By Liam FitzGibbon
August 27th 2008 @ 1:40am
Dramas haven’t ruined NRL centenary, says Gallop
NRL chief executive David Gallop has denied that off-field dramas have tarnished rugby league’s centenary celebrations in the wake of Greg Bird’s assault charge.
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The Sharks star has been charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm on his girlfriend, Katie Milligan, who remains in Prince of Wales Hospital where she is expected to undergo surgery for cuts to her face and a fractured eye socket.
The Cronulla star’s career hangs in the balance after he was yesterday stood down by the Sharks pending the outcome of the allegations.
It is the latest in a long list of incidents this year that have moved league into the headlines for the wrong reasons.
Among the other incidents to rock the game in 2008 are:
* Todd Carney was sacked for allegedly urinating on the head of a man at a Canberra nightspot,
* Parramatta’s Jarryd Hayne was shot at after an altercation in Kings Cross in March.
* Eels halfback Tim Smith quit the club early this year after a string of alcohol-related incidents,
* Bulldog Reni Maitua and Wests Tiger Benji Marshall were among others involved in incidents at nightspots.
Bird has figured a string of incidents this year, including his involvement in an altercation with a cage fighter earlier this month and being handcuffed by Queensland Police in Brisbane after State of Origin II.
Despite the seemingly non-stop controversies plaguing the game, Gallop said they had not dampened the celebrations of a hundred years of rugby league.
“The centenary’s had some fantastic highlights,” Gallop said.
“Rugby league has had drama for 100 years as well so it’s just part of what we’ve had to deal with everyday.
“The vast majority of players do the right thing, but when there’s an incident like this it certainly has the ability to tar everyone with a brush that they don’t necessarily deserve.”
Gallop praised the NRL clubs for the way they had handled the controversies.
“Of course these types of incidents are alarming but it is important that they are dealt with appropriately and I believe that the clubs in recent years have acted very responsibility in these types of situations,” Gallop said.
“It’s just a reminder that we need to continually keep our education programs under review and make sure that there are penalties in place to not only punish the wrongdoer but also send a message of deterrence to others.
“By and large, clubs have done that over the past few years.”
Bird was granted strict conditional bail after spending Sunday night in police custody charged over an incident at his Cronulla apartment, and is due back in court on October 8 - three days after the NRL grand final.
He is unlikely to play again this season but Cronulla coach Ricky Stuart today paved the way for his “good mate” to return to the club if he was found not guilty.
“I’d say yes, if he’s found not guilty,” Stuart told radio 2KY when asked if the he would welcome Bird back.
“Everybody from me, to you, to the Pope has to be given a chance of showing that they’re innocent and that’s the position that he’s in now.
“But unfortunately, it’s not my decision.
“It’s a decision for the club and for Tony Zappia but we’re showing a lot of compassion towards both people who were involved in this.”
Stuart today named Sharks captain Paul Gallen at lock in place of Bird for Friday night’s clash against Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval, with Adam Peek coming into the starting lineup.
Tigers coach Tim Sheens tipped the incident would galvanise the side.
“He’ll use this to try and gel them,” Sheens said of Stuart.
“There’s no doubt about it, I already read that in what they’re saying.”
“We’re their so-called bogey team and without Bird they need to pull together and so on so it’ll cement them - so that’s just going to make it harder.”
OFF-FIELD INCIDENTS IN RUGBY LEAGUE’S CENTENARY YEAR
February
* Police are forced to use capsicum spray to subdue Bulldogs halfback Ben Roberts after an altercation outside the Glasshouse Tavern in Wollongong. He was later fined more than $2,000 after pleading guilty to assaulting police and resisting arrest.March
* Parramatta’s Jarryd Hayne was shot at in Kings Cross after he and Eels teammates Junior Paulo and Weller Hauraki stepped in to defend St George Illawarra captain Mark Gasnier, who was involved in an altercation.
* Bulldogs lock Reni Maitua was dropped from first grade after he was was spotted in a drunken state at T2 nightclub on Oxford St at 9.30am on a Sunday morning.April
* Parramatta halfback Tim Smith was allowed a release to recover from mental health problems after a long history of alcohol-related misdemeanours.
* Roosters prop David Shillington was dropped from first grade after breaching the club’s strict alcohol policy by admitting to going out drinking and turning up late for Monday morning training.
