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IT seemed there was nothing Phil Gould wouldn't do for his beloved NSW Blues.

That would explain why he once donned a silly blue wig in a frenzied pre-match TV sideline address to whip up the pro-Blues Origin crowd. However, these days the legendary ex-NSW coach appears to have picked up another accessory - maroon-coloured glasses.

As the Gold Coast Titans prepare for their maiden NRL finals game against neighbours the Broncos at Skilled Park on Saturday, Gould has declared Queensland the "rugby league capital of the world''. And if that was not enough, Gould claimed he would love to see five Queensland teams in the NRL.

"Queensland at the moment is the capital of the rugby league world and the Titans are a big part of that,'' Gould said. "The Broncos 21 years ago was the best thing we ever did in rugby league, and this (Titans) isn't far behind - a great acquisition.''

Gould is usually the man Queensland league fans love to hate. He appears so immersed in all things NSW that he refers to the Blues as "we'' when he commentates on State of Origin.

So does it pain Gould to give Queensland such a rap?

"No, it just means we've got to beat the best to get it (the No.1 mantle),'' Gould smiled. "Origin fortunes toss and turn, they are certainly on top at the moment, they are very dominant. To win four Origins in a row is extraordinary, it defies belief, but they have done it.

"But it's not just on the field that Queensland are successful. It's ratings-wise, supporter base and feedback - the message we get is that rugby league is Queensland's sport.''

And Gould believed they should be rewarded for their passion. "We have got to cater for that, I would like a couple more teams in Queensland,'' he said. "I think they deserve five teams, hopefully that will happen.''

With mooted NRL bids from Central Queensland, Sunshine Coast and Logan-Ipswich, Gould's dream may yet become a reality in the distant future. "If they can do that we would tie up the whole eastern seaboard of Australia, that's a great goal for our sport,'' Gould said. ''(So) Queensland is very important to this game.''

A long time friend of Titans chairman Paul Broughton and managing director Michael Searle, Gould appears to take personal pride in the Gold Coast's finals success. As outspoken as he is, Gould is modest when it is revealed he encouraged and assisted the Gold Coast bid team until they finally got the green light.

"They both shared a dream to have a team here and I really supported the idea,'' he said. "With the passion and expertise that Michael and Paul had I knew they would make a good go of it. The facilities, community spirit and performance of the team on and off the field has been nothing short of extraordinary. To finish in the top three in their third year, it's a great reward for a lot of hard work.''

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/sport/nrl/story/0,26746,26059867-5016368,00.html