***Official*** NRL 2008 Thread

[Son Of Coco]

It all relative to the situation though at the time. It does seem that there are some issues at the Bulldogs. Over the last couple seasons they have lost players like Mason, O'Meley, Anasta, Myles and Price. All were related to the salary cap and well the increases in SBW contract. But as soon as a couple other clubs offered them anything that was decent they all jumped without a second thought. If the club/player relationship was as strong as they like it to be, then atleast some of the those would have stayed.

There clearly some personally issues and like most other players that jump ship they are over the media attention into their personal life. Some might say it part of being a professional sportsmen. But when you can be a professional sportsmen, earn more money and not have as much attention, then it might not be something that forced apon them.

The other thing is that he did ask for a release during the season. The Bulldogs (well within their rights) played hard ball and got caught out. If it was a case of him picking up his bags on leaving out of blue, then fair enough. But it is something that has been on the cards for a while.

Put simply in a couple seasons if he sorted out some personally issues and wanted to comeback to league. I'm sure most clubs would consider signing him. The guy is only 22 and I'm sure most people have made stupid decisions at that age. Mind you one of those stupid decisions was signing a 5 year deal in the first place.

The issue with this though mate is that at least two of the players who have been released to play overseas in that past few years made dickheads of themselves in public on numerous occasions. To then complain that you're always in the spotlight is ridiculous. Gower was a prime example, carry on like a pork chop on nights out and then complain that it's being reported. A normal human being would get the idea after one such incident and learn his lesson. Not Gower. It'll be interesting to see how Tim Smith goes in the UK and whether he manages to stay out of trouble there.

 

[Son Of Coco]

Flip side is that many club force players out of a club before there contract is over, i.e Jason Ryles. It ok to for club to treat a player like that, but if a player does basically the same thing to a club, then they are the ones that have done the dog act? Clubs treat players like pieces of meat all the time, what is difference between a player going to same thing.

Most clubs don't seem to pack up and move though leaving the player to turn up in to an empty training paddock wondering where everyone else has gone. There's no sense in comparing giving someone the rest of the season's notice to packing up and moving overnight without telling anyone.

 

[Smudge]

You mean miss at least 3 or 4 a game?

No, I mean use his arms, SOC.

 

[Burgey]

Itstl. Pretty impressive win in the end for the chooks. Will lock in a home final.

Broncos floating between the extremely tight top four and an even more congested fight for 6th, 7th and 8th. May still knock off Cronulla and clinch a home final.

Not convinced about the Broncos this year tbh. Don't reckon they're all that crash hot. Still in the mix though owing to the pretty poor nature of the NRL this year.

WIlliams is a putz. End of story.

 

[Dick Rockett]

Not convinced about the Broncos this year tbh. Don't reckon they're all that crash hot.

That's what I thought in '06 tbh...

 

[Simon]

We are doing enough to win games right now, thats good enough to maintain our position on the table but not enough to get the other teams worried. I'm confident we can put together some better performances and make the other teams take some notice.

 

[Craig]

Have to say I'm loving some of the punnage being used by howard in discribing SBW's actions (ie back out a door like a dog).

Oh look is that the time?

 

[howardj]

I'd fair dinkum collar him if I saw him.

 

[Burgey]

No way; SBW not close to tall enough for lock in union. 6' 4" a bare minimum really.

Inside centre for me, don't think he's got the kicking game for fly-half (in fact I'm convinced he doesn't) and that's the postion most likely to make best use of his distribution & vision.

What is interesting (or enlightening at least) is that guys like Gaz & now Sonny are giving up any chance of rep footy in the senior code (unless they plan on qualifying for France) by disappearing up there. Makes the greed seem that bit more craven. At least when guys like Rogers, Wendall & Tuqiri moved over they could claim it was union's greater world-clout that convinced them.

Open side break away or number 8?

He'd be pretty good in those roles I'd have thought owing to his pace and size.

Hopefully being in a more stylish country might lead to him getting rid of that stupid Thinderbirds-are-Go haircut.

****. Acting like this he'll be pretty short of pals.

 

[Son Of Coco]

No, I mean use his arms, SOC.

