Penrith Panthers General Manager Phil Gould has come out swinging against the NRL and AFL in his latest Sydney Morning Herald column.

“Despite the NRL generating more revenue than ever before in the history of the game, they are spending more and more money on a growing administration and frivolous pursuits which bring nothing to the bottom line for the clubs” Gould wrote.

“We have four clubs virtually under NRL administration and all but one or two clubs are losing money every year trying to run a professional rugby league program. This is not good enough. Things need to change and they need to change immediately. But I am supporting our code 100 per cent and I think the rugby league public should be rallying behind our game.

“Suggestions that the media will get behind the AFL and shove it down our throats until we like it too should not scare us in any way, shape or form. I don’t know about you, but it makes me want to stand up and fight for our code even harder. I have no issue with AFL. It’s a great sport and many Australians love it. Good on them. As far as I’m concerned there is room enough for all of us. Our battle is not with the AFL.

“But let me tell you this, if they think they can kill off rugby league, especially in NSW and Queensland, simply because they get newspapers to bombard us with AFL coverage, then I say they need to think again.”