djdeep4172
Kennel Enthusiast
- Joined
- Sep 29, 2014
- Messages
- 3,690
- Reaction score
- 6,914
Questions have been raised around who is running the Bulldogs team this season - coach Trent Barrett or general manager Phil Gould.
Gould revealed this week that Barrett had to sort his permission to pick halfback Kyle Flanagan for the Dogs’ clash against Penrith on Sunday.
Flanagan, who Gould also said is the club’s highest-paid playmaker, was not selected in the opening four rounds of the season.
Barrett went with Jake Averillo for the first two rounds before axing him in favour of Brandon Wakeham.
But after losing 44-0 to the Storm last week, the Bulldogs have changed their halves again - this time with Flanagan coming in to partner Matt Burton.
“It’s not Trent Barrett who has made a decision on when he comes back to first grade,” Gould told WWOS.
“Trent wanted him in the side, but he came and asked me for permission to do it. I could have easily said no if I didn’t think he was ready. I said yes.”
Gould also revealed that he had a two-hour meeting with Flanagan after the trials.
“I said at the moment, ‘I don’t think the NRL is the place for you, I don’t think you can help the team and you can’t help them at the moment. But we need to reset you career and that could mean some time in reserve grade’,” Gould said.
Flanagan has been impressive for the undefeated Dogs in New South Wales Cup over the past month. Last week he scored a try, set up another, ran for 135 metres and had two linebreaks.
“I applaud Trent Barrett for making the call but the comments from Phil Gould... now they were interesting,” SMH journalist Adam Pengilly told Big Sports Breakfast radio on Friday.
“For him to come out and say I’ve been handling Kyle Flanagan this whole pre-season and I’ll determine when he comes back to first grade, Trent Barrett almost seems like he’s call Gus to ask permission to pick Kyle Flanagan.
“Now for me, the question has got to be asked, who is actually running this team?”
Rugby League great Laurie Daley responded by saying he believes Gould is simply protecting the club.
“I think it was a double play by Gus, I think it’s Gus taking the pressure off Trent,” Daley said.
“I’ve got no doubt that Gus would be looking at Kyle Flanagan and Trent would be stupid not to utilise him and (Gould’s) ability to be able to tell when a player is ready.
“I think in the off-season they would have discussed what was the best way forward for Kyle and Baz probably said ‘I don’t think he’s ready to play’ and Gus would have said well I’ll have a look at him, I’ll watch him, I’ll talk to him and help develop him along with what you guys do on the field and when we think he’s ready to play I’ll let you know.
“I think that’s how it has unfolded and I reckon Trent would be stupid not to take the advice of Gus.
“But also Gus is being very smart in taking the pressure off Trent because he’s saying if you’re going to have a crack at him have a crack at me first because this is my decision.”
Gould revealed this week that Barrett had to sort his permission to pick halfback Kyle Flanagan for the Dogs’ clash against Penrith on Sunday.
Flanagan, who Gould also said is the club’s highest-paid playmaker, was not selected in the opening four rounds of the season.
Barrett went with Jake Averillo for the first two rounds before axing him in favour of Brandon Wakeham.
But after losing 44-0 to the Storm last week, the Bulldogs have changed their halves again - this time with Flanagan coming in to partner Matt Burton.
“It’s not Trent Barrett who has made a decision on when he comes back to first grade,” Gould told WWOS.
“Trent wanted him in the side, but he came and asked me for permission to do it. I could have easily said no if I didn’t think he was ready. I said yes.”
Gould also revealed that he had a two-hour meeting with Flanagan after the trials.
“I said at the moment, ‘I don’t think the NRL is the place for you, I don’t think you can help the team and you can’t help them at the moment. But we need to reset you career and that could mean some time in reserve grade’,” Gould said.
Flanagan has been impressive for the undefeated Dogs in New South Wales Cup over the past month. Last week he scored a try, set up another, ran for 135 metres and had two linebreaks.
“I applaud Trent Barrett for making the call but the comments from Phil Gould... now they were interesting,” SMH journalist Adam Pengilly told Big Sports Breakfast radio on Friday.
“For him to come out and say I’ve been handling Kyle Flanagan this whole pre-season and I’ll determine when he comes back to first grade, Trent Barrett almost seems like he’s call Gus to ask permission to pick Kyle Flanagan.
“Now for me, the question has got to be asked, who is actually running this team?”
Rugby League great Laurie Daley responded by saying he believes Gould is simply protecting the club.
“I think it was a double play by Gus, I think it’s Gus taking the pressure off Trent,” Daley said.
“I’ve got no doubt that Gus would be looking at Kyle Flanagan and Trent would be stupid not to utilise him and (Gould’s) ability to be able to tell when a player is ready.
“I think in the off-season they would have discussed what was the best way forward for Kyle and Baz probably said ‘I don’t think he’s ready to play’ and Gus would have said well I’ll have a look at him, I’ll watch him, I’ll talk to him and help develop him along with what you guys do on the field and when we think he’s ready to play I’ll let you know.
“I think that’s how it has unfolded and I reckon Trent would be stupid not to take the advice of Gus.
“But also Gus is being very smart in taking the pressure off Trent because he’s saying if you’re going to have a crack at him have a crack at me first because this is my decision.”
