Canterbury Bulldogs boss Phil Gus Gould and Western Clydesdales visit St Mary’s College Toowoomba

Canterbury Bulldogs boss Phil Gould has a key piece of advice for Toowoomba and South West Queensland’s best young league players, and it has nothing to do with kicking a ball. Details here.

LEAGUE: Phil Gould would love to see Toowoomba and South West Queensland’s best young players running out in a Canterbury jersey one day.

For now though, the Bulldogs boss wants the region’s future stars to focus on something far more important than rugby league.

“It doesn’t matter where it is, what club or what part of the rugby league landscape it is in … teenage footballers get the same message every year,” Gould said.

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

“Education is important.

“They have to be working on a Plan B.

“Whether they make it in rugby league or rugby league fails them it is important they use this time to get their education right.

“Wherever I have been associated with rugby league it has been a case of no work, no study, no play.

“You either need to be in school, in tertiary education, a trade, apprenticeship or working to get that part of your life right.

“If you have the talent to play in the NRL that’s great, but you have to use this time to get yourself educated so you have another plan in life.”

Canterbury Bulldogs general manager Phil Gould talks rugby league with St Mary's College students Sam Sheppard (left) and Noah Rogers, Tuesday, November 29, 2022. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Since the Bulldogs formalised their relationship with the Clydesdales, Gould has been a regular visitor to the Garden City.

Gould and other members of the Bulldogs staff have been providing advice and insight for the Clydesdales as they prepare for their Hostplus Cup return next year.

Part of that work also includes the establishment of satellite league academies and building ties with schools to create a clear pathway from Toowoomba to the NRL.

Western Clydesdales head coach Jason Alchin, CEO Shane Sullivan and Gould visited St Mary’s College Toowoomba on Tuesday.

“I think it’s great to have such an influential coach in town,” St Mary’s student and junior Clydesdales player Noah Rogers said.

“It’s good to know there is a pathway in our home town, we don’t have to travel to Brisbane to join a club, we can find our own path here.

“I’ve played in some of the junior (Clydesdales) teams and they’ve all been good – good coaching, good programs and pathways.”