Ciraldo forced to respond to uncomfortable Gus rumour
Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo has calmly batted away claims that he has lost the power to pick the team, denying that the club’s general manager Phil Gould had taken the reins.
Gould is widely considered one of the most powerful figures in the NRL and has been a lightning rod for criticism, particularly by the News Corp press.
On Thursday, senior News Corp columnist Paul Kent laid out a narrative accusing Gould of undermining Ciraldo by picking his own Bulldogs team which was usually quite different to the coach’s.
He added that for the moment “the coach is having his way”.
The column became a talking point at Ciraldo’s weekly press conference on Thursday, with the coach explaining that the disagreements he had with Gould were all part of grown ups working together.
“We’ve got a good relationship, I wouldn’t have come here if we didn’t,” Ciraldo said with an amused chuckle.
“And if we were going to agree on everything then what’s the point of us being here? It’s healthy disagreements like in any trusting relationship.”
Ciraldo was adamant that Gould was having no say at the selection table.
