{"id":141026,"date":"2025-09-13T21:07:15","date_gmt":"2025-09-13T21:07:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/141026\/"},"modified":"2025-09-13T21:07:15","modified_gmt":"2025-09-13T21:07:15","slug":"phil-gould-and-canterbury-bulldogs-close-ranks-round-lachlan-galvins-family-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/141026\/","title":{"rendered":"Phil Gould and Canterbury Bulldogs close ranks round Lachlan Galvin\u2019s family"},"content":{"rendered":"

I knew about the dinner with Gould at the time but chose to let time pass before discussing it in public. Neither Gould nor Driussi wanted to elaborate on what was discussed, but the chairman was happy to explain how important Gould\u2019s contribution away from the limelight is.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe couldn\u2019t have achieved what we have without Gus,\u201d Driussi said. \u201cHe\u2019s been the architect of our entire rebuild and transformation.<\/p>\n

\"Lachlan<\/p>\n

Lachlan Galvin escapes the clutches of Cameron Munster on Friday night.Credit: NRL Photos<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s no one I\u2019d rather have leading our football department. Phil\u2019s track record and knowledge of the game speaks for itself.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat people don\u2019t see is how much Gus cares about the individuals at our club. He\u2019ll send a supportive text message to someone going through a tough time, or quietly help a player or staff member through a family crisis \u2013 all without seeking any recognition.<\/p>\n

Loading<\/p>\n

\u201cThe hours Gus puts in behind the scenes are incredible. He\u2019s constantly working on improving every aspect of our football department. Gus has transformed everything about our football operation since he arrived, not just our playing squad. He\u2019s put the right people in place to transform our pathways, recruitment, coaching, strength and conditioning and medical.<\/p>\n

\u201cWorking with Gus has reinforced my belief that having the right people in key positions makes all the difference. Having both him and [coach] Cameron [Ciraldo] locked in until 2031 gives us the stability and continuity to build the club around.\u201d<\/p>\n

Turbo shock raises more questions about Manly<\/p>\n

Even if Tom Trbojevic does not leave Manly, the fact he has been exploring options in England says it all when it comes to the level of player dissatisfaction at the Sea Eagles.<\/p>\n

The excuse that everything was Daly Cherry-Evans\u2019 fault is wearing thin. DCE is out the door<\/a>, but the problems remain.<\/p>\n

Trbojevic is contracted to the Sea Eagles until the end of 2026, but is free to negotiate with other clubs from November 1.<\/p>\n

\"What<\/p>\n

What does the future hold for Tom Trbojevic and the Sea Eagles?Credit: Thomas Wielecki<\/p>\n

There is a clear level of scepticism<\/a> about the direction in which Manly are heading. If a player of Trbojevic\u2019s standing at the club and in the community is looking elsewhere, the club\u2019s management and owners need to start delving into where the problems are. The issue with that, however, is that they may be the problem.<\/p>\n

The mirror can be a tough place to look at times.<\/p>\n

Manly have been teetering on the brink of imploding for the past year or so with increasing dissatisfaction from players about the direction the club is heading. Missing the finals in 10th this season has done little to allay those fears.<\/p>\n

It will be unfortunate if Trbojevic becomes the face of these problems, as he is the solution, not the issue.<\/p>\n

\"NSW<\/p>\n

NSW coach Laurie Daley was heading to Manly to help Anthony Seibold – until he wasn\u2019t.Credit: Getty Images<\/p>\n

There are rumblings at every level at Manly<\/a>, starting from the board and going all the way through to the playing group. There needs to be change, and it must happen quickly.<\/p>\n

The problem is those in power are not about to sack themselves. Instead, it will be those at the coal face, such as the star players, or even the coach, who end up in the spotlight.<\/p>\n

The club\u2019s failed attempt to secure Laurie Daley in a mentor role for Anthony Seibold says a lot about what is going wrong at the Sea Eagles. Daley would have been an excellent addition to the Manly set-up. His football knowledge and experience would be invaluable. But here\u2019s where the questions start.<\/p>\n

Why does a coach who has been at three clubs, made the finals, coached in international rugby union and is university educated need a mentor?<\/p>\n

\"Daly\u00a0Cherry-Evans<\/p>\n

Daly\u00a0Cherry-Evans has left, but the problems persist at Manly.Credit: Getty Images<\/p>\n

That\u2019s not to be critical of Daley. It\u2019s more of a question about the mentality at Manly.<\/p>\n

Seibold has been through enough as a head coach<\/a> to know how to handle most situations. The issues he is having with the playing group are not ones that can be fixed by Daley or anyone else. They are issues he needs to sort out himself.<\/p>\n

It doesn\u2019t help that there are people leaking at the club when it comes to appointments as significant as a mentor for the coach. The premature trumpeting of Daley\u2019s arrival and his subsequent decision to knock back the role makes the club look silly. Not Daley or Seibold, but the entire organisation, as they missed their mark. Again.<\/p>\n

Things have not been good at Manly for the past couple of years, but more significantly since the mishandling of Cherry-Evans\u2019 departure. I have intimate knowledge of the failed contract negotiations, and despite denials from chief executive Tony Mestrov, I am extremely confident in reporting that there was no offer to Cherry-Evans<\/a> until the dramatic on-air offer Mestrov made via Fox Sports after Channel Nine news revealed Cherry-Evans was departing the club.<\/p>\n

Cancer fight drives Bears recruiter<\/p>\n

New Perth recruitment boss Dane Campbell is the man who has to build a Bear from scratch.<\/p>\n

