Jackson_1994
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Phil Gould has a huge job to do at Canterbury and it appears that he is in for the long haul. Details of Gould’s contract with the Bulldogs have been kept quiet but Sport Confidential can reveal the deal is loaded with triggers that could see the rugby league savant staying at Canterbury for six years or longer.
It means Gould will be given the time and space to turn around his old club’s dwindling fortunes. He may need it. Take a peak under the salary cap bonnet at the Bulldogs and it isn’t pretty.
The club’s roster is badly bent out of shape. Remarkably, there is not a spine player among the five highest-paid at the club. Instead, that money has been used on the likes of Tevita Pangai Jr, Nick Cotric, Josh Jackson, Josh Addo-Carr and Luke Thompson.
It has left the Dogs dangerously short of players capable of leading the side around the park. Matt Burton will be a welcome addition next season but Gould has been working the phones and his contacts to try to put the club in position to strike when November 1 arrives and clubs are free to sign players entering the last year of their contracts.
Gould was lambasted over claims he arrived at Penrith with a five-year plan.
He himself has called those comments media gibberish and much of the Panthers’ good fortune in recent years can be put down to the work Gould did when he arrived at the club.
The Bulldogs are hoping he can have the same effect with them, although the task is more difficult given they don’t have the same junior numbers to rely upon. It means Gould’s contacts and ability to cut a deal will be even more important in the player market.
November 1 will be the first test of that ability.
It means Gould will be given the time and space to turn around his old club’s dwindling fortunes. He may need it. Take a peak under the salary cap bonnet at the Bulldogs and it isn’t pretty.
The club’s roster is badly bent out of shape. Remarkably, there is not a spine player among the five highest-paid at the club. Instead, that money has been used on the likes of Tevita Pangai Jr, Nick Cotric, Josh Jackson, Josh Addo-Carr and Luke Thompson.
It has left the Dogs dangerously short of players capable of leading the side around the park. Matt Burton will be a welcome addition next season but Gould has been working the phones and his contacts to try to put the club in position to strike when November 1 arrives and clubs are free to sign players entering the last year of their contracts.
Gould was lambasted over claims he arrived at Penrith with a five-year plan.
He himself has called those comments media gibberish and much of the Panthers’ good fortune in recent years can be put down to the work Gould did when he arrived at the club.
The Bulldogs are hoping he can have the same effect with them, although the task is more difficult given they don’t have the same junior numbers to rely upon. It means Gould’s contacts and ability to cut a deal will be even more important in the player market.
November 1 will be the first test of that ability.
