It has been revealed the TV stoush between Bulldogs general manager Phil Gould and veteran rugby league journalist Michael Chammas continued off-air on Monday night.
Gould was making his regular weekly appearance on ‘100% Footy’ and claimed he did not “mislead” the public by signing Lachlan Galvin.
But he was challenged on the program by Chammas and Gould took particular issue with the Sydney Morning Herald journalist’s suggestion that he had misled people.
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“Gould and Chammas last night, work colleagues, went toe to toe on air, we all saw it. Apparently it went beyond there, off-air,” Braith Anasta said on NRL 360 on Tuesday night.
“Watching it live, it felt like they were sort of forced into an ad break because it looked like it was starting to get a little bit overly heated and then when it did cut to the ad break, talking to people who were there today, they certainly suggested that Gus wasn’t overly happy,” James Hooper responded.
“I think there might have been a couple of expletives, he felt as though his integrity had been questioned. They kept going toe to toe, after it cut to an ad break there were definitely further words exchanged.”
Anasta, who has known Gould for more than 25 years, praised Chammas for holding his ground.
“It’s very rare that Gus gets questioned about his actions and his comments and I love the fact that, right or wrong, Chammas didn’t back down,” he said.
“He backed himself, he continued to take him on and Gus is an intimidating guy.
“And not only because he’s one of the brightest minds in our game but he’s one of the most experienced and powerful and intimidating. And Chammas just went for it and didn’t take backward step and you’ve got to respect that. Not many guys have got the you know what to do that and I thought Mick did a good job.”
Should the RLPA investigate Gould? | 04:33
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Paul Crawley called on the NRL to better enforce the salary cap with Galvin leaving a huge amount of money on the table at the Tigers to join the Dogs.
“It could be all above board but there are clubs out there who rightfully question how a guy that was offered $1 million a season has now accepted $300,000 less a season,” Crawley said.
“It’s a stain on the salary cap that we don’t have any transparency when it comes to third parties and contracts.
“The Canberra Raiders offered Leo Thompson $800,000 a season but he’s gone (to the Bulldogs) for massive unders and now Lachlan Galvin goes there for massive unders.
“The salary cap is what’s supposed to make it a fair and level playing field.”
But 2004 Bulldogs premiership winner Anasta, who is now a player agent, offered another perspective.
“I think it says more about the clubs they’re leaving than the ones they’re going to,” he said.
“I would take $200,000 less to go to a club to win a premiership because apart from having kids it’s the best feeling in my life. There is no better feeling.
“Mind your words son!” | 00:33
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“When you’re a player like Lachlan Galvin who goes into the Bulldogs system for $200,000 or $300,000 less… he’s got 15 years in our game, his value is going to go up, he’s going to make millions of dollars over that time and he’s going to be financially secure.
“There are limited premiership windows at certain clubs at certain times and the Bulldogs are in one right now and if he was my client I’d be pushing him to the Bulldogs.
“I’d say go there, you’re going to get developed, you’ll become a better player by the time you leave, your value is going to go up every year and you’ve got a chance of winning a premiership.
“Take $200,000 less now for longevity and your value in the game, that’s a smart decision.”
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