Phil Gould has launched a pointed attack on Queensland hooker Harry Grant, calling him a "cheat" for his habit of engaging referees during play — and the comments have landed just one day before the State of Origin III decider, adding a fresh flashpoint to an already charged series.
The explosive label came during a television panel discussion on Monday night, when Gould was asked to weigh in on Grant's well-documented practice of approaching referees mid-game to lobby for set restarts and penalties — something Grant, who is not the Queensland captain, is not meant to do under the game's rules.
Gould and Smith Agree — But Draw Very Different Conclusions
The conversation took a revealing turn when former Queensland captain Cameron Smith — himself a player renowned throughout his career for regularly approaching match officials — attempted to frame the tactic as standard practice stretching back to the game's earliest days.
"You need to keep the referees honest," Smith said, before appealing to Gould: "Back me up 'Gus', that's been happening since 1908, hasn't it."
Gould acknowledged Smith had taken the art to new heights, before pulling no punches on Grant. "Let's call it for what it is — Harry is a cheat," he said.
Gould went on to explain the mechanics behind the tactic: "When you do that to a referee, and you're talking to a referee, and questioning a decision, you never think he's going to reverse a decision. It's about what he does with the next one."
Smith, rather than pushing back, openly confirmed the strategy. "I'll be honest. Absolutely. It's to make them think twice about the next one," he said. Gould smiled and repeated his verdict: "One hundred per cent. Anyway, Harry is a cheat."
NSW Camp Plays It Cool Ahead of the Decider
While Gould was forthright in his assessment, New South Wales players and coaching staff took a more measured line when asked to respond ahead of Wednesday's decider.
Blues captain Isaah Yeo said he didn't particularly notice Grant's referee interactions during the heat of play. "I don't really notice it during the game, and I don't think it slows it down," Yeo said. "Obviously, Gus has an opinion on it, and he's probably watched more footy than me. He's probably not doing it when things are going right for them."
NSW coach Laurie Daley declined to be drawn on whether he agreed Grant was a cheat, laughing off the question. "I'm not getting involved in that," he said. Daley did note that every team looks to push the boundaries, adding that the Blues' leadership group — Yeo, Nathan Cleary and Cam Murray — had their own style and he trusted them to handle it.
NSW hooker Reece Robson offered perhaps the most candid take from inside the Blues camp. "Harry must have good relationships with the refs. Is it gamesmanship? He's good at playing the game," Robson said. "He definitely gets away with a lot of that sort of stuff. I think the whole Queensland side the last couple of games have been better playing that side of the game. That's something we need to improve."
Cleary's Legacy and the Blues' Focus
Beyond the Grant controversy, Daley confirmed there would be no late changes to the NSW starting lineup heading into the decider. He also pushed back on the notion that Wednesday's match would be a defining moment for halfback Nathan Cleary.
"He's created his own legacy as a player, he's had a lot of success, and he's a guy who works really hard — he deserves everything that comes his way," Daley said. "I don't buy into 'owning Origin'. We'll all be happy if we can win. We're not chasing individual accolades — we're chasing a victory for the state."
With Gould's "cheat" verdict sure to echo through the pre-match build-up, all eyes will be on referee Ashley Klein and how he manages Grant's presence at the ruck when the two sides meet in the series decider.
