Phil Gould protests NRL referees on live television

Phil Gould, a senior figure at the Bulldogs, made headlines recently after he walked off the set of Channel Nine's show "100% Footy" twice during discussions about NRL referees. This happened after host James Bracey asked for his opinion on a new rule that prevents coaches from publicly criticizing referees after games. Gould, aware of the hefty fines for speaking out against officials, chose to leave rather than risk a fine. Last May, he faced a $20,000 penalty for criticizing the league's rules but successfully appealed it, temporarily avoiding payment. The incident comes in light of ongoing tensions among NRL coaches regarding referee decisions. Ricky Stuart, coach of the Canberra Raiders, has also expressed frustrations following a recent match but carefully avoided naming any referees in his comments to evade potential penalties. The NRL has warned coaches to refrain from making negative statements about referees, stating that such comments can escalate fan and media scrutiny. Stuart, along with other coaches, was previously involved in discussions with NRL officials about rule interpretations but has become dissatisfied with how these changes are being implemented in games. Additionally, a recent game featured an incident where a Bulldogs player, Josh Curran, was penalized for mimicking a referee, further highlighting the strict enforcement of rules surrounding officiating in the league.