Footy icon Phil Gould has NEVER spoken about his family during his 50 years in the game – until a huge shock finally got him to open up
In a rare moment, Phil Gould, one of footy’s most private and prominent figures, opened up about his family during a surprise party to celebrate his 50th year in rugby league.
The star-studded dinner was organised by Canterbury Bulldogs chairman Adam Driussi, who managed to assemble some of Gould’s closest companions in the game.
Paul Vautin, Andrew Voss, Ricky Stuart, Laurie Daley, Cameron Ciraldo, Cameron George were among the many who showed up for ‘Gus’.
‘I don’t even want a funeral,’ an overwhelmed Gould told Sydney Morning Herald.
‘I’ve never even had a birthday … this is for other people, people I look up to, people I work with, not me.’
Gould, who never talks about his family, also had his wife, June, and two of his three kids at the event.
Phil Gould was shocked at the star-studded turnout to celebrate his 50th year in rugby league
Gould’s family and his closest companions in the game turned up to celebrate ‘Gus’, who is pictured centre, with his wife to his right
‘Family is everything,’ Gould said.
‘I’ve always managed to keep work away from a family. I’ve separated the two, and I’ve never really got them involved with it, and I’ve never taken the rugby league issues home at any time.
‘And, you know, we don’t have newspapers in the house – although I think my missus sneaks out and reads them.
‘I felt as though I wanted to protect them from a lot of what we go through in the game, and just go out and work and earn a living and look after them.
‘That’s what I’ve been motivated by. That’s how I’ve always been.’
Gould’s father passed away nine years ago at the age of 82 after battling dementia for 10 years. The footy supremo mentioned him recently hitting after troll on social media who referenced him in a crude manner.
Gould’s had an extraordinary journey in rugby league going from player to coach, and then becoming a commentator and administrator.
He has organised a meticulous rebuild of the Bulldogs in recent years, transforming them from struggling outfit to serious premiership contenders.
Gould joked that the only person he wasn’t happy to see at the function was ‘Fatty’ Vautin, ‘who beat me 3-0 at Origin.’
Gould, who hardly ever mentions his personal life, said that ‘family is everything’
Vautin, who retired from commentary last year, spoke of the respect he had for Gould.
‘To be in his company for 20 minutes, half an hour is one of the greatest things you’ll ever go through in life,’ Vautin told Nine.
When questioned why, Vautin replied: ‘Because he’s so intelligent, he’s so intelligent. Some people have said he actually should be running the game’.