You guys always take the fun out of everything.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Who would want to play alongside SBW now anyway?

 

[Son Of Coco]

Who would want to play alongside SBW now anyway?

Candice Falzon?

 

[Johnners]

Yeah, trying to figure that one out for myself. Sure I can understand why they're upset, but if the guy feels strong about not playing NRL for the Bulldogs, that he leaves without notifying anyone...surely him returning to play is going to create more problems for the club, no matter how good he is.

Also, imo it's rather hypocritical of David Gallop in particular to be going after him, given that what Sonny has done, is basically the same as what happened in the super league days, which Gallop played a major role in. That said, I certainly don't' condone the way SBW has gone about it all.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Yeah, trying to figure that one out for myself. Sure I can understand why they're upset, but if the guy feels strong about not playing NRL for the Bulldogs, that he leaves without notifying anyone...surely him returning to play is going to create more problems for the club, no matter how good he is.

Also, imo it's rather hypocritical of David Gallop in particular to be going after him, given that what Sonny has done, is basically the same as what happened in the super league days, which Gallop played a major role in. That said, I certainly don't' condone the way SBW has gone about it all.

Yeah, but wasn't just referring to the Bulldogs.

How are the French mob going to embrace him, knowing that he's just a mercenary. What about if he does end up back in the NRL...what group of players are going to accept him? Just carved out a niche for himself as a complete knob.

 

[chaminda_00]

What's that got to do with it? You're throwing up red-herrings.

The point is that, if he wanted to stay at St George he could have done so because there was a legally binding contract. Only when both parties agree to terminate is it OK for (a) the player to go elsewhere and (b) the former club to not have to pay him a cent more.

OK?

People who put forward this rubbish argument that, in this professional age, contracts don't mean a thing so you can do what you like, are living in la la land. Contracts only don't mean a thing when both parties agree to terminate.

I honestly cannot believe that any person would defend what SBW has done - talk about being blinded by his celebrity. You only have to look at the way he did it, sneaking out the back door like a dog, to know that even he knew what he did was wrong.

This isn't the first time that a player has walked out of club and just signed for another club without the permission of their previous club. It happens occasionally in other sports like Baseball, Basketball, Football and Hockey. You don't always need the permission of your current club to move.

I don't actually agree with what his done, just pointing out it has happened before and there hasn't been much most clubs could do to stop it due employment and restristant of trade to force someone to play for a club they don't want. It is even harder to stop when they play in another competition.

You don't always need both parties aggreement to quit a club or sack a player. That is professional sport these days.

 

[Mister Wright]

Yeah, but wasn't just referring to the Bulldogs.

How are the French mob going to embrace him, knowing that he's just a mercenary. What about if he does end up back in the NRL...what group of players are going to accept him? Just carved out a niche for himself as a complete knob.

SBW is still young. Perhaps in 5 years, he may see the error of his ways and come back to the NRL. If he does it will be on a bargain basement deal and there will have to be a lot of goodwill from both parties for this to happen. But, it's certainly not out of the question of him returning to the NRL.

What I can't believe is that he'd walk out with the World Cup only a few months away. NZ would have been relying on him no end.

 

[Craig]

David Gallop is of the opinion that if he indeed does run out Toulon that he will not be allowed to play in the NRL ever again.

 

[chaminda_00]

What I can't believe is that he'd walk out with the World Cup only a few months away. NZ would have been relying on him no end.

Probably shows how little the World Cup actually means to players, considering Gasiner, Crocker and Buderus all left too.

 

[Mister Wright]

Could it get any worse for the Dogs? 30-0 down to the Dragons.

 

[Son Of Coco]

This isn't the first time that a player has walked out of club and just signed for another club without the permission of their previous club. It happens occasionally in other sports like Baseball, Basketball, Football and Hockey. You don't always need the permission of your current club to move.

I don't actually agree with what his done, just pointing out it has happened before and there hasn't been much most clubs could do to stop it due employment and restristant of trade to force someone to play for a club they don't want. It is even harder to stop when they play in another competition.

You don't always need both parties aggreement to quit a club or sack a player. That is professional sport these days.

I don't want to be pedantic...but that's rekarbmle!