‘Ignore this rubbish’: Gould’s blunt response slamming reports young Dog wanted out

Bulldogs supremo Phil Gould has clashed with a senior journalist over reports surrounding a young Canterbury star.

Canterbury Bulldogs general manager Phil Gould in Toowoomba to visit St Mary's College rugby league program students and staff, Tuesday, November 29, 2022. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Bulldogs supremo Phil Gould has slammed reports suggesting young playmaker Khaled Rajab wanted out of the Canterbury-Bankstown club.

The Daily Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield reported the 21-year-old was disgruntled after failing to make Cameron Ciraldo’s top 30 roster.

Rothfield explained Rajab was squeezed out of the top squad when the club snared former Bronco Karl Oloapu and then promoted veteran Josh Reynolds with a top 30 contract.

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“There’s a young fellow, he’s 21 years of age and he played for Lebanon at the World Cup, he is a halfback, is he a five-eighth or he can play fullback,” Rothfield said on the Big Sports Breakfast.

“He is a really talented kid, his name is Khaled Rajab, played a lot of NSW Cup last year but has had a very good off-season.

“A couple of clubs have been eyeing him off, he didn’t make the Bulldogs 30 man NRL squad, there’s a couple of handy players who kept him out.

“Gus (Gould) went and signed the boy from the Broncos and paid a $500,000 transfer fee for him last week, and Josh Reynolds was on a train-and-trial contract.

“He might be 33-years of age but they think he’s got a bit to offer the Bulldogs this year as one of their leaders, so there wasn’t a position in the roster for this young fellow.”

Rothfield said both the Sydney Roosters and Cronulla Sharks were interested in signing Rajab — but Gould has hit back, slamming the claims as “another false accusation”.

Rothfield has an extensive record of having contentious reports proven to be accurate. He also has an extensive record of clashing with Gould in public.

Gould, meanwhile, has at times come under fire for public comments made about his wheeling and dealing behind the scenes and was last year accused of telling “lies” when denying reports about his actions during Trent Barrett’s tumultuous exit from the Bulldogs.

“There is absolutely no truth to this story. Another false accusation from those with an agenda to destabilise our club,” Gould tweeted.

“Young Khaled is embarrassed and upset. He loves the Bulldogs and has never complained, or spoken about wanting to play elsewhere.

“Ignore this rubbish.”

There is absolutely no truth to this story. Another false accusation from those with an agenda to destabilise our club. Young Khaled is embarrassed and upset. He loves the @NRL_Bulldogs and has never complained, or spoken about wanting to play elsewhere. Ignore this rubbish. https://t.co/QyOq4ncKFX

— Phil Gould (@PhilGould15) February 6, 2023

Rothfield, meanwhile, made his own comment with a thinly-veiled social media post.

‘Trent Barrett will be at Canterbury longer than me’ https://t.co/tqtPpFKUhk

— BUZZ ROTHFIELD (@BuzzRothfield) February 6, 2023

The young playmaker appeared in three games for Michael Cheika’s Lebanon side at the World Cup, playing in the No.6 jersey twice and coming off the bench against the Kangaroos.

Originally published as ‘Ignore this rubbish’: Gould’s blunt response slamming reports young Dog wanted out