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Phil Gould’s decision to sign with the Bulldogs as the club’s new general manager of football has been lauded as a masterstroke that can restore the embattled side to their former glory - and it all happened in top secret within a whirlwind 24 hours.
Gould quit his role with the Warriors on Friday due to the difficulties presented by the Covid-19 pandemic and will link up with the club he served as a player and premiership-winning coach.
“This club gifted me my first ever coaching appointment back in 1986. To be returning to the Bulldogs many years later, in this role, is truly exciting,” said Gould.
“I look forward to rekindling old friendships, making new friendships, and enjoying the club’s journey back to the top of the National Rugby League”.
Gould coached the Bulldogs to a premiership in 1988 after playing 40 games for the club and chairman John Khoury said it gave the club a chance to become a “premiership contender” once again.
“Phil has a great relationship with head coach Trent Barrett and we firmly believe that he can help to drive us forward to getting back to where we need to be: namely as a premiership contender once again,” he said.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Gould returned to the Dogs’ radar following the 66-0 demolition by Manly two weeks ago, with the two parties having initially broken off talks in early June.
But his inability to travel to New Zealand regularly due to COVID-19 left him frustrated, and Canterbury’s inability to not concede 11 tries to Manly with five players out after failing to follow COVID restrictions, meant that both Gould and the Bulldogs were pushed back to the negotiating table.
The SMH reports that the offer arrived on Gould’s lap just 24 hours before the official announcement, with chairman John Khoury keeping negotiations top secret, only telling his board that he had signed on the dotted line once the ink was dry on Friday.
Similarly, coach Tent Barrett was only told shortly afterwards, while the rest of the squad only found out as they watched Fox League’s live coverage of Friday night’s games from their quarantine hub on the Gold Coast.
That view was echoed by the Fox Leauge panel as news of Gould’s defection broke on Friday.
Greg Alexander, who worked alongside Gould until the latter quit Penrith in 2019, said the incoming general manager of football understood how the club worked.
“It’s huge. He’s got that Bulldogs DNA in him, even though he’s a Panther at heart,” Alexander said.
“He’s a unique character. There’s not too many people in the game that can cover as many jobs as Gus.
“Obviously Gus’ experience at Penrith over the last eight years until he moved on will put him in a great position to do some things at the Dogs that they need.”
One of Gould’s remits will likely be overhauling Canterbury’s junior program and helping recruit for the first-grade side.
That has been one of the stories behind Penrith’s success in recent years and former Bulldogs star Braith Anasta said the footballing intellect of Gould could help revive the club’s past glories.
“I think it’s a great decision because not only is he an ex-player, he’s won a premiership there as a coach, and he gets the Bulldogs way,” Anasta said.
“He really does. He knows what it takes to be a Bulldog. He knows what he wants to instil in that club.
“I’m sure of it, because I’ve heard him say it a million times before, because he was there when they had so much success.
“But also, he’s one of the brightest minds and intelligent football brains in the business. I think it’s a good combination because he gets both, and I think he’ll do a really good job. And they probably need it.”
Gould quit his role with the Warriors on Friday due to the difficulties presented by the Covid-19 pandemic and will link up with the club he served as a player and premiership-winning coach.
“This club gifted me my first ever coaching appointment back in 1986. To be returning to the Bulldogs many years later, in this role, is truly exciting,” said Gould.
“I look forward to rekindling old friendships, making new friendships, and enjoying the club’s journey back to the top of the National Rugby League”.
Gould coached the Bulldogs to a premiership in 1988 after playing 40 games for the club and chairman John Khoury said it gave the club a chance to become a “premiership contender” once again.
“Phil has a great relationship with head coach Trent Barrett and we firmly believe that he can help to drive us forward to getting back to where we need to be: namely as a premiership contender once again,” he said.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Gould returned to the Dogs’ radar following the 66-0 demolition by Manly two weeks ago, with the two parties having initially broken off talks in early June.
But his inability to travel to New Zealand regularly due to COVID-19 left him frustrated, and Canterbury’s inability to not concede 11 tries to Manly with five players out after failing to follow COVID restrictions, meant that both Gould and the Bulldogs were pushed back to the negotiating table.
The SMH reports that the offer arrived on Gould’s lap just 24 hours before the official announcement, with chairman John Khoury keeping negotiations top secret, only telling his board that he had signed on the dotted line once the ink was dry on Friday.
Similarly, coach Tent Barrett was only told shortly afterwards, while the rest of the squad only found out as they watched Fox League’s live coverage of Friday night’s games from their quarantine hub on the Gold Coast.
That view was echoed by the Fox Leauge panel as news of Gould’s defection broke on Friday.
Greg Alexander, who worked alongside Gould until the latter quit Penrith in 2019, said the incoming general manager of football understood how the club worked.
“It’s huge. He’s got that Bulldogs DNA in him, even though he’s a Panther at heart,” Alexander said.
“He’s a unique character. There’s not too many people in the game that can cover as many jobs as Gus.
“Obviously Gus’ experience at Penrith over the last eight years until he moved on will put him in a great position to do some things at the Dogs that they need.”
One of Gould’s remits will likely be overhauling Canterbury’s junior program and helping recruit for the first-grade side.
That has been one of the stories behind Penrith’s success in recent years and former Bulldogs star Braith Anasta said the footballing intellect of Gould could help revive the club’s past glories.
“I think it’s a great decision because not only is he an ex-player, he’s won a premiership there as a coach, and he gets the Bulldogs way,” Anasta said.
“He really does. He knows what it takes to be a Bulldog. He knows what he wants to instil in that club.
“I’m sure of it, because I’ve heard him say it a million times before, because he was there when they had so much success.
“But also, he’s one of the brightest minds and intelligent football brains in the business. I think it’s a good combination because he gets both, and I think he’ll do a really good job. And they probably need it.”
