NRL 2020: Phil Gould erupts over bunker video referee interference

Phil Gould has launched into an extraordinary rant that left Paul Gallen shaking his head over the “most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard”.

Gus from the top rope.

When Phil Gould lost it on during the footy on Sunday it was just the entree to a main course of fury towards the NRL’s obstruction rule fiasco.

The rugby league guru blew up twice in two days over decisions from the bunker to deny tries in Round 5 after contentious obstruction penalties were awarded against the attacking team.

Gould has for decades launched a crusade against the interference of the video referee — and his latest series of blow-ups are far from the only time he has reached breaking point.

In Monday night’s episode of 100% Footy on Channel 9, Gould launched another scathing attack on the bunker lottery in an extraordinary rant that left former NSW State of Origin captain Paul Gallen shaking his head.

It comes after both the Dragons and Sharks were denied tries in Sunday’s re-scheduled local derby as a result of lead runners making contact with defenders as they ran through the defensive line.

Gould has now declared the person that first came up with the modern interpretation of the obstruction rule should “rot in jail”.

“What they’ve done is create a drama out of the system that they’ve got,” he said.

“Those incidents happen 50 times a game.

“Don’t be going back every time a try is scored and go check that.

“If you don’t send it to the bunker, we haven’t got a problem.

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When Gallen challenged him that his interpretation was out of touch because it doesn’t fit in line with the rules for the 2020 season, Gould shot back: “The rules are wrong.

“Whoever came up with that should be locked away and never seen again. They should rot in jail.

“What person ever came up with a rule that I must run at his inside shoulder? How stupid.”

Gallen responded: You’re very good at talking. I’ll give you that, but you’re just talking. You need to go back to the rules”.

A steamed up Gould defended his argument by suggesting the rule was doomed to fail from the start because it was an overly simplified interpretation designed to protect referees from making judgment calls.

Gus went all in.

“I’m talking sense,” he said.

“Nowhere in history has there been a rule where I can run when I run the ball. And if I don’t get the ball it’s up to you to decide what to do about it. That is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard.

“That was done to save the referees from embarrassment or because they didn’t understand the rules. They wanted a black and white interpretation that could be ruled the same way every time. The problem is, we’ll see that happen 50 times in a game and because no try is scored, nothing is ever done about it.”

Gould on Sunday also blasted the bunker during the Dragons’ big win over the Sharks.

After the Dragons took an 18-10 lead to the break, Gould erupted over two calls that denied tries, and butting heads with former Sharks skipper and NRL legend Paul Gallen.

Gus is outraged at the NRL Bunker... Part. 4352462234 😂

Incredible viewing.

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“Don’t talk to me about obstructions,” Gould said at halftime.

“The people in the Bunker have absolutely no idea what obstruction is and people that support these types of rulings in the media have got no idea how to play the game.”

Two tries were called back in the first half, with Matt Dufty denied when Zac Lomax ran a decoy with Chad Townsend falling down and Josh Dugan stumbling, in what would have been the Dragons’ first try in 86 days. Soon after Mikaele Ravalawa scored.

The Sharks’ Shaun Johnson was also denied a try after Ben Hunt left a hole when he took on the lead runner and the ball was caught on the inside shoulder.

The Dragons went on to claim a 30-16 win, ending 281-day streak without a win.

“Both were really poor defence, no one was obstructed and we pull it up and give it a different interpretation in the Bunker,” Gould said. “A lot of these things happen in general play 50 times, they just let it go.

“When a try is scored, we send it upstairs and put a different interpretation on it. The interpretation is flawed, it’s obstructions, somebody has to actually be obstructed. No one was obstructed in either play. Poor defence was rewarded with a penalty on both occasions. Stop referring it to the Bunker.”