ROUND two to Phil Gould - and he didn't even have to throw a punch. Following a fiery interview with Gould on Triple M on Monday night, NRL chief executive David Gallop has refused to appear on tomorrow night's The Footy Show if Gould is present.

Gallop will now be interviewed by Peter Sterling, although Gould was not scheduled to appear on the program in the first place.

Nine chief executive David Gyngell denied reports he had pulled Gould from the show, saying last night: "We're not playing second fiddle to Triple M. Phil has already interviewed David Gallop. Why would we want him to do it again?"

Gould grilled Gallop over 11 minutes in the wake of Sonny Bill Williams's decision to abandon the game to play union in France, and described his comments in response to the move as "patter".

"I was told last week I wasn't supposed to be appearing with Phil Gould," Gallop said. "I was told Andrew Voss."

Asked if he was comfortable with his Triple M interview, Gallop replied: "You always want to finish your answers. There were times when I didn't always get that opportunity."

Gould said last night he is prepared to appear if his bosses want him. "I don't have a problem with David Gallop," Gould said. "I'll go on or off the show if Channel Nine wants."