad thing is that he has now failed some wonderful people that have been around him.

Mentors like Wayne Bennett, Trent Robinson, Brad Fittler and Matt Rose who have helped him grow from the teenager from Taree to an NRL superstar.

You start to think about his overall value to the Rabbitohs as a $900,000-a-year player.

You fast forward to next year and wonder how a new head coach, Jason Demetriou, can control him when even Bennett couldn’t.

This is not a one-off. There are nine charges on his judiciary sheet in the last few years.

The madness of his attacks on Rabbitohs teammate Dane Gagai in State of Origin.

The game against the Titans two weeks ago when, while being held in a tackle, he collected AJ Brimson in the face with his boot. It broke his jaw.

The Wests Tigers game and the four-week ban for chopping David Nofouluma in the head. Plus two contrary conduct charges from the same game, one for lashing out with his boot at Luke Garner.

Latrell Mitchell’s hit on Joey Manu. Picture: Fox Sports

Making this Friday night incident much worse for the NRL was the rubbish commentary on Channel 9. On bad nights like this, the NRL needs responsible coverage from their broadcast partners.

Sadly Phil Gould is now officially a dinosaur.

“Latrell was doing what fullbacks do,” he said, “There will be people who never played this game or have never been in this position who don’t understand that. We do, they don’t.”

Fancy talking down to your viewers like that.

His comments were as damaging as the actual incident.

Joey Manu’s face blew up very quickly after the ugly shot from Latrell Mitchell. Picture: NRL Photos.

Sickening impact of Latrell’s shot on Manu

This is the sickening impact of Latrell Mitchell’s knockout blow on Sydney Roosters star Joey Manu.

Surgeons in Brisbane operated on Saturday to insert three metal plates in his shattered facial bones.

Latrell’s tackle on Manu had the force of a car accident, according to medical experts, and has forced the NRL to ban the South Sydney superstar for the remainder of the season.

The operation took several hours in a Brisbane private hospital on Saturday afternoon and the star centre will be kept under care for at least 48 hours.

“The surgeon mentioned it would have taken significant force to cause this amount of damage,” said Roosters medico Dr Tom Longworth.

“It’s more something you’d see in a car accident than a football tackle.”

Joey Manu after surgery.

Fortunately Manu has been cleared of any damage to his right eye.

“The good thing is that his eye is ok,” Dr Longworth said

“You can damage the eye in a collision like this one from fractures to the orbital rim bone around his eye. If you get a bad enough fracture it can pierce the eye.

“Sometime the muscle that moves the eye can be trapped and that can cause double vision.

“His season is over but he’ll be back next season. There is nothing to stop him playing again.”