Phil Gould says he will fight $20k NRL fine after 'stupid' rant on Channel Nine

In short: Phil Gould has said he will look to fight a $20,000 fine imposed on him by the NRL for "destructive" on-air comments.

Phil Gould has said he will look to fight a $20,000 fine imposed on him by the NRL for "destructive" on-air comments. Gould called the NRL and its rules "stupid" five times during a rant on Channel Nine last Monday.

Gould called the NRL and its rules "stupid" five times during a rant on Channel Nine last Monday. What's next? Gould has until Thursday to formally respond to the NRL's breach notice.

Phil Gould says he will consult his lawyer and challenge his $20,000 fine for making "destructive" on-air comments about the NRL.

The veteran media panellist and Canterbury football boss called the NRL and its rules "stupid" five times during a rant on Channel Nine last Monday.

Gould criticised the decision not to award a try to Wests Tigers captain Api Koroisau in the round-eight loss to Brisbane and also took aim at the decision to scrap penalties for incorrect line dropouts this season.

"We are so stupid with our rules. Our game is stupid," Gould, who threw a water bottle on the ground in apparent disgust at the end of his speech, said.

Last Thursday's fine marked his first financial penalty from the league.

On Monday morning, Gould insisted he hadn't "done anything wrong" and said he intended to dispute the fine — half of which is suspended for 24 months.

"I'll certainly be challenging this breach notice, I can let you know that," Gould said on Today, broadcast by his media employer Channel Nine.

"I haven't done anything wrong. I've got to go through a process, they've given me a breach notice.

"I've been too busy to deal with it over the weekend … I'm going to have to get a continuance so I can get my lawyer onto it."

The NRL on Thursday said Gould's comments were detrimental to the best interests of the game.

"We welcome constructive criticism and passionate opinions," NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said.

"But registered officials cannot overstep the mark and make comments that are considered detrimental to the game or NRL competition.

"Destructive attacks on the game itself will not be tolerated."

Gould has until Thursday to formally respond to the NRL's breach notice.

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AAP

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