NRL Tackle Round 16: Phil Gould’s withering Twitter takedown of his own team

Chaotic, impatient and outgunned. Canterbury supremo Phil Gould delivered a withering spray to his own team after a listless performance against the Sharks.

Phil Gould has blasted his own team on Twitter.

Chaotic, impatient and outgunned for both strike and power.

Canterbury’s listless performance against Cronulla made painful, and worrying viewing, for the club’s head of football Phil Gould as he watched on from Channel Nine’s commentary box on Sunday night.

Poor fifth tackle options, an offload on zero tackle that led to an error, being dominated entirely through the middle and players out of position in defence.

They were just some of the shortcomings Gould pointed out in commentary on Sunday night.

The discontent in Gould’s voice was mirrored by the uneasiness on coach Cameron Ciraldo’s face in the coach’s box.

“Too slow, too slow,” Gould said in commentary about the Bulldogs’ passing game on the back on an intercept pass from Kyle Flanagan that led to a Jesse Ramien.

Gould took to his Twitter to express exactly what Bulldogs fans would have been thinking.

@NRL_Bulldogs completely outmuscled. Not much went their way early and got behind in the pace of the game, but clearly dominated by a more experienced, physical and skilful team. Some very disappointing efforts and poor discipline at times certainly didn’t help. In desperate need…

— Phil Gould (@PhilGould15) June 18, 2023

“Completely outmuscled. Not much went their way early and got behind in the pace of the game, but clearly dominated by a more experienced, physical and skilful team. Some very disappointing efforts and poor discipline at times certainly didn’t help. In desperate need of the bye round to regenerate and do need some key players to return to the squad,” he said.

Flanagan tried hard and looked threatening in the first half but with Cronulla overwhelmingly winning the battle for territory, the halfback was given little time or space.

Ciraldo also made a puzzling decision with his forwards rotation, one that caught the attention of Gould.

Even though the Bulldogs finished the first half with 400 less run metres than the Sharks, Ciraldo opened the second half with three of his biggest men on bench in Tevita Pangai Jr, Franklin Pele and Chris Patolo.

It left the Bulldogs with no size on the field and the smaller men struggled to contain Cronulla’s go forward.

Pangai Jr’s 113 run metres was the best any Bulldogs forward could offer.

The Bulldogs field the most inexperienced side this weekend and that along with Sunday’s performance, highlighted the huge task Ciraldo has on his hands in returning the proud club to its best.

Phil Gould has blasted his own team on Twitter.

DISLIKES

The NRL’s ‘need for speed’ approach around the ruck went a little bit too far in the Panthers-Cowboys game on Friday night.

James Fisher-Harris was virtually facing the sideline when he played the ball in the lead up to Jaeman Salmon’s try in Penrith’s loss to North Queensland.

Unfortunately, the only person who called it out live was Shane Flanagan in commentary for Fox League, and not the match officials.

While the NRL is cracking down on players planting the ball on the deck before they are on their feet, the play-the-ball and ruck remain very scrappy and inconsistent when it comes to the attacking team.

Players stepping and walking off the mark happens too often as does the tunnel-ball, Super League-style play-the-ball, where no effort is made to strike the ball with the boot.

No doubt a fast ruck makes for great viewing but everything needs to be done within the rules.

James Fisher-Harris plays the ball illegally leading up to Jaeman Salmon's try against the Cowboys. Picture: NRL Imagery

GRIM OUTLOOK FOR TIGERS

What promised to be a season of change, even success, for the Wests Tigers is now heading for the same result as last year, a wooden spoon.

It’s a crushing outcome for Tigers fans forced to watch the finals series for the 12-straight season without a team to cheer for.

Coach Tim Sheens and assistant Benji Marshall recruited strongly bringing in the likes of Api Koroisau, Isaiah Papali’i and John Bateman.

But made no significant moves in the positions the club most needed it - in the halves.

Sheens could not control the fact that Luke Brooks would go down with a hamstring injury or that Adam Doueihi’s season would be ended by another ACL injury.

Brandon Wakeham (ball) struggled as the sole recognised playmaker against the Storm. Picture: Getty Images

What he and the club could have controlled is the depth in those positions.

