Bizarre moment Nine commentator Phil Gould quotes Game of Thrones during his iconic State of Origin rev-up speech
- Game one of the 2021 State of Origin kicked off in Townsville on Wednesday
- Nine commentator Phil Gould opened the match with a last word speech
- While praising players’ bravery, he related it to a passage in Game of Thrones
- Bemused football fans flocked to Twitter to comment on the bizarre monologue
Nine commentator Phil Gould has bemused football fans across the country after quoting a line from popular book series Game of Thrones during his iconic State of Origin rev-up speech.
The presenter took to the stand to deliver his last word speech before the series opener kicked off in Townsville on Wednesday night.
While commending the players for their ‘bravery’ as they head onto the field, the former Penrith Panthers player said their courage in the face of fear could be related to a passage he once read in the novels – turned hit HBO television series.
Channel nine footy analyst Phil Gould has bemused football fans after quoting hit fantasy novel series Game of Thrones during his last word speech at the State of Origin’s series opener on Wednesday night
‘There was a passage I read in the Game of ‘Thrones’ many years ago of a conversation between the father and his son,’ he said.
‘The son asked is it possible for a man to still be considered brave when on the inside he is truly afraid? To which his father replied – when you’re truly afraid, that is the only time a mancan be brave and that’s what you will see tonight.
‘Nerves, insecurity, fear, it will give way to courage and bravery. It will give way to the commitment you have to your teammates and your state. It will give way to the commitment you have to do whatever is necessary to win.
‘Why? Because that’s what Origin players do. And above all else these boys want to be Origin players.’
Origin fans flocked to Twitter to comment on the bizarre monologue.
‘Anyone else catch Phil Gould quote Game of Thrones like it was the bible?’ one person tweeted.
‘Is Phil Gould ok?’ another wrote.
‘Speech has me well jacked,’ a third wrote.
James Tedesco and Nathan Cleary of the Blues sing the national anthem before game one of the 2021 State of Origin series
Games of thrones is a fantasy novel series turned-hit HBO television series, which features big names such as actor Sean Bean (pictured)
Games of thrones, a seven-book series written by George R. R. Martin, was developed into a fantasy-drama television series which premiered on HBO in 2011.
Both have developed a strong fan-following, with the tv series – which stars big names such as Kit Harrington, Emilia Clarke, Sean Bean, and Sophie Turner, generating more than $2.8billion over its eight seasons.
It is not the first time Gould’s words has raised eyebrows at a football match.
The nine presenter copped heavy criticism for ‘bias’ commentary towards his former team during their NRL Grand Final loss to the Melbourne Storm last year.
Gould also made an embarrassing slip of the tongue while commenting on a Storm player who was receiving treatment after a late hit by Panthers rival James Fisher-Harris.