LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
Phil Gould, the Canterbury boss, has criticized the NRL's endorsement of extravagant post-try celebrations, linking them to the troubling incidents that occurred during the Wests Tigers' unexpected victory over the Bulldogs last Sunday. Following the game, three Tigers players received official warnings from the NRL for making an offensive Middle Eastern hand gesture, also referred to as the 'khawd,' aimed at Bulldogs fans after scoring the decisive try at CommBank Stadium.
Additionally, Tigers center Brent Naden was issued a breach notice for using the gesture in a social media post shortly after the match concluded. The NRL acknowledged that the players' actions "caused, or had the potential to cause, offence to members of the NRL community," according to a statement from the league.
The NRL further noted, "Separately, the NRL has issued a breach notice to Wests Tigers Player Brent Naden. The notice alleges that Naden's conduct following the Wests Tigers match on 3 August 2025 contravened the NRL Code of Conduct. The Player will have five days to respond to the breach notice."
Canterbury has a substantial Arabic fan base that was understandably upset by the players' conduct. When asked if any of his players were offended by the gesture, Gould remarked on the 'Six Tackles with Gus' podcast: "I don't know…I haven't asked."
Gould went on to elaborate on the issue of post-try celebrations, denouncing player behavior and cautioning that such actions could incite crowd disturbances. This critique comes despite the NRL's 'Try July' initiative, which has successfully raised nearly $2 million for various charitable causes since its launch in 2020.
He stated: "I hate all the post-try celebration stuff. I hate the way we encourage it and promote it. I hate the way we promote the way the players react to the fans. When you score a try, celebrate with your teammates. I don't like all that (carry on). But if you want to promote all that and do all that, then you're going to get this sort of stuff."