About Phil Gould

Phil ‘Gus’ Gould is arguably the most prominent voice in Australian Rugby League. A former successful player and coach, and now the general manager for the Penrith Panthers and a perennial figure in channel nine’s coverage, Gould is one of the most polarising figures in the game. While most punters love his wit and emphatic commentary style, some fans can’t stomach his apparent all-encompassing footy knowledge and tendency to speak in superlatives. 

Gould has had success in almost every facet of Rugby League, on the field and off. Debuting for the Panthers in 1979 and becoming the club’s captain at just 20 years of age, Gould would then go on to play for the Newtown Jets and Canterbury Bulldogs, before eventually retiring at the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

Gould’s venture into coaching post his playing career was an immediate success. He would win a premiership with Canterbury in his first ever year in 1988, and guide Penrith to their first title in 1991. Gould would then take over as the New South Wales State of Origin coach between the years of 1992 and 1996, winning his first three series in a row, before returning to the Origin coaching arena from 2002 to 2004, orchestrating another two series wins. Gould’s record at Origin level has made him the most successful coach New South Wales has ever had, with many stating that nobody understands Origin the way Gus does. After the recent failures by the Blues, there was a call for Gould to insert himself back into the head coach position to turn New South Wales’s fortunes around.

One of the best Rugby League minds the game has ever seen, Gould would eventually turn his hand to commentating and journalism. While Gould’s media prominence as a commentator and pundit isn’t everybody’s cup of tea, Gould’s love and knowledge of the game can never be questioned. This is evident in Gould’s latest role as general manager for the Penrith Panthers, becoming involved in all aspects of the club from management, recruiting and coaching.