After re-signing with Wests Tigers, fullback Jahream Bula reveals what he thinks of Phil Gould’s “creamy” praise
Jahream Bula did not immediately understand that his style of play was described as “creamy”, given that he quit social media at the beginning of the year in order to avoid facing speculation about his own future.
One of these adjectives Canterbury chairman Phil Gould was recently used in commentary The owner of this masthead is to characterize the Wests Tigers full-backs for Nine.
“It’s creamy, like apple pie on Sunday, so smooth and beautiful,” Gould gushed.
He now has Four-year deal reached with Tigers – Ending any speculation he could move to Gould’s Bulldogs – Bula can see the lighter side of things.
“At first I thought it was funny,” Bula said.
“I was watching the replay of the game and then I heard it and at first I was like, ‘What the hell?’ I thought.
“I had to go back and listen to it again. I knew the kids would get it, so now I think it will stick with me forever.
“It’s flattering, it’s nice coming from someone like Gus.”
Speculation that the kind of public praise Gould heaped on Lachlan Galvin before signing him from the Tigers was a poaching tactic is a moot point.
In the latest edition of his report, Gould congratulated the Tigers on signing the Bula deal. Six Challenges with Gus Wednesday podcast. “Jahream Bula, you heard me talk about him,” Gould said. “It’s great that they’re staying at their club and he looks fit to do that… Full-backs are so important in the modern game and he’s one of the really good full-backs that are emerging… Signing Jahream Bula is a great result for them.”
Over the past six months, during lengthy negotiations with Bula’s agent, the Tigers felt they had their man. However, Bula said he was keen to see how the club would start the season and all concerns were dispelled after nine weeks in which they rose to fifth in the standings.
The 24-year-old even thought his club would achieve a breakthrough win before his contract extension.
“Yes, I think so,” he said.
“We have the players to do it, we have the skills to do it. And I think we showed that against some of the best teams.”
Bula opted to rejoin the Tigers before fellow backbone player and co-captain Jarome Luai announced he would join PNG Chiefs from 2028.
“I had already made up my mind before he announced it, it was just timing,” Bula said, adding that he had no second thoughts after learning of Luai’s imminent departure.
“The culture we have here we will still have him for the next 18 months, so we are very happy to have him here for the duration.
“We will do the best we can with him. We know he will give us his best during this time.”
Bula’s previous contract included options, which led to speculation about how long he would stay at the club. The Fijian national player did not prefer to include similar clauses in his new agreement.
“I didn’t want to deal with all that kind of stuff and I wanted to be committed no matter how long I signed and not have any exit options or anything,” he said.
“I will continue to do my best during the four years I am here.”
Asked what convinced him to stay, Bula said: “I think about how this club is progressing.
“We’ve come a long way since I first came here and we’re still nowhere near where we could be, which is exciting.
“What I love [coach] Benji [Marshall] That’s what leadership does.”
