Furious NRL clubs want Phil Gould punished for his outbursts on Channel Nine and social media

There is growing frustration among NRL clubs over what they perceive as the NRL’s unwillingness to censor Phil Gould for his controversial comments on key issues in the game.

The Canterbury Bulldogs general manager and Channel Nine commentator is also a panelist on 100% Footy and his opinions are often polarizing but draw large viewers.

However, some clubs have complained about alleged double standards by the NRL, which aims to hold coaches accountable for their comments on a weekly basis.

They want Gould and the Bulldogs to get infringement notices for some of the things he says on TV and radio as well as on social media.

But despite many comments on television and social media that could trigger infringement notices, the NRL has so far not acted.

NRL boss Andrew Abdo is being pressured by clubs to notify Gould of infringements just as other coaches and officials would be punished for ruining the game

In recent times Gould has been at the center of controversy with his views on a range of NRL issues, one of the latest being his suggestion to reduce serious injuries in the NRL by introducing a five yard rule rather than the current ten meters rule. rule.

“I had a report made for me by my good friend, who was the Panthers doctor for a long time…he came to me and said we had to go back to a five-yard rule,” Gould said.

“The 10-meter rule gave too much momentum in the collisions and we had to reduce that. We see a lot of injuries with players who bring the ball back from the kick-off.’

Gould also contributed to the furious backlash surrounding the decision to punish Broncos forward Martin Taupau for his accidental but sickening blow to the head of Canberra winger Jordan Rapana.

He claimed that referees do their best to award a penalty every time a player is injured, which has become “toxic” in the game.

And the wife of Dragons premiership winner Rod McGregor recently called out Gould after his shocking comments about concussion.

Gould exploded over Marty Taupau’s hit on Jordan Rapana (pictured), saying: ‘It’s actually become toxic in our game, that every time someone gets hurt, someone has to be blamed and punished for it’

When Bulldogs star Viliame Kikau (pictured) was injured, Gould said the 10-yard rule should be changed to protect players from injury

Lynn McGregor was shocked after the Bulldogs’ general manager claimed on Channel Nine that the NRL’s use of the independent arts in the first round of eight games was ‘the greatest abomination committed in our game in history’.

The NRL is aware of the fear among the clubs and pressure is mounting on NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo and ARLC chairman Peter V’landys to intervene.

The The Sydney Morning Herald has reported that several complaints have been made from club country.

Rival clubs have reportedly even recorded Gould’s comments and screenshots of social media posts with the aim of submitting them to the NRL if they attempt to fine one of their coaches for comments they deem inappropriate.

NRL rules prohibit club employees from publicly criticizing registered officials within the game, but the governing body has yet to respond to Gould’s comments.

That includes his comments about the Good Friday match when the Bulldogs’ back-growth Jacob Preston was thrown into sin and put on report for an alleged hip-drop tackle, despite it being a live enquiry.

Gould declined to comment when approached by the The Sydney Morning Herald.