Bulldogs general manager Phil Gould has renewed his attack on the NRL’s Bunker following a series of controversial refereeing decisions in Round 12.
Gould has been an outspoken critic of the game’s increasing use of technology, but there are lingering concerns over a potential conflict of interest between his position at the Bulldogs and his role with Channel Nine.
Powerbrokers at rival NRL clubs have privately complained that Gould uses his role in the media to push Canterbury’s agenda.
The 65-year-old argued the referees had been given “too much control” in a fresh attack on the NRL’s officiating on 100% Footyon Monday night.
“The one thing that was advised to me 30 years ago by very smart people in this game, do not give referees control of the rule book, do not give referees control of video refereeing,” he said.
“It’s been a disaster, it’s been an absolute disaster … they get it wrong a lot.”
Gould referenced the Bulldogs’ thrilling 20-18 victory over the Titans, where Canterbury hooker Reed Mahoney was incorrectly put on report for a suspected hip-drop tackle, but Gold Coast captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui went unpunished after forcing Mahoney off the field for an HIA.
Panel member Danny Weidler then told Gould he wasn’t “allowed” to talk about the Bulldogs in the media.
“I can talk about Bulldogs any time I like, particularly when they get it wrong, and they get it wrong a lot,” Gould continued.
“You can single out incidents in every single game.
“You know why there’s so much wrong? It’s the nitpicking in the Bunker.
“They must have a giant magnifying glass in there sometimes to pick up stuff that no one could possibly see. It goes on every week, the nitpicking by the Bunker to disallow a try, they want to find something that no one else can find, they want to find it and spoil the moment.
“It’s ridiculous and it’s ruining the game.
“The problem with that is our officials keep supporting it and saying you can’t criticise it and saying they should be allowed to continue what they’re doing, that’s ruining the game as well.”
Gould also suggested the officials themselves were divided over the use of technology, insinuating NRL referee Gerard Sutton enjoys sending players off the field.
“You have to simplify the whole lot,” he said.
“There is a whole lot there to unravel. The referees are extremely divided on this on how they’re told to referee and the systems they’ve got in place.
“Go and talk to referees and retired referees about the process and everything that happens down there. They hate it.”
Earlier this month, NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo met with Bulldogs powerbrokers to discuss Gould’s high-profile commentary role and his outspoken view on the game, News Corp reports.
“This is definitely not about silencing anyone in the media,” Abdo said at the time.
“There’s a reason why club officials aren’t able to comment when a matter is live because we don’t want the perception of that influencing the decision-makers.
“Clearly my conversation with the Bulldogs was just around registered club officials not breaching the rules.
“If there’s a matter that’s live, for example either a matter that relates to the match review or the judiciary or an integrity matter, the rules don’t permit players or officials accredited under those rules to talk openly about it.
“That’s what the conversation was about.”
Gould has been an outspoken critic of the game’s increasing use of technology, but there are lingering concerns over a potential conflict of interest between his position at the Bulldogs and his role with Channel Nine.
Powerbrokers at rival NRL clubs have privately complained that Gould uses his role in the media to push Canterbury’s agenda.
The 65-year-old argued the referees had been given “too much control” in a fresh attack on the NRL’s officiating on 100% Footyon Monday night.
“The one thing that was advised to me 30 years ago by very smart people in this game, do not give referees control of the rule book, do not give referees control of video refereeing,” he said.
“It’s been a disaster, it’s been an absolute disaster … they get it wrong a lot.”
Gould referenced the Bulldogs’ thrilling 20-18 victory over the Titans, where Canterbury hooker Reed Mahoney was incorrectly put on report for a suspected hip-drop tackle, but Gold Coast captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui went unpunished after forcing Mahoney off the field for an HIA.
Panel member Danny Weidler then told Gould he wasn’t “allowed” to talk about the Bulldogs in the media.
“I can talk about Bulldogs any time I like, particularly when they get it wrong, and they get it wrong a lot,” Gould continued.
“You can single out incidents in every single game.
“You know why there’s so much wrong? It’s the nitpicking in the Bunker.
“They must have a giant magnifying glass in there sometimes to pick up stuff that no one could possibly see. It goes on every week, the nitpicking by the Bunker to disallow a try, they want to find something that no one else can find, they want to find it and spoil the moment.
“It’s ridiculous and it’s ruining the game.
“The problem with that is our officials keep supporting it and saying you can’t criticise it and saying they should be allowed to continue what they’re doing, that’s ruining the game as well.”
Gould also suggested the officials themselves were divided over the use of technology, insinuating NRL referee Gerard Sutton enjoys sending players off the field.
“You have to simplify the whole lot,” he said.
“There is a whole lot there to unravel. The referees are extremely divided on this on how they’re told to referee and the systems they’ve got in place.
“Go and talk to referees and retired referees about the process and everything that happens down there. They hate it.”
Earlier this month, NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo met with Bulldogs powerbrokers to discuss Gould’s high-profile commentary role and his outspoken view on the game, News Corp reports.
“This is definitely not about silencing anyone in the media,” Abdo said at the time.
“There’s a reason why club officials aren’t able to comment when a matter is live because we don’t want the perception of that influencing the decision-makers.
“Clearly my conversation with the Bulldogs was just around registered club officials not breaching the rules.
“If there’s a matter that’s live, for example either a matter that relates to the match review or the judiciary or an integrity matter, the rules don’t permit players or officials accredited under those rules to talk openly about it.
“That’s what the conversation was about.”
