So Gould has decided to back-up claims Kikau and Mahoney are not registered. He suggest the reason for Kikau's photo with the shirt on is due to him going the the World Cup this year and they needed promotional material with him for 2023. Now this is very plausible, he wont have a chance to get into a Bulldogs jersey until after November 1 and the world cup would be on so fair enough. The interesting part is his reply to tweets talking about the contracts.
Now Gould's response was simply to bat it away and give the professional type answers. Simply saying they are untrue and that Mahoney and Kikau were announced to members, same as he did that on twitter. Though he said incorrect to the Kikau tweet, and i think what is he saying is incorrect? The fact that the deal hasn't been registered or they have no cap space? Now what is he going to say? "guys we are cash strapped so bear with us. No, of course not, now the alternative is say nothing but could be Gould trying to shut down the growing attention. The person who wrote about Kikau works for a local Penrith paper so there could be bias there, the paper is owned by news corp. The other is a Parra fan who writes on twitter, so not the most trust worthy source to be fair. Gus said the right things, though admitted it was announced to members in an email, Gus did so on his twitter too. So why hasn't it been seen on the NRL site or on either Canterbury or our site? Papali'i, Niukore and Kaufusi were all announced by Parramatta that they were leaving, Stone was not but perhaps due to the fact the Dolphins arent in the comp yet.
To me, members email does not mean anything, the media are slowly catching up and Gould has had a history of saying dumb things. Saying Griffin was safe stating if someone said other coaches were going to Penrith he would scream it is not happening, two days later Griffin was gone. Saying Ivan Cleary was not an option for Penrith a month before he signed back up. Flanagan not for sale and wants him to have better team, stuck in purgatory until now. Saying Barrett should not go to Canterbury then works with him. Gould has a track record, two ways to see it, 1) he is being fair dinkum 2) he is buying time before desperation hits as if sai nothing nothing fuel will start to filter to the fire, saying something has quashed some of the flame but not completely so loss loss to be fair, Gould is one to respond to rumours when they are onto something when others leave it and only talk when approched directly, Gould saw twitter and responded when tagged with others Gould would be a guy that would intervene when you and your mate discuss a contract deal, he would sit at the back then run over say you are wrong to say his piece. Though talk is circling, even the Roosters announced deals when they got done with questions of their cap space. This is Gould buying time, if it was announced to members why hasnt it been on their own site or on NRL site for transfers.
Added nothing about Sutton either in that member email, granted he did sign until 2 months after, but he hasnt been announced either. If it is just announcing at years end then that is lame but ok do as the please but this does seem a time saving ploy to rearragne things, the poor form on the field has resurfaced this question as happens for bad teams all the time, the media makes it go from bad to worse. Are we to believe it? well bias could tell us yes, if you do not then you are entitled to. i would predict that deals get done, but went from 100% in November to now being around 65% sure. Commenters are as convinced either. Bulldogs fans being defensive as they should be as we would be too, some more flogs than others but ok, some responding with what Gould said, or calling BS. And others saying when has Gould ever lied sarcastically and mentioning sumbrero tp which Gould replied he needs a calculator. Gould sounds defensive and ones who are defensive the most are those under pressure or getting caught out, i believe they do not have the space and more and more talk is coming, does not mean Reed is at Parra in 2023 either, but 0% is not a possibility until the Bulldogs announce it themselves on their page and the NRL list it in their transfers.
What do we all think? convinced? does that end it or make it spark more? if you disagree that is acceptable also.
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Gus is trying to be clever here.
Have the players signed contracts to play for the Bulldogs? Answer = Yes.
Have the Bulldogs lodged those signed contracts with the NRL? Answer = Yes.
Ok so far so good. Let's move on, nothing to see here.
However one last question Mr Gould if I may.
Has the NRL approved and registered those contracts? Answer = No
It is this issue alone that is the sticking point. Gus knows it however he's being deliberately evasive here.
