The NRL has handed Phil Gould a breach notice and a $20,000 fine after the Canterbury Bulldogs football boss hit out at the sport on Channel 9’s 100% Footy on Monday night.
Gould, who is both the Bulldogs GM of football and a member of the Channel 9 commentary team, has long been outspoken in the media.
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But Monday’s rant has drawn the ire of the league, which handed down the huge fine and breach notice, although half the fine will be suspended for 24 months.
Speaking about the debate surrounding the kick-off, Gould fired up, saying “we are tearing (the game) apart”, claiming the NRL “don’t listen to the players”.
He then singled out the changes to the drop out, where penalties for a short kick off have been removed in 2024.
He called the decision “ridiculous”.
“Our game is so stupid,” he said.
“You can lose the ball over the line scoring a try and you get penalised 20 metres and seven tackles … why? I don’t know, because it’s stupid.
“But I can just take a line drop out and if it goes out on the full or doesn’t go 10 metres, no consequence, nothing at all. What sort of stupid game is this? Who sits and makes up these rules?”
Similarly, Gould blasted the decision to take a try off Wests Tigers captain Api Koroisau when he was deemed to have lost control of the ball, despite slamming it down over the line.
“We are so stupid with our rules … our game is stupid,” he finished.
On Wednesday night, Fox League’s James Hooper reported Gould’s comments had got some noses out of joint at NRL HQ.
In a media release announcing the breach of the NRL Code of Conduct, CEO Andrew Abdo said there was no place for Gould’s comments in the game.
“We welcome constructive criticism and passionate opinions, but registered officials cannot overstep the mark and make comments that are considered detrimental to the game or NRL competition. Destructive attacks on the game itself will not be tolerated,” Abdo said.
“This is a professional sport and our leaders should set the standard around reasoned debate and respect for the game.”
The Code of Conduct relates to club officials, coaches and players and Gould’s comments were deemed to have been detrimental to the best interests of the game.
Gould has five days to respond to the breach notice.