Any other official would likely have been breached. That's why a group of club bosses complained to the NRL last year about Gould.
The NRL drew a line in the sand when Gould again called it “stupid” – five times in total – last month over Bunker's decision not to allow a Celery Koroisau test, as well as the off-season rule change regarding short starts and walkouts that end at the maximum.
He's been hit with a $20,000 default notice, though Gould doesn't seem too concerned about it all.
Some have accused the NRL of being precious while trying to silence the loudest voice in the game. Others call them good for having the stones to bring it to the line.
Say what you will about Abdo, but kudos to him for taking on one of the game's most thorny and influential figures.
To be honest, it wasn't Gould's biggest hit 100% Footy since the show started a few years ago. It was done in typical Gus style, with a fake explosion, eyes wide open with a smile on his face and a water bottle to demonstrate Koroisau's defeat.
NRL Chief Executive Andrew Abdo.Credit: Kate Geraghty
“It was his use of the word 'stupid,' that's what got him in trouble,” V'landys said Thursday. “This is nothing personal. I get on very well with Gus. But we are the custodians of the game and we have to protect his credibility. We take it very seriously.”
From the time Gould started writing columns for Fairfax and appearing on live broadcasts on Nine, over the years he has had every NRL chief executive getting used to the Mylanta, or calling Nine bosses or Fairfax to complain.
But Abdo is the first to send him a non-compliance notice as a club official, which is important.
Gould had until Thursday to respond, but has been granted an extension until the middle of the month. He told Nine's Today Monday that I would fight him.
From the time Gould started writing columns … he's had every NRL chief executive getting the Mylanta.
A Nine spokesman said the network was not commenting, although there are plenty of people in the building who support Gould's right to say what he wants.
That's not surprising: Nine is a media company that pays people like Gould big contracts to be an authoritative and direct voice. Its product is independent journalism.
Gould is a polarizing figure in a game full of opinions, but there are plenty of people who agree with what he says about the game being strangled by rules, crackdowns and different interpretations.
He was right about the Koroisau trial and the change to the abandonment rule, which rewards a mistake.
There are also countless people throughout the game who are board members, assistant coaches, consultants or who take a clip from the NRL itself.
More recently, there has been increased attention NRL 360 host Braith Anasta, who is also a player coach. The conduct of agents rests with an independent body of the NRL.
V'landys says there will be greater scrutiny on perceived conflicts of interest. You can bet Nine will remind the NRL if the same rules as other networks don't apply.
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Ever since the Bulldogs learned they were fighting a losing battle with the NRL because Jackson's contract was up, Gould has been scathing in her criticism of Nine and on social media.
Gould often complains that the rugby league media have an agenda against him, particularly News Corp reporters. It's one of the great ironies: no one is more calculating when using their media platform than Gus.
He believes he has “done nothing wrong,” but according to the record he signed when he joined the Bulldogs he agreed he would not “engage in any conduct that is prejudicial, discrediting, inconsistent with, contrary to, or otherwise prejudicial to the best interests, image or well-being” of the game.
It's a very subjective rule, of course, but there would be no major sport anywhere in the world, including the AFL, that would allow a registered club official to repeatedly say the “stupid” code.
It will be interesting to see how far he is prepared to take the matter.
After it responds, the NRL will make a determination. If you are not satisfied with the result, you can appeal and fight in court.
Gould did not respond to a request for comment.
Lomachenko's low-key fight in Australia
Fun game, boxing.
Although the focus of the sport is mainly Tim Tszyu Right Now, George Cambosos the jnr fighting in Perth for the IBF world lightweight title has hardly captured the imagination, which is crazy because he's fighting one of the Ukrainian's all-time greats. Vasily Lomachenkoalthough when he is in the twilight of his career at the age of 36.
Boxing great Vasiliy Lomachenko.Credit: AP
Lomachenko was on track to fight Cambodia in 2022 before returning home to Ukraine to defend his country in the war against Russia.
“God has a plan for everyone, and this was His plan,” Lomachenko told me this week. “It wasn't meant to be in 2022, and I came home because I felt this was more important than my boxing career. I made the right decision and here we are in Perth two years later.
“It was not a difficult decision. At that moment, I knew I had to help my country. My goals in boxing didn't matter. I needed to go home. It wasn't about boxing.”
Lomachenko has not fought since May of last year when he lost to the American Devin Haney in a decision marked as the biggest robbery in recent boxing history. Kambosos has lost twice to Haney.
“I've said enough about this decision, but I will say that people who understand boxing know that I won this fight,” Lomachenko said. “I'm not worried about a decision from last year when I have to face a good fighter like the Kambosos.
“George is an aggressive fighter and always comes out to give the fans a great fight. I have a lot of respect for him. I respect the Kambosos for always fighting tough opponents. I've done the same in my career, and that's what boxing is all about.” .
THE APPOINTMENT
“I love you, Dana. You're like Michael Vick but with human beings”. – Comedian Jeff Ross with a cheer for the UFC boss, who was sitting in the crowd at the retired NFL star Tom Brady's comedy roast, which aired live on Netflix earlier this week. Vick was sentenced to 23 months in prison and was suspended by the NFL for his involvement in a dog-fighting ring in 2007.
THUMBS UP
If you're not following the GWS Giants social media account, you're missing out on some fun. The Giants misspelled their banner for last Saturday's derby against the Swans: “Our club was born with a big mouth. Your club was born in Melbourne's [sic] to the south.” To which the club's own Instagram account said: “It would be funnier if we spelled Melbourne correctly… To be fair we're only 13.”
THUMB DOWN
Watch out for the coaching clause! David Fifita told the Gold Coast Titans on Thursday that he will not take up his option to stay at the club. Instead, it is tied to roosters. Their decision to give him a clause 10a to negotiate with other clubs has bit them in the bottom. It was put on his contract because they were forced to renegotiate Fifita after he went on loan Justin Holbrook his marching orders in June of last year.
It's a big weekend for… Rooster props Spencer Leniuwho returns from his eight-week suspension for racially denigrating the Broncos five-eighths Ezra Mam at the season opener in Las Vegas. The Chooks play the Warriors at Allianz Stadium on Sunday, so it's a safe space. We can only wonder how the crowd will react during the Magic Round at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane next weekend.
It's an even bigger weekend for… Ange Postecoglouthe Tottenham Hotspur manager who has gone from being a managerial breath of fresh air in the Premier League at the start of the season to being under all sorts of pressure with just two wins since March 11. They face Burnley on Sunday morning AEST.
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