Phil Gould has expressed strong criticism towards the myriad of post-try celebrations evident in modern rugby league, particularly following an incident involving the Wests Tigers. In their upset victory against the Bulldogs in Round 23, players Samuela Fainu and Brent Naden were seen making a gesture known as the ‘khod’ or ‘khawd’ towards Bulldogs supporters, prompting an NRL investigation.
On Wednesday, the league issued official warnings to several players, while Naden received a breach notice after an expletive-filled video appeared online following the game. Some Bulldogs fans found the gesture offensive, but as reported by Nine’s Michael Chammas, many within the Arabic community view it in a more playful context.
Chammas elaborated in his column for The Sydney Morning Herald, explaining that while the term ‘khawd’ can imply "take that" or even "up yours," it has recently taken on a lighter, more affectionate tone among younger members of the Australian-Arab community, depending on its context and delivery.
Despite this, Gould shared his broader disdain for any post-try celebrations in rugby league, questioning the focus on such antics instead of the quality of the game itself. He articulated his grievances on Wide World of Sports’ Six Tackles With Gus, stating, “Are these really the things we need to be talking about in rugby league? There was some great football played on the weekend.” He firmly voiced that he dislikes the encouragement of such celebratory behaviour and its relationship with fan interactions.
Gould reasoned that by promoting these celebrations, the league invites unnecessary controversies. He doesn’t shy away from stating, “If you want to promote all that, you’re going to get this stuff.” He believes this focus detracts from the essential elements of the sport and generates discussions around negative incidents rather than commendable performances on the field.
In light of the incident during the Tigers’ 28-14 win, Gould noted he hadn’t personally inquired whether Bulldogs players found the gestures offensive. The nature of post-try celebrations has evolved significantly, with initiatives like "Try July" now forming a regular part of the NRL calendar, yet Gould remains sceptical about their place in the game. He emphasised that while the league leans into these celebrations, it must be prepared for the fallout that may ensue.