He is the unknown official with one of the biggest jobs in rugby league in the next six months. But Campbell has already been through a bigger challenge after battling colorectal cancer.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve had the all clear,\u201d he said. \u201cI have been through chemo the first six months of this year, and that was more so to hopefully eliminate it coming back, because we were able to have the surgeries whilst it was still very much in the smaller stages of things, thank goodness.\u201d<\/p>\n

And when he was offered the job by Bears chief executive Anthony De Ceglie, his experience in fighting cancer played a role in his decision to leave a prominent recruiting job with the Broncos.<\/p>\n

\"Big<\/p>\n

Big Bear: Immortal Mal Meninga is the new Perth Bears coach.Credit: Louise Kennerley<\/p>\n

\u201cI think when opportunities present themselves, why live in fear of it … go attack it,\u201d Campbell said. \u201cAnd I think that\u2019s something that was very honest from the start about what I\u2019ve been through.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnthony had already done his homework, and he was understanding of what I\u2019ve been through the last 12 months or so. It wasn\u2019t a deterrent to them, therefore it wasn\u2019t for me. And who knows what the future holds, whether it comes back in one year, five years, 10 years or never. But right now, I\u2019m OK.\u201d<\/p>\n

Campbell has to sit down with Bears coach Mal Meninga and general manager of football David Sharpe to work out the recruitment strategy. And he will call on his experience gained with the Storm and Cowboys.<\/p>\n

\u201cI tend to think there\u2019s a couple of ways [to approach it],\u201d Campbell said. \u201cOne is the star model, where you attract all the big names and throw whatever it is at them in terms of whether it\u2019s money or opportunity or whatever it may be. But the other one is probably the commitment-based model, which is probably more Storm background.<\/p>\n

\"Melbourne<\/p>\n

Melbourne had instant success in the NRL. Can the Bears match that?Credit: Craig Golding<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess we\u2019ve got a couple of little blueprints in recent times … what the Dolphins have done well, or what they missed the mark on. And then we\u2019ve got sort of longitudinal history. How did the Storm put their group together early when they had so much success early in the piece, and how did they sustain that too, over a number of years?<\/p>\n

\u201cThey came from all different directions, and they\u2019re able to keep that group together for a period of time and build a culture.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think there\u2019s ample talent within the game, and there\u2019s guys at potentially really good clubs and strong clubs that maybe need an opportunity, too. So having a bit of foresight around, do we want to walk in on day one with a really gung-ho side, to go out and try and compete for a title from day one? Or are we going to try and, I guess, simultaneously look to how we be sustainable, and how do we build this over a three to five-year period.\u201d<\/p>\n

Golden moments revisited<\/p>\n

It will be interesting to see how big a role Cathy Freeman plays in a celebration on Monday to mark 25 years since the Sydney Olympics opening ceremony, and to mark the beginning of a new Accor Stadium hall of fame. Freeman produced the greatest moment in the stadium\u2019s history when she won gold in the women\u2019s 400m, but she shuns the limelight and most media opportunities these days.<\/p>\n

\"Cathy<\/p>\n

Cathy Freeman wins gold in the 400 metres in Sydney in the greatest moment in the stadium\u2019s history.Credit: Craig Golding<\/p>\n

Other greats with a strong connection to the stadium will definitely be there, however. John Aloisi, who scored from a penalty in 2005 to send Australia to the football World Cup, is scheduled to attend. And there will also be a video contribution from English rugby great Jonny Wilkinson, who kicked the winning field goal to give England the 2003 World Cup. He could not attend.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve been told one of the inductees into the hall of fame has taken four flights to get to Sydney, and cut short a family holiday.<\/p>\n

George Ellis will conduct a 25-piece orchestra at the same end of the ground as his performance at the Games opening ceremony.<\/p>\n

\"Phillip,<\/p>\n

Phillip, Paris and Preston Smallwood will play in three grand finals for the Bilambil Jets on Sunday.<\/p>\n

Also, gold medal-winning Australian women\u2019s water polo team members Joanne Clark, Yvette Higgins, Bronwyn Smith, Taryn Wickham and Deborah Watson will be in attendance.<\/p>\n

A select group of league and rugby union stars are also expected to be there.<\/p>\n

Huge day for Smallwoods<\/p>\n

The Bilambil Jets are in three grand finals on Sunday in the Northern Rivers Regional Rugby League competition, and one family, the Smallwoods, are in for a day to remember regardless of the outcome.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m sure there are other great family stories out there, but it\u2019s difficult to beat having two parents and their son playing in three grand finals on the same day. Dad Phillip is playing reserve grade, mum Paris is in the women\u2019s game and son Preston is in the under-18s decider.<\/p>\n

\u201cI stopped and thought about it the other day, and we are pretty lucky and proud,\u201d said Phillip, 39. \u201cWe did a jersey presentation the other night and thought this just doesn\u2019t happen. His mum and I are both back-rowers now that we are getting older, and Preston is a fullback. He still has the speed. He has a three-year contract with the Raiders. He is in his last year with them, and we are both so excited for what is ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n

NRL is Live and Free on Channel 9 & 9Now<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"I knew about the dinner with Gould at the time but chose to let time pass before discussing…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":141027,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[568],"tags":[64,63,761,762,158,85],"class_list":{"0":"post-141026","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nrl","8":"tag-au","9":"tag-australia","10":"tag-national-rugby-league","11":"tag-nationalrugbyleague","12":"tag-nrl","13":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/141026","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=141026"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/141026\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/141027"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=141026"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=141026"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=141026"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}