‘A Tear in My Eye’: Phil Gould Opens Up About Heartfelt Phone Call with Bulldogs Star Max King Following Origin Selection

Phil Gould, general manager of the Canterbury Bulldogs, has shared the emotional details of a phone call with Max King following the prop’s remarkable achievement of making his State of Origin debut.

King’s path to this moment has been a challenging one, marked by a rare heart condition during his youth.

In addition, he faced a significant setback in 2021 when he had to halt his playing career due to a foot deformity called Haglund’s Syndrome. However, after joining the Bulldogs in 2022, he is now proudly representing the Blues in 2025.

Gould, who took on the role of general manager in 2021, expressed his sentiments to King on Sunday evening, stating, “I’ve got a tear in my eye.”

“Max’s journey with the Bulldogs has been incredible,” Gould stated during an appearance on Nine’s 100% Footy.

“He was one of the first players I signed when I came on board in 2021, following the COVID outbreak. Coming from the Melbourne Storm, Max encountered an injury that kept him off the field for 12 months and he struggled to recover from it.

“A colleague from Newcastle, who was working with him, reached out to me about Max’s situation during their training sessions up there. I told his manager that if he could get fit, we’d be keen to sign him.”

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“During COVID, it was a tough time for everyone – we were all stuck and couldn’t move around much. Max and his father were making clandestine trips down from Newcastle to Sydney to train with us.

“It took quite some time for him to fully rehabilitate. I have a vivid memory from Christmas 2021; I was leaving Belmore and noticed a player training alone on the field. It turned out to be Max King, and it was his first run on grass in ages. I gave him a friendly honk and a thumbs-up, and since then, he has only continued to improve.”

The Bulldogs faced a challenging season in 2023, marking Cameron Ciraldo’s inaugural year as coach, finishing in 15th place with seven wins.

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King took to the field for 23 matches during that tough season, and Gould highlighted the sacrifices he made.

“Two years back, during our challenging year filled with injuries and poor results, Max played the entire season with a serious sternum injury. He lost considerable weight and was unable to lift weights regularly, yet he persevered every week while playing through pain that many weren’t aware of,” he explained.

“That showed us his true character – we realised we had a true winner and leader among us. Now, with a stronger team surrounding him, you can see the fit, healthy young man he has become. He has genuinely earned his spot and is doing exceptionally well.”