Fans turn on Phil Gould over baffling State of Origin try call
The Blues were chasing a historic clean sweep in front of 21,912 fans in Newcastle, following dominant wins in Brisbane and Sydney earlier this month, but the Maroons hit back to salvage some pride.
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The match got off to a horror start when Queensland's attempted short kick-off travelled barely five metres and went straight into touch.
The Maroons soon got on top, however, with Sienna Lofipo unlucky to narrowly touch the dead ball line attempting to ground a grubber in the fifth minute.
Watch the botched try attempt in the video player above
Queensland then did open the scoring with a try to Mackenzie Weale, with a minor scuffle breaking out a short time later between Maroon Julia Robinson and the Blues' Jaime Chapman in a contest that resembled anything but a dead rubber.
Enter Isabelle Kelly and NRL veteran Gould.
The Blues' Yasmin Clydsdale found Abbi Church, who offloaded to Kelly and the Sydney Rooster had acres of space to score the simplest of tries.
The four-pointer was awarded before referee Belinda Sharpe halted play for a video review.
Sadly for the 28-year-old Kelly, she had failed to ground the ball.
Speaking on ABC Radio, Andrew Moore declared: 'I've never, ever, ever, ever seen a worse blown try than that.'
It was an unfortunate moment and one that was clear for all to see.
Except that is, for Bulldogs boss Gould.
'It's her arm. I hate this interpretation, I really do,' Gould said on Channel 9.
'That's a try in every grade of rugby league, everywhere in the world, at any time, unless you're on TV.
'I hate that rule. I reckon if it's your arm, it's down.
'That's a try. Why be so pedantic?'
Queensland legend Darren Lockyer tried to be a voice of reason, offering: 'She's hard done by, but I guess she'll learn her lesson too.'
But Gould wasn't finished, shooting back: 'It's a try every Saturday morning in junior league.
'It's a try every Saturday afternoon in A Grade, it's a try every afternoon in NSW Cup.'
Fans on social media immediately made Gus' comment go viral.
Shaun Mancini wrote on X: 'Gus 'I hate that rule'. The rule being that you must ground the ball to be awarded a try. Far out.'
The Cumberland Throw tweeted: 'Gus complaining about the need to ground the ball is actually next level.'
Daniel Potter said: 'Is that moron Gus Gould actually trying to argue that the try should have been awarded despite it never having made contact with the ground? Absolute clown.'
An account perhaps ironically called King Gould pleaded: 'Can Gus Gould just give up the media work … In the box tonight he is creating new rules where you don't need to place the ball on the ground to score. Just give it up.'
Gus: Great try.
Probably. #Origin pic.twitter.com/IAx7N94oAs
— KJ (@the_cage) May 29, 2025
An account perhaps ironically called King Gould pleaded: 'Can Gus Gould just give up the media work … In the box tonight he is creating new rules where you don't need to place the ball on the ground to score. Just give it up.'
Scott New offered: 'So Gus Gould doesn't think you have to ground the ball anymore. Gus that's call Gridiron.'
Another fan took it further, coming up with a set of new rugby league rules, according to Gould.
'What will be Gus's next big call?' they wrote. 'Conversions don't need to go between the posts, dropping the ball forward isn't a knock on and the team who scores more points shouldn't win.'
In a tight contest, the Blues added a second try in the first half to take an 8-6 lead into the sheds.
NSW extended its lead with a try in the 48th minute, the Queensland hit back with two late tries and survived a frantic finish to avoid the clean sweep.
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