NRL probes Phil Gould over ‘our game is so stupid’ tirade

The NRL has reportedly got its nose out of joint after Channel 9 commentator and Bulldogs chief Phil Gould launched a furious tirade.

Will Phil Gould land in hot water? Photo: NRL Photos

Phil Gould has reportedly landed in hot water at NRL HQ after launching a furious attack on the game on Channel 9’s 100% Footy on Monday night.

Gould straddles two worlds in the NRL as a member of the Channel 9 commentary team as well as the football supremo at Canterbury.

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While the dual roles have got some noses out of joint in the rugby league world in the past, Gould has reportedly drawn the ire of the NRL for his comments on Monday.

Speaking about the debate surrounding the kick-off, Gould fired up, saying “we are tearing (the game) apart”, claiming the NRL “don’t listen to the players”.

He then singled out the changes to the drop out, where penalties for a short kick off have been removed in 2024.

He called the decision “ridiculous”.

“Our game is so stupid,” he said.

“You can lose the ball over the line scoring a try and you get penalised 20 metres and seven tackles … why? I don’t know, because it’s stupid.

“But I can just take a line drop out and if it goes out on the full or doesn’t go 10 metres, no consequence, nothing at all. What sort of stupid game is this? Who sits and makes up these rules?”

Are the NRL making a mountain out of a molehill? Photo: Channel 9

Similarly, Gould blasted the decision to take a try off Wests Tigers captain Api Koroisau when he was deemed to have lost control of the ball, despite slamming it down over the line.

“We are so stupid with our rules … our game is stupid,” he finished.

It’s these comments that has Fox Sports’ James Hooper reporting the NRL is considering handing down a notice for breaching the game’s code of conduct.

The report states: “The NRL rules clearly stipulate club officials, coaches and players are not permitted to engage in public commentary that is damaging to the game.”

Speaking on NRL 360 on Wednesday night, Hooper said “there’s a view he’s crossed the line”.

The Daily Telegraph’s Michael Carayannis replied: “They won’t breach him. I’d be shocked if they breach him.”

James Graham suggested that the issue was that coaches and any other officials would be sanctioned if they blew up.

Braith Anasta said: “There is a line, Gus got a little carried away there — I kind of agreed with what he was trying to say.

“You can’t criticise the game the way that he did but I don’t think it’s the worst thing in the world.”

Originally published as NRL probes Phil Gould over ‘our game is so stupid’ tirade