Roger Gould

Roger Gould (born 4 April 1957) is a former rugby union player who played fullback for both the Australian Wallabies and the Queensland Reds.

He first played for Queensland in 1978 and for Australia in 1980.

His last match for Australia was in the 1987 World Cup.

Although Gould's career was cut short due to injury, he is widely considered one of the greatest fullbacks to ever play for Australia.

In 2009 Gould was elected to the Queensland Sport Hall of Fame and was also added to the Queensland team of the century.

Former Australian winger David Campese in On a Wing and a Prayer wrote of Gould that:

My best full-back would be Roger Gould.

He was one of the greatest, a colossus who, although often bothered by injury, was a fantastic player when fit and firing on all cylinders.

He was very big, could kick a ball like a mule and was totally safe and confident under the high ball.

His physique along commanded respect and you could rely on Roger.

Campese further writes in Campo: Still Entertaining that:

He was a great player, and I don't use the word loosely.

He was also exceptionally helpful when I first came into the side.

Roger was a big bloke for a fullback, had the most massive calf muscles I have seen on any footballer, and could punt a ball into a different post code.

But he was also an attacking weapon from fullback like we have probably not had since, until Chris Latham brought that same sense of involvement to the position.

He timed his runs into the backline perfectly and, because of his size, caused panic in rival defences.

His own defence was sure and safe.

Gould really was the complete fullback package.

Former Australian five-eighth Mark Ella writes in Path to Victory that:

Not only is Roger Gould the biggest punter of a ball in world rugby, he's the best fullback I've ever seen.

Roger is just dynamite.

He's strong, safe and although he doesn't look that fast, his long, loping stride can be very deceptive when he gets steam up.

Just having Roger there takes the pressure off you.

He's a terrific defender, too.

Because of his size, he crunches people.

I relied on Roger a lot.

He could see if your angles to attack weren't right.

Things like that.

Whenever I played against Queensland, we tried to keep the ball away from him.

You don't put up too many high kicks to him because he's so safe.

Long balls are out.

Roger simply sends them soaring back with interest deep into your half.

He's cool, too.

Roger has been around and knows exactly what's going on with his life.

Nothing worries him.

Things can be falling apart around us, but Roger stays as cool as ever.

When the hassles occurred over his trip to South Africa, he stuck to his point of view.

Nothing would change it.

Former Australian coach Alan Jones has called Gould the best player he ever coached.

In Wallaby Gold: The History of Australian Test Rugby Jones is recorded as saying that, "...my best player, I think, was Roger Gould. If your defensive line is going to hold up, the opposition are going to roof it, and you've just got to have someone who's absolutely rock-solid. Gould was a flawless. He was a freak. He did did wonderful things."