Gizmo
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- Mar 9, 2006
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By Christian Nicolussi
July 19, 2021 — 5.45pm
All Blacks legend Steve Hansen has hailed Canterbury’s appointment of Phil Gould because, he says, “Gus has got the experience, he’s got the contacts and he’s a former Bulldogs man himself”.
Gould, whose work at Penrith turned the Panthers into one of the strongest sides in the NRL, left his role as a consultant for the NZ Warriors to become Canterbury’s general manager of football.
Hansen was Canterbury’s first signing coup when brought on board last summer to assist new coach Trent Barrett. Gould’s role at Belmore will include junior development and pathways and not cross over with that of Hansen, who is solely focused on improving the coach and his support team.
“Gus ticks all the boxes,” Hansen told the Herald on Monday. “I haven’t had any dealings with him other than watching him from afar.
“I only met him for the first time at a luncheon last month when I was over in Sydney. But you only have to see what he’s done in the game to know he’s the right person for the job.
“As I said right from the beginning, the biggest thing that needs to happen at the Bulldogs is getting stability around the board, and he’s a man with the influence to help get that done.”
Canterbury CEO Aaron Warburton told the Herald on Monday he was keen for Hansen to extend his tenure at the club beyond October when his contract expires, and how “we can all benefit as an organisation from having him around as much as possible”.
New Zealand-based Hansen, who completed a 10-day hit-and-run trip to Belmore last month - but has since had his hopes of a return visit dashed because of the Greater Sydney COVID outbreak - said: “It’s up to the club and Trent [what happens beyond my current deal].
“If they want me to continue doing that then I’ll be open to talking to them. The important thing is I have a good relationship with Trent and he can pick up the phone and talk to me whenever he needs to.
“It’s there for everyone to see there have been big improvements made at the club, and you have to put it down to Trent and his staff. He’s going well.
“There were mitigating circumstances with that Manly game when you look at the side they put on the park. There was a lot of inexperience.
“But they were right in it against the Roosters, and Sunday night’s game [against Souths] was outstanding. They had a meltdown at half-time and lost [Lachlan] Lewis for ten minutes. Words were exchanged, and without knowing what was said it’s hard to work out what went on. I do wonder if it was worth ten in the bin. It cost them eight points.
“Gus’s role will be to run the rugby league side of the business, Aaron’s job is to run the commercial side of it, and I’m there to help Trent do what he’s good at, which is coaching.”
Hansen has not had any input with recruitment as the club pursues Tevita Pangai Jr and Paul Vaughan to join Josh Addo-Carr, Matt Burton and Brent Naden next season.
The Dogs are anchored to the bottom of the ladder and have no hope of making the finals, and Hansen said the remaining seven weeks would naturally be used to help build for 2022 when “you can judge them then on how they’re going”.
“My advice to Trent will be something I tell him, not the whole world,” Hansen said.
“As a coach you’re always looking to the future, it’s not about the right here and now, and whether you coach the All Blacks, the Bulldogs or the Wallabies, you’re always looking into the future because you need sustained success.”
July 19, 2021 — 5.45pm
All Blacks legend Steve Hansen has hailed Canterbury’s appointment of Phil Gould because, he says, “Gus has got the experience, he’s got the contacts and he’s a former Bulldogs man himself”.
Gould, whose work at Penrith turned the Panthers into one of the strongest sides in the NRL, left his role as a consultant for the NZ Warriors to become Canterbury’s general manager of football.
Hansen was Canterbury’s first signing coup when brought on board last summer to assist new coach Trent Barrett. Gould’s role at Belmore will include junior development and pathways and not cross over with that of Hansen, who is solely focused on improving the coach and his support team.
“Gus ticks all the boxes,” Hansen told the Herald on Monday. “I haven’t had any dealings with him other than watching him from afar.
“I only met him for the first time at a luncheon last month when I was over in Sydney. But you only have to see what he’s done in the game to know he’s the right person for the job.
“As I said right from the beginning, the biggest thing that needs to happen at the Bulldogs is getting stability around the board, and he’s a man with the influence to help get that done.”
Canterbury CEO Aaron Warburton told the Herald on Monday he was keen for Hansen to extend his tenure at the club beyond October when his contract expires, and how “we can all benefit as an organisation from having him around as much as possible”.
New Zealand-based Hansen, who completed a 10-day hit-and-run trip to Belmore last month - but has since had his hopes of a return visit dashed because of the Greater Sydney COVID outbreak - said: “It’s up to the club and Trent [what happens beyond my current deal].
“If they want me to continue doing that then I’ll be open to talking to them. The important thing is I have a good relationship with Trent and he can pick up the phone and talk to me whenever he needs to.
“It’s there for everyone to see there have been big improvements made at the club, and you have to put it down to Trent and his staff. He’s going well.
“There were mitigating circumstances with that Manly game when you look at the side they put on the park. There was a lot of inexperience.
“But they were right in it against the Roosters, and Sunday night’s game [against Souths] was outstanding. They had a meltdown at half-time and lost [Lachlan] Lewis for ten minutes. Words were exchanged, and without knowing what was said it’s hard to work out what went on. I do wonder if it was worth ten in the bin. It cost them eight points.
“Gus’s role will be to run the rugby league side of the business, Aaron’s job is to run the commercial side of it, and I’m there to help Trent do what he’s good at, which is coaching.”
Hansen has not had any input with recruitment as the club pursues Tevita Pangai Jr and Paul Vaughan to join Josh Addo-Carr, Matt Burton and Brent Naden next season.
The Dogs are anchored to the bottom of the ladder and have no hope of making the finals, and Hansen said the remaining seven weeks would naturally be used to help build for 2022 when “you can judge them then on how they’re going”.
“My advice to Trent will be something I tell him, not the whole world,” Hansen said.
“As a coach you’re always looking to the future, it’s not about the right here and now, and whether you coach the All Blacks, the Bulldogs or the Wallabies, you’re always looking into the future because you need sustained success.”
