I’ve got one message for all the critics out there demanding Phil Gould goes public and opens up about Canterbury’s problems — shut your own traps instead of asking him to open his.

Gus is probably only second to Peter V’landys on the list of the most influential people in the game and when he talks, people listen.

So naturally there is interest in his take on where the Dogs sit after a poor run of losses and talk of internal unrest.

That the Canterbury supremo has decided to go quiet on social media and not say too much on television is a good sign in my book.

It means he’s closed ranks and is working overtime to dig the Dogs out their hole.

He may be one of our biggest media identities and loudest voices but his main obligation is to the club, its coaching staff and players.

Fans — as important as they are — don’t pay his wage and not entitled to know every single thing that goes on at a club.

He may well decide to break his silence soon — maybe on television tonight — but I still reckon the cards will be kept very close to the chest.

He knows the importance of circling the wagon at times like this.

Gould’s knowledge of the game is ridiculous.

I sweat on his podcast — Six Tackles with Gus — dropping every week because I always feel a bit more educated about rugby league after hearing him talk.

My respect for him goes way back to the late 1980s when I was coming through the ranks at Penrith and he was coaching the Bulldogs.

He was living on Macquarie Street at Greystanes with the Big Marn, Darryl Brohman.

It was just across the canal from my place so I went around there one night asking Gus if I could join him at the Bulldogs.

He told me that while he could do with a player like me, it was better that I remain at Penrith and stay on the path I was on because bigger things were around the corner.

It was solid advice at a time I needed it so I stayed the course and the rest is history.

I was never coached by Gus at club level but did spend time under him in the Origin arena and can tell you apart from his high rugby league IQ, he also cares deeply around his players and staff.

So there’s no doubt he’s putting an arm around Cameron Ciraldo and the playing group right now and plotting a path forward.

As to what’s happening at Bulldogs, I have been saying for weeks they look disjointed and confused.

Lachlan Galvin is not the answer at halfback and I’m not surprised his skipper Stephen Crichton had a shot at him after a bad defensive mistake in the loss to the Dolphins.

Those sorts of confrontations happen at clubs when things aren’t going well.

I actually think it’s a good thing. It shows they still deeply care.

I’d rather that than players hugging and high-fiving teammates after they make a mistake.

Leave me out of that rubbish.

Trust me, the Dogs will come good.

And there you’ll hear plenty from the mighty Gus Gould.

AND DON’T GET ME STARTED

Nothing creates instability in a football side more than players not knowing if they have a future at the club.

Cronulla look a prime example.

At least nine players — Will Kennedy, Jesse Ramien, Braden Uele, Billy Burns, Sione Katoa, Hohepa Puru, Toby Rudolf, Cameron McInnes and Sam Stonestreet — don’t know whether they will line up in the black, white and blue in 2027.

Sifa Talakai is off to the Perth Bears next year and more will follow him out the door as a roster clean-out to make room in the salary cap begins.

Players will say the uncertainty is not playing on their minds and they are fully focused come the 80 minutes each week, but the evidence would suggest otherwise.

After 10 rounds, last year’s preliminary finalists are in 10th spot on the back of a 4-5 win/loss record.

They have only won back-to-back games once this year and have conceded a whopping 244 points.

No wonder coach Craig Fitzgibbon has lost all his hair.

Defence is his trademark and he’d be disgusted with what’s been dished up so far this season.

Defending your line is a lot about attitude and it’s just not there from Cronulla.

They don’t look connected to me at all and can you really blame them when there is a large group staying and an equally large group potentially going.

With all that movement, 2026 was seen as the final year of Cronulla’s premiership window with this current playing group.

That window looks in need of a jemmy right now.