LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
Phil Gould expressed his discontent with the heightened attention around the Penrith Panthers trainer incident, particularly the NRL's penalty. Fans were upset when Panthers trainer Corey Bocking ran in front of Gold Coast Titans kicker Jayden Campbell as he was lining-up a conversion, disrupting his preparation and leading to a missed kick amid the stadium's boos.
The Panthers received a breach notice proposing a $50,000 fine for the club, with the trainer facing a five-match ban. The team has five days to respond to this notice.
Frustration among NRL supporters continues as they observe the ongoing controversies involving the Panthers' trainers. Despite the uproar, Gould believes the reaction has been exaggerated.
As a former Panthers general manager, he commented on Channel Nine, noting how fan reactions have influenced NRL's actions. He expressed his displeasure about the incident's escalation, saying, "I think it's the greatest beat up I've ever seen in rugby league...it's the greatest beat up I've ever seen. This is the perfect example that officialdom can be influenced by social media and what the fans say." He adds, "It's the best example. Because the fans were blowing up long before anyone in rugby league had even worried about it. $50,000 and five games...give me a break." Sharks great Paul Gallen supported Gould's view, labeling the incident as an accident on the trainer's part.