- Penrith take on Storm in the NRL Grand Final
- Channel Nine have axed one legend from commentary
Phil Gould has been axed from Channel Nine’s commentary duties for this weekend’s NRL and NRLW Grand Finals, according to reports.
The Bulldogs general manager is arguably one of the most influential voices in the sport, having made 103 first-grade appearances as a player for four clubs before enjoying a successful coaching career with Canterbury, Penrith and the Roosters.
The 66-year-old broadcaster, who also writes for the Sydney Morning Herald, signed an exclusive television deal with Nine back in 2017 and regularly calls matches on the broadcaster.
On Sunday, Storm will attempt to throw a spanner in Penrith’s hopes of clinching their fourth-straight premiership title in the NRL Grand Final which will kick off at the Accor Stadium at 6.30pm. Before that, the Roosters will go head-to-head with the Sharks for the NRLW Grand Final at 2.55pm, with Gould not due to feature on comms for either clash.
According to The Courier Mail, Gould, who is affectionately known as ‘Gus’ is set to be moved down the pecking order order for the showpiece event, with NSW legend Andrew Johns and Queensland boss Billy Slater set to step into the hot seat.
Mat Thompson is expected to call the match for the broadcaster while Brad Fittler and Danika Mason will be scoping out stories and conducting interviews from the touchline.
Instead, Gould will be on deck to cover the NRL State Championship clash between Newtown Jets and Norths Devils at 12.20pm.
Gould had copped criticism for ‘biased commentary’ towards his former club Penrith during the 2020 Grand Final.
The Panthers lost to Storm 26-20, but had mounted a stirring comeback to fight back after going 22-0 down at half-time, pressing Melbourne right to the final whistle.
Former Penrith player and coach, Phil Gould will not commentate on this weekend’s NRL Grand final
Storm are looking to stop the Panthers from clinching their fourth-straight premiership
But Gould had insisted that the Panthers were the better side, with some criticising him for a perceived favouritism towards his old club.
‘I honestly feel the Panthers are on top,’ he said.
‘The run of the play I feel like they’re doing better than the Melbourne Storm but the Storm have been able to keep the scoreboard kicking with penalty try and penalty goal and now intercept.’
Some rugby league fans proceeded to hit out at him on social media, with one asking ‘why does he hate Melbourne so much?’
But the former Penrith coach subsequently dismissed the claims of bias, insisting fans ‘only hear what they want to hear.’
‘They need to go back and listen to it (the commentary) again,’ Gould told 2GB in response to his detractors.
‘They only hear what they want to hear.
Gould will instead call the NRL State Championship clash between Newtown Jets and Norths Devils
Gould had copped criticism for ‘biased commentary’ towards his former club Penrith during the 2020 Grand Final
‘There is a difference between bias and honesty, I’m always honest.’
He is now set to be joined by Peter Psaltis, Cameron Smith, Darren Lockyer and Marlee Silva for the State Championship showpiece.
