Bulldogs supremo Phil Gould has played down reports that he is taking a more hands on approach from embattled coach Trent Barrett.
Gould ran a training session on Tuesday in the wake of last weekend’s late collapse against Brisbane, increasing speculation that Barrett is on the skids.
Gould explained that it was actually Barrett’s idea for the players to hear a different voice at training.
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Barrett is under pressure – but has Gould and the club’s support for the immediate future.
“Trent asked me to present some data to the players before the Broncos game last week,” Gould explained to Wide World of Sports.
“We got a good reaction. He wanted to give it another go this week, which we did. It was an honest appraisal.
“I was then talking to Trent in the middle of the field while players were doing some skill drills. They were a bit sluggish to start the week and I said to Trent they needed a liven up.
“He threw me his whistle. I was wearing jeans. It was a bit of fun and something different for the players. Not sure that my 1980s approach will change the world, but it was fun.
“I would do anything Trent asked me to do. (The story was a) huge over-reaction, but that’s typical.”
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