‘I hate social media’: Phil Gould defends Reece Walsh, goes on rant over punch video

Bulldogs General Manager of Football Phil Gould has defended Broncos star Reece Walsh over a social media video which showed him punching a friend.

A TikTok video showed Walsh punching a friend in the head while wearing a boxing glove in what has been interpreted as a prank.

Gould wasn’t fussed with Walsh’s prank in itself, believing his actions were “what young men do”, but his issue was that Walsh’s actions were filmed and posted on social media.

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“This is what young men do, the difference is these days that they film it and put it all out on video and social media. That’s the stupidity, that part there,” Gould said on Wide World of Sports’ Six Tackles with Gus podcast.

“When young men get together and have a drink, this is what they do, this is the prank stuff that they do on each other. The stupidity here is Reece Walsh allowing it to be videoed and getting it on social media.

“That’s life, it’s what young men do … it’s not a good look. Everyone is coming out and saying they are supporting violence and other things. Some of the stuff they get up to when they’re having a drink together, it’s what young men do.

“Reece Walsh probably shouldn’t be doing it because he’s a professional footballer … but that’s Reece wanting to show his mates he is still a part of the group. I know exactly what’s gone on there, I know what it is.

“The young people today, their life is on video and their life is on social media. It’s a different world, I hate social media for young people.”

According to reports, Broncos officials are upset with Walsh and may decide to take action against their star.

An unhappy Broncos chief executive Dave Donaghy made contact with Walsh on Tuesday.

Walsh downplayed the seriousness of the incident but admitted Donaghy wasn’t thrilled.

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“Just having a laugh with my mate, obviously,” Walsh said on Nine’s Today Show.

“We don’t support violence and stuff like that, but obviously, it’s not a good look for myself and that was all [me] trying to have a laugh and a good time with friends.

“There’s a really cool jersey coming out that we should be talking about and not letting this overshadow it.

“Obviously (Donaghy is) a bit disappointed in the post.

“I feel like I could have obviously chosen [my actions] a lot better. I feel like just having a laugh with my mate and putting it on social media and stuff like that.

“It’s really important that we try and keep those things away and obviously we don’t support violence in those sorts of ways. [Things] probably went a bit too far.”

The Walsh incident follows forward Martin Taupau’s split with the Broncos after he liked a social media post from former NRL player Elijah Taylor which made criticism of Brisbane coach Michael Maguire’s methods.

Walsh is out of Origin one with a knee injury but may return for the Broncos in their round 13 clash against Manly.

Brisbane have the bye in round 12, which kicks off tonight.

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