05-08-2025
Phil Gould embarrasses himself in 30-second trainwreck segment
Phil Gould has embarrassed himself in a trainwreck 30-second TV segment on Monday night.
The rugby league icon left viewers squirming in their seats as he refused to answer generic questions about the Bulldogs' star recruit Lachlan Galvin.
It was another bad look for the Canterbury football supremo, coming just weeks after his integrity as an NRL commentator was called into question.
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Gould's shadow games regarding his club's controversial courting of Galvin has left many with a sour taste in their mouth — and his performance on Monday showed his conflict of interest has reached breaking point.
The 67-year-old was tight-lipped when asked about news that emerged on Monday night that his club's No. 7 was taken for scans over injury fears following the club's loss to the Tigers on Sunday.
It was reported on Fox League's NRL 360 that Galvin is in 'serious doubt' to play this weekend's game against the Warriors at Accor Stadium on Sunday — and may need to spend several weeks on the sideline with the NRL finals series just five weeks away.
Fans got a lot more information on Fox League than they did from Gould.
You can watch the segment in the video player above.
The former NSW State of Origin coach was asked by leading journalist Michael Chammas if there was 'anything to be worried about' with the scans, Gould responded: 'They don't send you for scans unless you've got something to worry about.
'So we'll see what happens. I'm not the doctor. I don't read the scans.'
When asked by Cronulla premiership-winning captain Paul Gallen what body part was being assessed, Gould responded sheepishly: 'Ankle and hand I think'.
When asked by 100 % Footy host Emma Lawrence if he had suffered the injury during the game, Gould responded: 'He didn't pick it up carrying his bag to the game, Emma'.
When asked if there were fears Galvin's season could be over, Gould responded: 'I hope not'.
It was 30 seconds of cringing for most viewers as Gould refused to give a straight answer.
This is far from the only time Gould has refused to give viewers a straight answer when it comes to Galvin.
It reached tipping point in May when Gould and Chammas had a heated exchange in front of the cameras when the former Penrith supremo was questioned about the club's moves behind the scenes to entice Galvin to leave the Tigers.
According to NRL 360 at the time, Gould and Chammas continued their heated exchange off-air after the show.
Gould earlier this year repeatedly said the club was not actively pursuing Galvin, despite making several comments praising the playmaker and saying he would go on to become the highest-paid payer in the history of the sport.
Despite widespread reports suggesting otherwise, Gould insisted on 100% Footy that he was not involved in the club's pursuit of Galvin's signature.
'I never said we weren't interested (in Galvin). What I said was we're on a different course because he wasn't off contract until 2027,' he said.
'We couldn't talk to him until November.'
But veteran journalist Phil Rothfield said a few days later the saga severely damaged Gould's standing with fans and the broadcaster.
'I reckon he's been seriously damaged credibility wise and his reputation has been severely damaged at Channel 9 over this,' Rothfield said on the Off the Record podcast.
'I think the punters are awake to it and they are the lifeblood of every TV network that provides the ratings. I honestly think he's been badly damaged and people won't cop his bullsh** anymore.'
While speaking on Triple Ms daily NRL podcast on Tuesday, Rothfield added: 'He gets away with so much rubbish and has for years but he's been caught on the hop here and in my view, he has misled Channel 9 viewers for some time about Lachlan Galvin.
'Rugby league officials do lie and it's a fact we have to live with, but when you are being paid nearly $1 million to sit on a (TV) panel, you are there to inform and say the truth. But this is where Gus gets himself into an awkward situation. As a viewer, he hasn't been upfront with us.'
