The NRL community was left in disbelief this week after a surprising social media blunder by none other than Phil Gould, a legendary figure in the sport. Imagine a moment so cringe-worthy, it becomes the talk of the town—and then some. Gould, affectionately known as Gus, found himself in hot water after sharing a post that was anything but rugby-related. Instead, the 67-year-old Canterbury Bulldogs GM decided to praise a toilet door that extended all the way to the floor, captioning it on X with, “Toilets, where the doors come all the way down to the floor … Who thinks of this stuff? … Brilliant...” But here’s where it gets controversial: the door’s shiny finish reflected more than just admiration—it inadvertently captured Gould himself in a rather private moment. While the reflection wasn’t crystal clear, eagle-eyed followers were quick to point out the oversight, turning what could have been a harmless post into a viral sensation. One user bluntly commented, “Phil... the reflection!”
Gould, ever the professional, handled the situation with humor, deleting the post and quipping moments later, “Whoops … How funny … #costanza.” Yet, the internet never forgets. Screenshots of the original post spread like wildfire, becoming a hot topic on the Hello Sport podcast. Host Tom Birmingham summed it up bluntly: “There’s no need to dilly dally, Phil Gould took a photo of himself while taking a sh*t. The world is a different place now.” Eddy Simpson added a touch of humor, noting, “I like that he’s gone the two-hand photo take ... very boomer.”
Social media erupted with a mix of shock and amusement. Comments ranged from disbelief—“No No No No No … what were you thinking?”—to playful reassurance—“No dramas Gus, couldn’t see anything, smooth as a Ken doll.” One user even joked, “Can’t believe Gus just sent the whole world a d**k pic and said whoops and it’s play on.”
But here’s the part most people miss: This incident comes on the heels of Gould’s recent health scare, where he was hospitalized for “significant health concerns” related to a heart condition. In early October, he shared an update on X, expressing gratitude for the support and explaining, “Basically, I came in to change the tyres, and they found a problem with the engine. Go figure. I’m lucky they found it early.” Despite the seriousness of his health issues, Gould returned to his media duties in time for the NRL Grand Final, won by the Brisbane Broncos.
This episode raises a thought-provoking question: In the age of social media, where the line between public and private is increasingly blurred, how much should public figures share—and how much should we, as an audience, forgive? Is Gould’s blunder a harmless mistake or a cautionary tale about oversharing? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments—do you think this was an innocent oversight or a moment that crossed the line?
