General Manager of football for Canterbury Bulldogs Phil Gould has played down reports he took over training sessions from coach Trent Barrett after their loss to Brisbane on the weekend.

It had been widely speculated by some sectors of the media that Gould was imposing himself over Barrett.

“Trent asked me to present some data to the players before the Broncos game last week,” Gould explained to Wide World of Sports.

“We got a good reaction. He wanted to give it another go this week, which we did. It was an honest appraisal.

“I was then talking to Trent in the middle of the field while players were doing some skill drills. They were a bit sluggish to start the week and I said to Trent they needed a liven up.

“He threw me his whistle. I was wearing jeans. It was a bit of fun and something different for the players. Not sure that my 1980s approach will change the world, but it was fun.

“I would do anything Trent asked me to do.”

The Bulldogs play the Roosters this Saturday.