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About Phil Gould
About Phil Gould
Phil Gould has seen the game of rugby league from every possible angle. He's been a junior player, lower grade player, first grade player, retired player, lower grade coach, first grade coach, representative coach, winning coach, losing coach, assistant coach and retired coach. He's worked with managers, administrators, directors, budgets, staff, sponsors, fans, salary caps, old players, young players, great players, good players and average players. He's worked as a rugby league expert and commentator on radio, television and Pay TV. He's been a columnist on rugby league for 17 years. Most of all he's a rugby league fanatic.
Origin ironmen provide inspiration to both sides
FIRST, I want to talk about the quality and courage of the State of Origin players who backed up from Wednesday night's match to play in this one. They were all superb.
Revival must start off the field
WHAT is the NSWRL and what does it stand for?
Magnificent Maroons thrive on guts and glory and the rest is history
QUEENSLAND was far too good. As was the case in game one of this year's Origin series, the final score also flattered the NSW team in game two.
It was capital punishment for Canberra, no question
IT WAS bizarre. Where no game existed, suddenly a nail-biting
finish emerged.
Barrett answers call to arms
The NSW selectors have recognised the importance of experience in State of Origin matches with their decision to recall Trent Barrett for this week's crucial match in Sydney.
Cowboys play the 'nitty gritty' way
A total of 40 points was scored in the first half as both sides showed little regard for defence.
Bennett's title contenders find their feet in attack
THEY say the key to the perfect speech is to have a strong start and an even stronger finish; because that way no one will care about the mistakes you make in the middle.
In a hard season, it's hard to be great all the time
COACHING NRL football is not for the faint-hearted. At times it can be so frustrating. If someone could invent a pill called consistency and put it in a bottle, every coach in the world would be standing in line to buy their share. Just to know your team could play to the best of their ability every time they took the field would save a lot of sleepless nights for coaches who toss and turn trying to figure out why teams can fluctuate so wildly in performance.
I haven't fallen out with Fittler, says Anasta
ROOSTERS captain Braith Anasta has rubbished rumours he has fallen out with Brad Fittler - and even urged the club to re-sign the besieged coach.
Back-to-basics tactics pressured favourites
FIRST IMPRESSIONS After a shaky start, the Roosters delivered a far more committed performance. The Roosters went back to basics in search of credibility and seemed far more comfortable with this simple style of play.
Out-origined: Maroons prove from little wins big wins grow
YOU WON'T find this word in the dictionary but NSW were simply
out-origined in last night's series opener in Melbourne.
Hunger, desperation and a special talent for upsets
I LOVE the upset. You think you know the result going in, but the events of the day turn out so very different.
A year's a long, long time in footy
State of Origin is upon us, which means a difficult time for the clubs most affected by players involved with this most elite of representative competitions.
Not winning where it counts
EVEN if we push the final controversial moments aside, yesterday's
18-17 victory by the Titans over the Sea Eagles on the Gold Coast
was an extraordinary game of rugby league.
Organise the game plan first, then pick the team to match the plan
Why play this year's State Of Origin series if everyone is so sure Queensland will win?
Hellish week for league ends on heavenly high note
THE Heritage weekend is a great promotion, with the Tigers versus Rabbits clash at the traditional home of rugby league the undoubted highlight. In a timely celebration for the code, these two great rivals turned on an absolute belter at the SCG yesterday.
Senior players our best hope in changing a flawed culture
PRESIDENT Teddy Roosevelt once said: "To educate a person in mind, but not in morals, is to educate a menace to society."
Put the video refs on pause
THE NRL should ban the video referee from adjudicating on general-play incidents.
The jury is still out on this Manly recovery
I REALLY don't know what to make of Manly. They have me baffled.
A fitting way to pay homage to our indigenous magicians
I love the plan to stage an annual rugby league match between the Aboriginal Dreamtime team and an NRL All Stars side. The proposal has real merit and should be an absolute must on the Australian Rugby League calendar.
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