Brandon Wakeham proved a nice foil to Brooks, allowing the maligned playmaker to produce some of his best form in years, but looked out of his depth as the sole general with Starford To’a by his side against Melbourne on Saturday night.

With that halves combination the Tigers face the real possibility of not winning a game for the rest of the season.

Sheens and his players get the chance to regroup with a bye this weekend but are then faced with the challenge of North Queensland, Cronulla and Newcastle.

The only game in their run home where they have any chance of being the favourite is against the NRL’s other embattled side, St George Illawarra in round 21.

The club did try to remedy the halves issue by approaching Mitchell Pearce but he wasn’t interested.

Sheens is left with the only option of enticing a contracted playmaker to join the Tigers immediately or blood youth from within.

To’a got the nod ahead of fullback Daine Laurie, who was unavailable due to concussion. Laurie, a playmaker, has been on the outer at Concord but for the sake of the season, should be in the frame for selection.

Youngster Iverson Matai, who is still eligible for Jersey Flegg, is not yet ready for the NRL.

The coach distanced the club from Ben Hunt but did not entirely shut the door on chasing the disgruntled Dragons halfback.

But unless Hunt is released immediately, even discussing him as an option is a moot point.

It all points to another painful end to a season for long suffering Tigers fans.

ORIGIN SCHEDULE RE-THINK

The State of Origin is the centrepiece of the NRL but there’s no doubt the quality of club football has suffered over that period.

Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy entertained the idea of a four-week, mid-season break to allow Origin to take centre stage.

But he conceded such a drastic change to the schedule would be unlikely.

Instead he floated the idea of full bye rounds the weekend leading into each Wednesday night game.

It means sides don’t have to compete for competition points without their best possible 17 during that period.

It’s an idea that has merit and protects the integrity of the competition.

LIKES

ROOSTERS DISCOVER REUBEN COTTER 2.0

Talk about punching above your weight.

Have the Roosters found their own version of Cowboys and Maroons mighty mouse Reuben Cotter? Nat Butcher’s 80-minute performance at prop against the Knights on Saturday was top shelf.

Nat Butcher could be the Roosters’ version of Reuben Cotter. Picture: Getty

Showing middle forwards don’t have to be giants to make an impact, Butcher, who stands at 184cm and weighs 97kg, took it up to the big Knights pack led by prop Jacob Saifiti (195cm and 114kg).

Butcher finished with a try, 155 metres from 18 carries, two tackle busts and 42 tackles, in a great effort in taking over from Lindsay Collins (194cm, 106kg) who is on Origin duty with Queensland.

Butcher has given coach Trent Robinson plenty to think about on the make up of his prop rotation when Collins returns from Origin.

So too, Naufahu Whyte. The rising forward made an impressive account of himself in Victor Radley’s No.13 jumper. Radley returns from a three-game suspension for headbutting this weekend against Canberra.

Pat Carrigan hasn’t scored in 74 games.

SPOTLIGHT ON BRONCO AFTER TWAL MIRACLE

His teammates celebrated like the Tigers had just won a grand final as the chant ‘TWALY’ rang out through Campbelltown Stadium.

After seven seasons, and 116 games, Alex Twal finally got himself off the nudie run and onto the tryscorer’s list.

One interested onlooker in Maroons camp would have been Broncos star Pat Carrigan.

Twal’s four-pointer will see the attention turn to Carrigan who owns the NRL’s next big try-scoring drought.

Carrigan hasn’t scored in 74 games, and is yet to cross the tryline for Queensland either.

Blues fans will be hoping that drought continues a while longer on Wednesday night.

TOWNSEND SILENCES RUMBLINGS OVER FUTURE

During the week, Chad Townsend told coach Todd Payten that Townsville is exactly where he wanted to be, and he played like it in North Queensland’s golden point win over Penrith.

Rumours of Townsend being homesick only fuelled talk he could be leaving the club before his deal was up in 2024.

But the experienced halfback’s response on Friday night has silenced speculation about his future, for now. Helping lead the Cowboys on a charge into the final will put the rumours to bed for good.