NRL season kicks off: Phil Gould unveils new slim body, Fatty Vautin shares Origin drinking stories

There was a wink from a heavily cropped Gus Gould, a nod from Fatty Vautin and the infamous Johnathan Thurston laugh that can only mean one thing: football is back.

While the official NRL season launch in Sydney was canceled due to ongoing CBA negotiations, Channel Nine’s season launch in Brisbane saw some of the biggest names in the game shine.

The likes of Darren Lockyer, Billy Slater and even recently retired Channel Nine personality and rugby league icon Wally Lewis were at the event overlooking the Brisbane River to promote the 2023 season.

Football guru Phil ‘Gus’ Gould (pictured April 2019) is a two-time top-ranked manager, first with Canterbury in 1988 and then three years later with Penrith.

MC James Bracey said he shared the same plane as Thurston to attend the event and that the former Cowboys, Queensland and Australian champion hasn’t stopped smiling ever since.

“Are you looking forward to football?” Bracey asked. “It’s taken me too long, actually, I’m all about cricket,” she said.

“There are so many stories this year, so I look forward to seeing how the year unfolds.”

Thurston kicked the famous game-winning field goal that propelled the North Queensland Cowboys to their first NRL premiership in 2016 and, although he’s retired, his former team remain his favorites to take home the Provan-Summons trophy in 2023 .

“They’re another 12 months older, wiser, as long as they can keep everyone in the park, they should have a good year.”

One of the biggest changes to the NRL for the 2023 season is the addition of The Dolphins as the 17th franchise, which also means the competition will last 31 weeks.

Felise Kaufusi is one of the big names to have signed to the new franchise after a decorated run with the Melbourne Storm and is eager to see what the new kids on the block can bring to the table.

Paul Lockyer, Sam Thaiday and Paul ‘Fatty’ Vautin at the launch of Channel Nine’s NRL 2023 coverage

Johnathan Thurston’s infamous laugh was also on display, which can only mean one thing: the footy is back.

Reece Walsh and Billy Walters talk to Denan Kemp at the launch of Channel Nine’s NRL 2023 coverage

“It’s been a long time coming, 75 years in the making,” he said.

However, it was the arrival of Gould and Vautin at the microphone to talk about State of Origin that sent the crowd into hysterics.

Gould revealed his recent significant weight loss and Vautin, affectionately known as ‘Fatty’, asked: ‘Who is this? Slim Gould?

The duo shared anecdotes about Origin, with Gould’s only series loss as manager coming at the hands of Vautin’s unannounced Queenslanders in 1995.

“My job as a coach was to tell them they were good enough,” Vautin said.

‘And then we’d get on the p***. ‘I remember being in City Rowers and I’m not a big drinker, I usually get lifted by six middies.

Jonathan Thurston, Reece Walsh, Felise Kaufusi and Brian Kelly at Friday’s event.

Sam Thaiday and the Dolphins, from left to right Sean O’Sullivan, Felise Kaufusi and Cody Nikorima

Ruan Sims, Millie Boyle and Ali Brigginshaw at the launch of Channel Nine’s NRL 2023 coverage in Brisbane on Friday night

“I’ve had about 18 schooners and actually collapsed on the floor in the nightclub at 2am.

“I woke up at 3 am and the same six guys, Gary Larson, Gilly [Trevor Gillmeister], Tony Hearn were there protecting me. That is fellowship.

The launch was also a watershed moment for the NRLW, as the women’s game expanded to nine rounds plus semifinals and a grand final, plus two State of Origin games.

Newcastle Knights first place winner Millie Boyle promised that they would broadcast a third match live from a paddock if a decider was required.

“I think the best part of this [expansion] is having teams outside of our metropolitan area in north Queensland and the Raiders as well,” he said. “We will see a lot of talent from those regional areas coming up the ranks.”