Phil Gould has fired major shots towards the NRL over their handling of the Viliame Kikau tackle, labeling the whole issue 'an embarrassment'.
Gould also expressed his deep fears for the game, suggesting the Kikau charge was just one among a handful of examples in recent weeks where a major disconnect between the game and its fans is beginning to form.
The outspoken commentator's comments come after the judiciary handed down a two-game ban to Kikau for dangerous contact on Dragons player Darren Nicholls last Friday night.
Whilst Kikau was deemed to have collected Nicholls late, and consequently sin-binned during the game, he was later charged with a shoulder charge.
Speaking on Channel 9's Six Tackles with Gus podcast, Gould expressed his fury towards the ruling.
"I can't believe he was penalised, I certainly couldn't believe he was sin-binned. Then I can't believe he was charged." he said.
"For any player in our game to be serving two weeks on the sideline for that tackle, is an embarrassment to our code"
"It's an embarrassment to those who have contributed along the way to making this happen"
"Tariq Sims should never have missed a game for his tackle, and Viliame Kikau should never miss a game for his tackle."
Following a month of on-field refereeing decisions that have divided opinions, Gould believes the Kikau ruling highlights what's become a broader issue for the game, and one which he fears will push fans away.
"This carries over into the way our game is refereed, the way our game is administered."
"It is so frustrating, and it is an example of everything that frustrates us about our game."
"Everyone jumped up and down when (Matt) Dufty came across field shoulder charged Brent Naden into touch."
"The fact that people are talking like this, the fact that people think like this, has come because other people who have been making rules and making interpretations shouldn't be in the job they're in."
"The game is too technical, it's too cocooned out on the field and it's a boring viewing experience, it really is."
"It's becoming like rugby."
Gould is the latest member of the game to call out the NRL over the Kikau incident, with James Maloney recently suggesting referees are becoming 'trigger happy' towards contact on playmakers.
