**Official** NRL 2009 Thread

[Johnners]

Yeah I'm waiting to see lineups before I tip a few games.

I guess this is the sort of thing the NRL wanted to see a week out from the start of the season to....

Stewart, Watmough in hot water - NRL - Fox Sports

 

[luffy]

Can't help thinking Stewart is not guilty towards the rape charge. Watmough however, is a different case.

 

[chaminda_00]

A bit sad that the way things are in the NRL, that you have are guilty until proven innocent.

With the Watmough thing I think you will find it takes two to rumble.

 

[NUFAN]

Interesting to see everyone tip Brisbane so far. I'm still unsure on that game; I'm waiting for the final lineups.

I very rarely tip against the Broncos at home, even if their record isn't anything special at home.

I'm kind of surprised most people are picking Raiders over Tigers at Leichhardt. I think Wests in front of a packed stadium will be too strong for the Raiders who will not be fielding their best 17.

 

[Prince EWS]

I very rarely tip against the Broncos at home, even if their record isn't anything special at home.

Yeah, I'm a bit the same, but I think the advantage will be nullified a little bit by playing another Queensland team (even though the Cowboys have a poor record against Brisbane overall and the distance from Townsville to Brisbane is probably larger than the distance from Sydney to Brisbane anyway..) and I'm still not sure I rate Brisbane this year. I'm normally one to tell everyone not to write off Brisbane but with Bennett goes the guarantee of competence and the look of their lineup on paper doesn't inspire me with confidence. North Queensland have their own problems - mainly their defence - but I actually like the look of their squad overall if they can sort of couple of defensive planning issues out. I'm still not sure which way I'm going to go but I'm actually leaning towards NQ a little.

I'm kind of surprised most people are picking Raiders over Tigers at Leichhardt. I think Wests in front of a packed stadium will be too strong for the Raiders who will not be fielding their best 17.

I'm pretty sure it's at Campbelltown; not Leichhardt. But yeah, despite the fact that I don't rate the Tigers team at all this year, I'll probably be tipping them in Round 1. Canberra don't travel well at all and they have a few injury problems leading into Round 1.

 

[luffy]

Todd Carney, the ****ing idiot, will he ever learn?


Not looking good for Brett Stewart

 

[NUFAN]

I don't know what to think of the Stewart situation. He's my favourite player and I will stand by him until proven guilty. It's funny though, I always pick him in fantasy NRL comps but this year I didn't cause I thought he'd have a bad year [Prince to confirm].

Also yeah I was wrong, the match is at Campbelltown.

 

[Craig]

I'm waiting for more facts to come up before making my mind up on Stewart. Now I'm no lawyer, but aren't we heading into a gray area by what luffy stated that Stewart "is not gulity towards the rape charge" when he hasn't been charged with anything?

 

[luffy]

***ual assault, whatever it is.

But I keep hearing that something occured where he was in the wrong, and, i don't know, it just seems like there is a different feel to this controversy than other ones that have occured in the past.

 

[Blewy]

My feeling is if he is found guilty then he should be banished from the game for life... HOWEVER in the case where he is NOT guilty then this girl along with any other who make these false claims in the future should be named and shamed in public.. It seems to me that these cases are popping up more and more because certain little skanks want to make some money for themselves..

 

[Burgey]

My feeling is if he is found guilty then he should be banished from the game for life... HOWEVER in the case where he is NOT guilty then this girl along with any other who make these false claims in the future should be named and shamed in public.. It seems to me that these cases are popping up more and more because certain little skanks want to make some money for themselves..

Except in this case the incident (whatever it was) happened on the common property of the houses where they lived. Nothing suggests she even knew he lived there (in fact, the contrary seems the case).

Even if he isn't charged, it doesn't mean the girl did the wrong thing in reporting it. If there's insufficient evidence to charge him, then that's it. Same if it goes to court and he's acquitted. It doesn't mean the person who complained is lying (though it might), it just means thre's insufficient evidence to convict someone.

 

[Ausage]

Melbourne Storm v St George Illawarra Dragons
Brisbane Broncos v North Queensland Cowboys
New Zealand Warriors v Parramatta Eels
Cronulla Sharks v Penrith Panthers
Bulldogs v Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Gold Coast Titans v Newcastle Knights
Sydney Roosters v South Sydney Rabbitohs
Wests Tigers v Canberra Raiders

Was really hoping this season would be one about the footy, and not about the other rubbish that some players get up to. Without prejudging and of the matters involved, Stewart, Carney and Watmough have put paid to such a fanciful notion.

While the allegations against Stewart are obviously very serious, I think the amount of time the media spends on the private lives of players borders on bizarre even when the incident is pretty tame in the scheme of things. The "fight" Benji got into in a nightclub this time last year is the most memorable example. Tim Smith seen drinking in a Parramatta pub (OH NO!!!) being another.

 

[luffy]

Prejudicing about Carney?

The guy is a ****. It's that simple. A drunk dickhead.

 

[Craig]

And is now playing bush footie up in North Queensland for the Atherton Roosters, and is living and working in a hotel. ITSTL.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Has Stewart got a bad rep? Doesn't seem to be one of the usual suspects who always ends up in strife or, at least, reported as being in strife in the papers.

Plus, even if he was a *** pest (no suggestion he is), he'd need the IQ of a glass of water to touch up a girl outside her parents house.

 

[luffy]

No, really this came out of no where.

Hasn't really been guilty of anything in the past IIRC.

 

[Ausage]

Prejudicing about Carney?

The guy is a ****. It's that simple. A drunk dickhead.

Nah more in reference to Stewart.

Carney's a **** and that's being nice about him. I can't believe there are still NRL clubs sniffing after him.

 

[Blewy]

And it turns out the girls father has spent time behind bars for fraud... Sure makes their case even more questionable... Still stand by my original statement that if it is found that nothing happened and the allegations are false, then name the girl and her father, its only fair after Stewarts name is dragged through the mud..

 

[Blewy]

Just to add to that also, I want to know WHY Brett Stewart was drinking?

As a Type 1 Diabetic he should know that drinking alcohol has a major effect on his levels and being a massive role model for kids in that same circumstance he really should be setting a better example and not putting himself in any situation like this, not just for whats possibly happened but for his safety..

Now im not one who usually advocates celebrities or sports stars being role models for kids, IMO thats a parents job, but in his case with his medical condition, he IS a role model to kids with diabeties in that he is proof that you can make it part of your life and still fulfill dreams..

 

[Simon]

As has been mentioned its hard to prove though, if its found he has no case to answer its likely it will be because of a lack of evidence rather than proof it was made up. If the girl is then named and shamed why would any other female in the future come forward when they have actually had something happen to them when they could be named and shamed in public?