NRL 2022: Blake Solly lauds Panthers’ success, takes little dig at Phil Gould
Souths CEO Blake Solly has lauded Penrith’s achievements this season and then added a not so subtle sledge for former football boss Phil Gould.
South Sydney chief executive Blake Solly has taken the remarkable step of praising the “extraordinary achievements” of opponent Penrith ahead of Saturday night’s preliminary final – before questioning the kudos afforded former Panthers general manager of football, Phil Gould.
Solly even lauded Penrith’s decision to re-hire Ivan Cleary – three years after the head coach was sacked by Gould.
A crowd of between 50,000 and 55,000 is expected to attend the grand final qualifier at Accor Stadium in what would be the biggest attendance at an NRL finals game since 2019.
Just days before the big game, Solly claimed Panthers Group CEO Brian Fletcher and football club CEO Matt Cameron do not receive the accolades “they deserve” due to Gould’s profile.
In an extraordinary season, Penrith will play an NRL preliminary final before the club will contest grand finals on Sunday at CommBank Stadium in Jersey Flegg (under-21s) and NSW Cup. The Panthers have already claimed the SG Ball (U19s) competition and reached the finals in Harold Matthews (U16s).
While Gould helped implement the club’s pathways during his eight-year stint at the club, Solly said Fletcher and Cameron were “continuing that work and, if anything, improving on it”.
“Clearly there has always been a lot of attention on Gus’s role in setting up the club’s pathways – and no doubt he made a big contribution to that – but Brian Fletcher and Matt Cameron, in particular, have done a wonderful job continuing that work and, if anything, improving on it,” Solly said.
“For the club to have made as many grand finals as they have this season, and an NRL preliminary final, it’s an extraordinary achievement.
“Brian and Matt don’t get the credit that they deserve for it and no doubt they’re very proud. They had to make some tough calls, and they have gone from strength to strength on the back of those calls.
“Part of this was Gus’s vision but to be able to institute it and succeed so consistently over the period of time that they have clearly speaks volumes about ‘Fletch’ and Matt and how they go about their work.
“When Gus left there was some criticism of Brian, but he and the club have been remarkably successful.
“Brian has done an outstanding job at the club when you look at their record over the last five or six years. He had to make some really tough decisions, particularly around coaches and the GM of football in Gus.
“He has made the right decisions, particularly in bringing Ivan back.”
Solly said he turned to Fletcher for help and guidance during Covid lockdowns.
“Brian has also been great for some of us younger CEO’s because of his experience in sport. He always provides wise counsel, particularly during the pandemic when there was a lot of chaos,” Solly said.
“He was someone we could all go to, have an honest conversation and he’d help us through the challenges.”
Despite Penrith finishing higher on the competition table, and this game essentially being their home game, Souths are certain to have more fans at Accor Stadium, given it’s the Rabbitohs home ground.
North Queensland has a distinct edge playing their preliminary final 24 hours earlier against Parramatta in Townsville.
Playing at such a large venue, and with only a week to sell tickets, will be a challenge for the NRL.
Gould left as Penrith GM of Football in 2019.
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