Phil Gould has been left unimpressed with the ‘beat-up’ surrounding the furore to the Penrith Panthers trainer incident having singled out the penalty handed down from the NRL. Fans were left fuming on the weekend when Panthers trainer Corey Bocking ran in front of Gold Coast Titans kicker Jayden Campbell as he was lining-up a conversion to put his side four in front.
Campbell had to stop his preparation as boos rang around the stadium when Panthers trainer Bocking darted across the field and in his line of sight. The halfback went on to miss the kick and was furious with the situation.
Phil Gould (pictured left) has been left unimpressed with the ‘beat-up’ surrounding the furore to the Penrith Panthers trainer incident, while former NRL star James Graham has called for an immediate rule change. (Images: Getty Images/ Fox Sports)
The Panthers received a breach notice on Monday proposing a $50,000 fine for the club and the trainer facing a five-match ban. The club will have five days to respond to the breach notice.
Many NRL fans have been left frustrated at the incident with the Panthers finding themselves in yet another trainer controversy this year. Although Gould feels the hype around the situation has been overblown.
Gould, a former Panthers general manager, claimed on Channel Nine the fallout among the fans had prompted a stronger reaction from the NRL. And he isn’t impressed with how it has all unfolded.
“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,” a baffled Gould said on 100% Footy.
“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 agreed with Gould and claimed it was an accident from the trainer.
Gallen felt the five-match suspension was harsh on Bocking who was just doing his job. Although not all fans of the game agree with Gould and Gallen. Many fans felt the NRL need to listen to the supporters to hear their frustration. Many are still outraged over the incident with the Titans struggling on 16 points and feeling duded in the contest.
Maybe they should listen more to the fans.
Every single NRL supporter is sick of the intrusion of trainers on the field.
— Gallo (@JohnGal65097255) August 5, 2025
Why is bad if the NRL listens to mass outrage from the fans?
— Freethug (@freejeffery01) August 5, 2025
James Graham calls for sudden rule change
Speaking on Triple M Radio, England great James Graham believes the NRL need to make it clear a new rule will be coming into the game in case this occurs again. Commentator Andrew Voss spoke on Monday and claimed referee Liam Kennedy was left in an odd position with the rules leaving him in the dark.
“If a defending player waves their arms in front of a kicker and he misses, the referee is obliged to let the kicker have another shot. But no where does it cover a trainer doing that,” Voss said on SEN Radio. “An external party to the players. There is no rule. Liam Kennedy would have had to make up a rule in the spirit of the game on the spot,” Voss added. “We can bulletproof ourselves for future…but first things first, what we do is what action?”
And Graham has claimed if a trainer runs in front of a kicker in the future, the two points should automatically be awarded. “What I would like to see happen in the future, or when they are looking into the punishment for this, is if a trainer runs through the line of sight the two points are automatically awarded to the kicker,” Graham said on Triple M. “They don’t need to take the conversion…or even a potential eight point try.”
This is now the second time this year the Panthers have faced controversy with a trainer. Penrith trainer Shane Elford appeared to spray the footy with a water bottle before the Panthers kicked off in Golden Point against the Cowboys earlier this year. Elford was handed a breach notice for the incident.