Johnners
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Can't see the Eels getting back in form this week with Finch & Mateo out, now that Smith has left the Club.
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***Official*** NRL 2008 Thread
- Thread starter morgieb
- Start date
howardj
International Coach
I just have a problem with rules like that in the first place.
morgieb
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No they aren't.
vic_orthdox
Global Moderator
Weren't they made by the Executive, rather than player or coach inspired?
Smacks of putting good publicity ahead of allowing the players to be human.
Simon
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The players agreed to it so they should stick by it. I agree that a complete ban that is in place is unfair, but the players know they shouldn't be drinking so they have to cop the punishment if they do.
What annoys me is that four we're dropped but Kidwell still gets to play this week.
What annoys me is that four we're dropped but Kidwell still gets to play this week.
Johnners
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
It's not a total booze ban though, it's only the night after the match. I don't exactly see what's wrong with expecting the players to turn up to training (or "regeneration") the morning after without any alcohol in their system. If the players can't stay away from alcohol for one night, they have issues far greater than the teams 0-7 record.
dontcloseyoureyes
BARNES OUT
Yeah, it happened to Shillo the other week and fair enough imo. I don't like the rule, I think it's OTT, but if it's in force you should obey it.
howardj
International Coach
I always take things that all the players supposedly agree to with a bit of scepticism. When you're sitting around in a group situation, at a group meeting, at the start of the season, I highly doubt whether players are ever going to speak out and object to things like a drinking ban - which are probably initially raised by the hierachy. Whereas, if you surveyed them as individuals, without that peer pressure aspect, I doubt you'd get unanimous agreement on drinking bans.
howardj
International Coach
It is a total booze ban for that night - one of the guys who got dropped only had two beers.
And it's not "just one night". Rather, it's the big night. You have to understand that these guys build up to a big game all week (it's all they do) and all their mental energy goes towards peaking and getting ready for a particular 80 minutes. Then, when the game is over, it's a big relief and a big load off their shoulders.
Why, after all that pressurised build up and relief, deprive them of going back to the club with their mates and having a few - celebrating a win, or having a few to drown your sorrows? It's inhuman. You've got the whole week to recover. Fair enough, if you have a niggling tissue injury - by all means stay away from alcohol.
Anyway, there are total drinking bans. In East's case for example, it is a total drinking ban for all but one day as I understand it. It's just silly and, to my mind, a ban just for the sake of it.
Johnners
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Haha, inhuman, what a load of crap. There are other ways to relieve stress, or wind down, apart from drinking alcohol. The other 12 players seem to be able to do it, so why can't the rest of them. It's the same as any job, if someone requires you to turn up to work, without any traces of alcohol in your blood, you turn up to work without any trace of alcohol in your blood, or you get punished/the sack. It's not unreasonable by any means.
99*
International Debutant
Kiwi squad.
Roy Asotasi (Capt., Rabbitohs), Adam Blair (Storm), Nathan Cayless (Eels), David Fa'alogo (Rabbitohs), Dene Halatau (Tigers), Lance Hohaia (Warriors), David Kidwell (Rabbitohs), Thomas Leuluai (Wigan Warriors), Issac Luke (Rabbitohs), Simon Mannering (Warriors), Jason Nightingale (Dragons), Sam Perrett (Roosters), Frank Pritchard (Panthers), Ben Roberts (Bulldogs), Setaimata Sa (Roosters), Jeremy Smith (Storm), Iosia Soliola (Roosters), Brent Webb (Leeds Rhinos), Sonny Bill Williams (Bulldogs).
Roy Asotasi (Capt., Rabbitohs), Adam Blair (Storm), Nathan Cayless (Eels), David Fa'alogo (Rabbitohs), Dene Halatau (Tigers), Lance Hohaia (Warriors), David Kidwell (Rabbitohs), Thomas Leuluai (Wigan Warriors), Issac Luke (Rabbitohs), Simon Mannering (Warriors), Jason Nightingale (Dragons), Sam Perrett (Roosters), Frank Pritchard (Panthers), Ben Roberts (Bulldogs), Setaimata Sa (Roosters), Jeremy Smith (Storm), Iosia Soliola (Roosters), Brent Webb (Leeds Rhinos), Sonny Bill Williams (Bulldogs).
99*
International Debutant
The news here said that some new rule is in place that means all players called up for international duty has to be released, Leeds have said they're not going to release Webb so something will have to give.
Craig
World Traveller
Wally Lewis is IMO. Andrew Johns resorted to being a piss head and a drug taker, hardly a role model then? Lewis considering taking his own life many a time, but just kept thinking of his family and he knew he couldn't do it.
BoyBrumby
Englishman
Quite. I believe Sonny Bill is a big advocate of *** in public lavatories, for instance.
Think they've done it to make Leeds & Wigan look like tools for not releasing them. Can see the clubs' point of view, what with the travel involved, but it's not like their nationality was a secret when they were signed tho. Although with Webb it's a bit of a grey area tho as he's not actually an NZ citizen (or wasn't). Didn't the ARU nix him playing last year?
howardj
International Coach
With respect Craig, you're comparing apples and oranges. Lewis had a physical illness - epilepsy. By contrast, Johns had and still has a mental illness, which results in some 20% of sufferers taking their own life. So what if he turned to booze and non-performance enhancing drugs to help him get through the day.
Smudge
Hall of Fame Member
And an extra spice in this saga is that the Leeds coach is none other than Bluey McClennan. He's not going to do ANYTHING to help the NZRL after the way they treated him.
That said, it's completely ****ed that this problem occurs year after year after year. The federation rules are clear - country over club. What needs to happen is the ARL puts their foot down along with the NZRL and make the IRLF actually enforce hefty penalties on any English club who doesn't release a player. The international game will forever remain a joke if one of the three major countries is continually hamstrung with player unavailabilities, game after game.
And, BB, you're probably thinking of Nathan Fien, who claimed to have a Kiwi grandmother, but doesn't...