Until you see a press release from the Bulldogs which states "Mahoney and Kikau are officially Bulldogs in 2023" then all of this is very, very unofficial.
Gus would be sweating on Flanagan, and probably Thompson voluntarily leaving which will free up a stack of cap space. He'd have everything crossed to make it happen.
I predict Gus will pull this off. He's a well connected guy and I'm sure he can find homes for those players, but gees it's fun watching him and Dogs fans squirm for a bit.
But at what cost will he pull it off? Getting rid of more depth and having 18 squad players that are capable of stepping in and the rest are rookie and fringe players, waste your star players best years for junior growth?
I predict that one of the three will not be there next year, either due to it taking too long or they see the depth and say nope. Do not be surprised if Kikau and Mahoney are elsewhere either with Sutton the one staying.
Mutt's you've turned from predicting he will go to Dolphins or elsewhere to it getting done, that is not the spirit ahahaha. Gus would be going around the world to find new clubs but these clubs have leveredge and should utilise it when negotiating but knowing them they will get too shy do as Gus says.
Seeing them squirm for it to get done is not enough, even if Reed does not go to Bulldogs but to Dolphins or Broncos or wherever that would be so much better over them acting so smug to anyone even questioning this. One comment "We have your best player Parramatta, grow a pair and deal with it" Just want to see that not play out it'll be worth it.
I still do think there is more to this and it is taking too long, one of the players signed is not going to Belmore.
It's a formality it will happen
It would be great if the Dolphins swooped in and stole them both just to see Gus squirm but it won't happen Gus is if not the most influential man in Rugby league he's top 3 he will get it sorted get the dogs on track absolutely blow up the salary cap in 4 years time by then Gus will be gone.
Agreed Offside, and he has a history of talking shite....he is all talk for me. I have little time for the bloke tbh. He tried to feck Griffin in my view and Griffin didnt cop it, and nor should he. Gus has an opinion on everything including probably the climate and Greta Thunberg.....I don't listen.
I still cannot believe the media hype over Barrett as a coach......
2 more losses coming-up for the dogs (Penrith & Rabbits) and the hype will be replaced by the blow torch. Gus will be too busy fending off talk about him sacking his coach by then.
Can't wait!
But there are still pieces to put in place, will Barrett be there? would the new players want anyone else? (not sure why), will players see the depth and say no thank you? will Canterbury get what they want with releasing these players cutting most of their salary or will they fork out half or more to get rid of them forcing them to sign 2 out of the 3. Gould can get it done, but not the way he wants, he went into this year thinking Canterbury were gonna be competitive, going to be 2 and 2 to start and be dogs of war with a few pieces missing before they are top 4 and sold that to the players who believe they are just shy of greateness, when in fact they are in big trouble. They will improve, but not to where they think they will. The worse Bulldogs play the less valuable Thompson, Allan and Flanagan are.
LB, I can agree wiht what you are saying mate. I just assume these players were told of who he was targeting and the like or maybe the $$$ was too good. Let's not forget he has Kikau and Burton and another from Penrith who were there when Barrettt was assistant. Gus spins a great yarn for me.....I personally cannot see them doing well while they don't have a strong halfback and maybe Gus knows this to be the case until he gets who he wants?
Maybe he does have Shane Flanagan up his sleeve and good riddance if so.
I recall when Parra got the Big 4 during / after Super League and we had a great pack....but to me we didnt have the halfback to win the comp. It seems it could be similar but mind you mate we had better forwards than what C'bury have. I think Gus has bought too many Millionair type players and not enough good workers..but time will tell.
They also won't have a 1 with Dufty off contract unless he takes same pay
Apparently Leeds Rhinos are chasing Flanagan senior and the expectation is he will take his son with him.
I also think Dufty will end up being the Redcliffe Sushi's new fullback.
Dogs will have the room to fit Mahoney and Kikau in but without decent halves, they will be just as shit next year as they are this year.
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