'Spooked a few': Bulldogs football boss Phil Gould hits out at NRL's 'overreaction' that led to R360 ban

NRL supremo Phil Gould was bewildered by the league's response to the proposed rebel rugby competition, R360,labelling the 10-year ban levelled at players who defect as an "overreaction" and accusing the league of being "spooked".

His comments put the Bulldogs' football manager directly at odds with ARLC chairman Peter V'landys.

The new league, fronted by former England rugby star Mike Tindall, threatens to poach top talent from domestic and international structures in both rugby league and rugby union.

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Backed by significant private investment but currently operating without World Rugby's regulatory approval, R360 has aggressively targeted players from both rugby codes, notably the NRL, with several stars reportedly targeted with lucrative pre-contracts.

Earlier this week, V'landys announced a stringent new policy, threatening 10-year suspensions for any NRL player who defects to R360, with accredited agents who negotiate on their behalf facing an equally harsh penalty.

The competition is reportedly attempting to lure stars like Ryan Papenhuyzen, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Zac Lomax with offers up to $1.4 million a season.

However, Gould immediately hit back at the proposed punishment, joining a growing list of leading NRL figures, including Billy Slater, who oppose the career-ending ban.

"I feel this has been an overreaction from the Australian Rugby League Commission," he wrote on X.

"I don't see R360 as a potential threat."

Speaking to 9News Sydney on Wednesday, V'landys claimed the strict ban was the NRL responding to concerns from clubs.

"They approached us that that they wanted some action taken and some leadership shown, so we had a commission meeting today and we took and we took some pretty decisive action," he said.

However, Gould was not convinced of the global threat.

"I'm not sure how many clubs raised concerns with R360," he said.

"I have not had any player managers using Rugby 360 as a bargaining tool. 

"I think this, too, has been over-exaggerated in the media and maybe spooked a few club officials."

Speaking on Nine's Today on Friday, Broncos legend Sam Thaiday echoed Gould's view that the sanctions are extreme.

"I kind of do agree with Gus on this one, and it's tough. Sometimes I don't agree with Gus at all, but he is a brilliant mind and a brilliant mind when it comes to rugby league," he said.

"R360 at the moment is, is a pipe dream. It's a concept.

"We know that LIV Golf really took off in the golfing world, poaching a lot of the big-name players, but nothing's happening yet."

Thaiday also questioned the legal enforceability of the NRL's decade-long suspension.

"My employment history isn't that long, but you know, back in the day when I worked at the Broncos Leagues Club, if I went and worked for Norths Kallangur, I don't think they were going to ban me from working at any other leagues club for 10 years after that," he said.

"So, I don't know from a legal point of view if they can do that as well."

The policy's legal status is highly uncertain and is widely predicted to face a court challenge on the grounds of restraint of trade.

R360 is scheduled to kick off next October, featuring six men's and four women's teams.

Organisers plan to base franchises in major cities including London, Miami, Tokyo, Dubai, Boston, Cape Town, Lisbon and Madrid.