Phil ‘Buzz’ Rothfield’s highlights and lowlight: Phil Gould twists salary cap committee facts
For someone who constantly bags the way the NRL runs the game, why did Bulldogs supremo Phil Gould refuse to contribute to real change to an issue which must be fixed?
P
hil Rothfield
Phil Gould has developed a reputation for standing on his soapbox saying he knows all the answers - but then refusing to contribute to real change.
And his comments regarding his withdrawal from a salary cap committee only support that.
Gould said on Channel Nine last week that he refused to be part of the committee, which also includes club CEOs Blake Solly and Dave Donaghy, Dragons chair Andrew Lancaster, Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon and player manager David Riolo, because the scope of the committee was not broad enough.
“The reason why I pulled out of that committee was because the scope of the investigation was not extensive enough,” Gould said.
“I said there was nothing I could contribute unless they wanted to go back and blow it up and start again, which they’re not prepared to do obviously.
“All these other things are just cosmetic changes and aren’t going to make a great deal of difference to salary cap management.”
These comments are actually a load of crap. Typical Gus twisting the facts.
The truth is the scope for the committee was about as broad as it gets.
The original email to the committee, which initially included Gould, stated the group would “review all aspects of Salary Cap including third party contracts, allowances and exemptions”.
For someone who bags the way the game is run so much, Gus talks so much rubbish.
HIGHLIGHT
The Titans’ victory over the Warriors in New Zealand to celebrate
Dessie Hasler’s 500th game. Sadly it won’t be enough to save his job.
LOWLIGHT
The Cronulla Sharks attack against the Rabbitohs in Gosford. They won by just two points despite a having massive advantage in the penalties, six-again restarts and territory against a side decimated with injuries.
SHOOSH
Daly Cherry-Evans will turn out for Manly against his new club the Sydney Roosters next weekend. His signing at the Bondi Junction club will be formally announced as soon as both Manly and the Roosters are finished for the year, sometime in September. DCE’s management and the Roosters have an agreement to say nothing until then.
SHOOSH II
We’re hearing Wallabies superstar Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii is no certainty to stay at the Waratahs next year and that he could be headed to a rival Super Rugby franchise. We tried to check in with his twice-deregistered agent Isaac Moses, who declined to return our calls.
SHOOSH III
Former Australian schoolboys and Queensland Under-19s halfback Tom Duffy is heading to the Brisbane Broncos as a back-up for veteran Adam Reynolds. The 22-year-old has played five games for the North Queensland Cowboys but is on the outer with coach Todd Payten and has not been offered a deal for next season. Duffy had offers from the UK Super League but wants to back himself in the NRL as a long-term replacement for Reynolds in Brisbane.
SPOTTED
Jake Duke has done an outstanding two-part interview with superstar Greg Inglis which raises great awareness around mental health that airs on Fox League’s Face-to-Face on Tuesday night. It is an extraordinary insight into his life, recreational drugs, rehab and his darkest moments.
SPOTTED III
A Hyundai SUV bearing the number plates of Wests Tigers five-eighth Jarome Luai parked at a McDonald’s.
