Apparently, there are calls for Phil ‘ Gus’ Gould to coach NSW again. But he says things would have to change before he would even consider it (the guy’s ego has been out of control for a long time), including this gem:
“There would also have to be massive improvement in the relationships between players and the media – in particular, the unfair scrutiny under which these young men are being forced to live their lives – before I would even contemplate a return to coaching at any level.”
Oh yeah, that’s the problem. Those pesky journos keep reporting the drunken fights, sexual assaults, gang bangs, drug abuse and so on.
It’s that sort of attitude that helps ensure that these behavioural problems keep recurring.
More immediately, exactly how does Gould think the media can be muzzled to protect people who commit criminal and socially abhorent behaviour? And why should rugby players get special protection? Shouldn’t TV and film stars, politicians and everyone else in the spotlight be able to avail themselves of this “Gould shield’ whereby the media can only report nice stuff about famous people?
And Gus, Queenslanders get the same scrutiny and they seem to be able to overcome it and deliver the goods on the field.
