Michael Chammas has opened up about his very public spat with Phil Gould on 100% Footy while Christian Nicolussi backed Queensland to stick solid with Daly Cherry-Evans in the latest episode of the Heraldโs new league podcast, 40/20.
Our journalists sat down after Origin I to discuss NSWโs 18-6 win, along with Chammasโ fiery exchange with Gould, which left league fans equally intrigued and entertained.
Speaking about what it was like going head-to-head with Gould over previous comments about Lachlan Galvin and the Bulldogs โ despite several Gould public denials, Galvin is expected to be officially confirmed as a Bulldog on Friday โ Chammas said: โItโs obviously blown up because of the exchange we had. If any other journo was sitting there, Iโm sure theyโd ask those questions.
โI thought about it before I went on air, if I didnโt [ask those questions] Iโd be embarrassing myself. People I know, people on social media, everyone in the lead-up wanted to see Phil Gould asked the question about what he had previously said about [Galvin]. If I didnโt do it, Iโd be a laughing stock.
โIโm only there [on the panel] because I have a job to do to ask questions. I have nothing but respect for โGusโ, I grew up idolising him โฆ I still sit there thinking, โwhat am I doing on this panel?โ when sitting there next to Cameron Smith, Paul Gallen, Phil Gould, and the great James Bracey. The only reason Iโm there is because of my job. I would have done the industry a disservice if I didnโt ask the tough questions.โ
Debate about whether the Maroons keep their skipper Cherry-Evans for game two will be a big talking point, but Nicolussi said he would be stunned if coach Queensland Billy Slater axed him for game two in Perth.
โI know โJoeyโ [Andrew Johns] said it was โtime to pull th triggerโ and play Tom Dearden, but Daly is your captain, heโs your main kicker, he wasnโt great, but he had plenty of mates who didnโt help him. Cam Munster, Harry Grant, โKPโ [Kalyn Ponga] didnโt fire, and if they donโt fire, DCE canโt do his job.
โHeโs the glue in that team, I know Billy loves him. I think heโll be there in Perth, and if they lose there, youโre entitled to ask questions … and if they look to the future.
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