Phil Gould’s Bulldogs roster calls reveal a history of incomprehensible madness

There’s no doubt Phil Gould can set up a club to win an NRL premiership. But the jury is out on whether he can still actually deliver one - and what he’s done to this Bulldogs’ roster is incomprehensible madness.

Phil Gould.

There’s no doubt Phil Gould can set up a club to win an NRL premiership.

But the jury is out on whether he can still actually deliver one.

The last time Gus was involved in a premiership-winning side was 23 years ago as head of football at the Sydney Roosters when Ricky Stuart coached them to win the 2002 title.

This is a long time to be out of the winner’s circle.

No doubt some will suggest this is just another bash Gus piece … but think about it.

The Canterbury Bulldogs under coach Cameron Ciraldo have impressively emerged over the last couple of years as a long-term powerhouse with a great roster and super-strong pathways.

They were leading the comp for much of the season. I’m thinking they’re the next Melbourne Storm and Penrith Panthers – built for sustained success.

Canterbury GM of football Phil Gould has made some head scratching roster decisions in 2025. Picture: NewsWire/Gaye Gerard

Then Gus decides to dismantle the roster by showing the door to two key spine players, Reed Mahoney and Toby Sexton, who have played such crucial roles to get them to the top.

This is dead set incomprehensible madness. Who does this to a footy team?

Don’t for one minute think Sexton and Mahoney will be the last to go.

They have to get $800,000-a-season Knights prop Leo Thompson into the side, who will be on double the money of many of the forwards who have taken the club to the top four of the ladder.

Plus, Lachlan Galvin, who Gus says is the best teenager he has ever seen.

I saw this same thing happening at the Penrith Panthers around importing marquee players.

One year he brought in Jamie Soward, then cut him early.

Another year it was Trent Merrin, who he said at the time would captain the NSW Blues. He was cut, too.

And James Maloney, another player who was moved on before his contract was up.

The same at Penrith with the coaches.

Ivan Cleary was sacked because he was tired. Anthony Griffin was signed, then extended, then sacked – with two years left on his contract.

Cleary came back as coach, dismantled Gus’s roster, built his own and finished up with four straight grand final victories.

But back to the current situation at the Bulldogs.

Not for one minute am I blaming Galvin for the Bulldogs’ ­second-half capitulation when they blew an 18-0 lead against the Broncos on Friday night at Accor – but he did play poorly.

Lachlan Galvin’s arrival at Canterbury has disrupted the side’s momentum.

I know they were missing Max King, Stephen Crichton, Jacob Kiraz and Kurt Mann.

That’s cancelled out by the fact the Broncos were down Reece Walsh, Payne Haas, Patrick Carrigan and Gehamat Shibasaki.

My observation is that the Bulldogs players are now confused. It’s not just their contracts under a cloud but their actual positions in the side.

Imagine going to work each day and not knowing if your job is safe.

They are walking on eggshells.

There is confusion everywhere.

One week Galvin is on the bench then he plays a full game.

One week Mahoney is hooked after 50-odd minutes then gets a full game.

Phil Gould’s last title was in 2002 as the Roosters’ coaching director. Picture: Phil Hillyard

One week Bailey Hayward starts then gets benched. The same with Josh Curran.

This side should be the most ­settled in the competition.

But there is all this deception and people being misled by Gus.

Lines like Galvin “is not on our radar” or my suggestion Mahoney was on the outer is met with “It’s complete rubbish.”

The Bulldogs do have a super coach in Ciraldo, who says he has options A, B and C to slide Galvin into the side.

I have no doubts Ciraldo will eventually win a premiership but whether he can achieve that while Gus is still at the club remains to be seen.

Gould has one year remaining on his five-year deal at the Bulldogs. It is fascinating to think where this will end up.