NSW State of Origin
coach, Phil Gould has been found guilty of defamation
following a court ruling in Sydney today.
In 2001, Gould publicly
commented about the NRL judiciary's role in a hearing
involving the then St George Illawarra forward Craig
Smith. Gould accused the judiciary of conspiring
to bring about a guilty verdict against Smith.
The NRL judiciary,
headed by Jim Hall, initiated defamation proceedings
against Gould and the case was heard yesterday and
today.
Gould claimed that
he was merely expressing his opinion but the judgment
ruled in favour of the NRL judiciary.
In August 2001, the
judiciary panel of Darryl Williams, Royce Ayliffe,
Ian Roberts and Commissioner Jim Hall found St George
captain Craig Smith guilty of a grade three striking
charge. This followed an incident in a Dragons v
Broncos match when Smith's arm came into contact
with Brisbane's Kevin Walters, fracturing his eye
socket and nose.
A media frenzy followed
and Gould was asked to speak on Smith's behalf.
Gould put up a spirited argument often thumping
the Judiciary table amidst claims that Smith's actions
were accidential. But the panel ruled against the
New Zealand international, effectively ending his
career in Australia.
Phil Gould has had
a long career in Rugby League playing with Penrith,
Newtown, Canterbury and Souths before coaching the
Bulldogs and Panthers to Grand Final wins.
Gould is the youngest
coach ever to win a premiership. He also coached
NSW to four State of Origin series wins.
On a date to be fixed,
the matter will now go before a judge to decide
what compensation the judiciary members should receive.
Related
news: NRL judiciary to sue Phil Gould - click here
