Breaking News: Phil Gould SLAMS ‘Unfair’ Coach of the Year Award in Fiery Dally M Medal Controversy!
Gould’s blunt take on coach of the year
One of the most coveted awards on Dally M night is Coach of the Year.
However, in the last two years, the award hasn’t gone to the coach who wins the minor premiership.
Warriors coach Andrew Webster won it last year while Todd Payten was the winner in 2022.
Craig Bellamy won in 2021 when Melbourne were minor premiers.
Phil Gould believes the system is inconsistent.
“I’ve never taken much notice of Coach of the Year to be honest and I think they get it as wrong as much as they get it right,” he said on Wide World of Sports’ Six Tackles with Gus.
“It’s unfair as much as they get it right. At the end of the day the coach of the year is the one that’s won the minor premiership. I don’t believe in coach of the year awards.
“Generally it’s the coach that’s coached the team that exceeded expectation. The lower your team is ranked, the more chance you’ve got of winning the coach of the year.”
Gould’s appointment at the Bulldogs, Cameron Ciraldo, is in the running for this year’s award.
Ivan Cleary and Craig Bellamy are the other contenders.
Gould explained those two would be deserving winners considering the star players they’ve had missing throughout the season.
However, the Bulldogs general manager was also supportive of Cameron Ciraldo.
“Certainly the coach that’s improved his team the most this year is Cameron Ciraldo hands down,” he said.
Dally M award winners
NRL
Captain of the Year – Stephen Crichton
Coach of the Year – Craig Bellamy
Rookie of the Year – Jack Bostock
Dally M medal – Jahrome Hughes
NRLW
Captain of the Year – Tiana Penitani
Coach of the Year – Scott Prince
Rookie of the Year – Kasey Reh
Dally M medal – Olivia Kernick