Phil Gould has as many critics as he does roles in rugby league but even his most strident detractors must admit that there has been no greater knockdown rebuild administrator in the history of the game. While the man known as “Gus” was long gone from Penrith by the time the Panthers put together four premierships on end, he was instrumental in turning a club that had one winning season in nine from 2005-13 into an outfit that has missed the finals just twice since.
Gould didn’t push culture change at Penrith. He sledgehammered it in. He moved on senior players, coaches and administrators who were reluctant to transform. He spent big on recruitment, development, junior structures and facilities in a bid to instil a culture of success. The Panthers ended up with the ultimate payoff.
