Souths CEO Blake Solly says ex-Penrith boss Phil Gould gets too much credit for Panthers’ success

Rabbitohs CEO Blake Solly has taken a subtle dig at ex-Panthers boss Phil Gould, saying the footy guru gets too much credit for Penrith’s outstanding run of success.

Just days out from his club’s preliminary final against the Panthers, Solly has claimed Panthers Group CEO Brian Fletcher and football club CEO Matt Cameron do not receive the credit ‘they deserve’ due to Gould’s high profile.

The Panthers have been the dominant force in the NRL for the past three seasons and this weekend will not only play in the NRL preliminary final, but the club also contest finals in the Jersey Flegg under-21s competition and second-tier NSW Cup. 

Phil Gould’s fingerprints are all over Penrith’s current success in the NRL, taking the reigns at the club from mid-2011 until 2019 and focusing a lot of his attention on junior development

The club have already claimed the SG Ball under-19s competition and reached the finals in the under-16s Harold Matthews comp.

Gould’s fingerprints are all over Penrith’s current success after he took the reins at the club from mid-2011 until 2019 and focused a lot of his attention on junior development.

‘Clearly there has always been a lot of attention on Gus’s role in setting up the club’s pathways – and no doubt he made a big contribution to that – but Brian Fletcher and Matt Cameron, in particular, have done a wonderful job continuing that work and, if anything, improving on it,’ Solly told the Daily Telegraph.

‘For the club to have made as many grand finals as they have this season, and an NRL preliminary final, it’s an extraordinary achievement.

Solly has claimed Panthers Group CEO Brian Fletcher and football club CEO Matt Cameron do not receive the credit ‘they deserve’ due to Gould’s profile

‘Brian and Matt don’t get the credit that they deserve for it and no doubt they’re very proud. They had to make some tough calls, and they have gone from strength to strength on the back of those calls.

‘Part of this was Gus’s vision but to be able to institute it and succeed so consistently over the period of time that they have clearly speaks volumes about ‘Fletch’ and Matt and how they go about their work.

‘When Gus left there was some criticism of Brian, but he and the club have been remarkably successful.’

Souths and the Panthers will meet in the NRL preliminary final on Saturday night. Penrith has won eight of their last nine games against Souths – and will have the chance to finish the Bunnies’ season for the third year in a row

A crowd of up to 55,000 is expected to attend the grand final qualifier in what could be the biggest gate at an NRL finals game since 2019.

Penrith have won eight of their last nine games against Souths and will have the chance to finish the Bunnies’ season for the third year in a row. 

On Friday night the Parramatta Eels will play the North Queensland Cowboys in the other preliminary final in Townsville.