* Wests Tigers five-eighth Benji Marshall was photographed lashing out at an abusive fan in Sydney’s Kings Cross.
* Four South Sydney players were dropped by coach Jason Taylor for breaking a team decree to register a zero breath-alcohol limit at a team recovery session.June
* Greg Bird was handcuffed and placed in the back of a police car briefly after a night out in Brisbane following State of Origin II.July
* Bulldogs pair Ben Roberts and Lee Te Maari were fined and stood down from from first grade over their involvement in an altercation at a Cronulla nightclub.
* Todd Carney was suspended by Canberra after a wild night out in which he allegedly urinated on the head and neck of another patron.
* Teenage Bulldogs halfback Arana Taumata was sacked following his involvement in an off-field incident several weeks before in which another man was left with a broken jaw.August
* Todd Carney was sacked by Canberra after a Saturday night incident at the Goulburn Workers’ Club in which his friend was evicted from the premises.
* Greg Bird was involved in an altercation with a cage fighter named Danyan at Sting Bar in Cronulla after reportedly attempting to protect former teammate Nick Youngquest.
* Greg Bird spent a night in jail and was stood down by his club after being charged with assaulting girlfriend Katie Milligan.
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Recidivist said | August 27th 2008 @ 11:55am | Report comment
The off-field “dramas” are far more memorable than any of the rugby league.
Of course the dramas are ruining the centenary year…
LeftArmSpinner said | August 27th 2008 @ 1:29pm | Report comment
Recidivist, I fully agree with you.
The centenary has been a disaster and showcased the endemic problems that the code faces. Rather than keep picking teams of the century, why not come out with a detailed plan for the code for the next century. There is neither the interest, motivation or expertise to even come close.
Meanwhile, Rome burns!
Who would want Bird as a friend when he dobs you into the police for glassing his G/F. Geez, that redefines a dodgy flatmate. Imagine coming home from golf to face a visit from the Police.
LeftArmSpinner said | August 27th 2008 @ 1:31pm | Report comment
By the way, here is a challenge: Give me an example of some genuine, unadulterated, good news for the NRL in the centenary year.
Worlds Biggest said | August 27th 2008 @ 11:30pm | Report comment
Why don’t the NRL put together a penatentiary team of the Century, they could come up with a cracker of a side. Surely David Gallop aka Phil Koperburg ( always putting out fires ) must think that he can only deny so much before he realises himself that he is kidding himself. The Centenary year of Rugby League has been an unmitigated disaster. Gallop is a smart guy, deep down he would know all this but has to front up every day telling everyone the game is in good shape. That is the problem about League, there is so much hyperbole bullshit ” greatest game of all ” rubbish that they actually think that it is.
Steffy said | August 27th 2008 @ 11:47pm | Report comment
“they actually think that it is.
It is
westy said | August 27th 2008 @ 11:49pm | Report comment
Leftarmspinner……….I like reading your posts and this is not intended to put you in your place but my family will always be grateful to Jaime Simpson of South Sydney who personally recovered from cancer visiting my son in hospital ….no request…on his own……….no media. Despite my personal preferences I will not bag out an entire game who still has such men involved in it. I have nothing to do with the NRL and this may be the best way I can say thankyou.
Worlds Biggest said | August 28th 2008 @ 9:22pm | Report comment
” The Greatest game of all ” according to who or what ?. Some Marketing Executive came up with that one in the 80’s so all of a sudden it’s the greatest game of all. Steffy you must be proud of your codes Centenary Year, pure quality.
Worlds Biggest said | August 28th 2008 @ 9:29pm | Report comment
Westy, that is a touching gesture by Jamie Simpson who is an impressive guy. There are a lot of good blokes in the NRL.
My gripe with the Code is more to do with it’s reluctance to acknowledge/ dismissive attitude towards rival codes when there own backyard needs serious attention. Plus some small sections of players carry on like buffoons particularly towards women.
Recidivist said | August 29th 2008 @ 10:35am | Report comment
westy, good point. There are still some good guys around. the work of guys like Craig Wing (ambassador for Down Sydnrome) must be acknowledged.
I also thought that Civoniceva did well to realise that he needed to apologise for knocking some idiot’s beer out of his hand because he could have been witnessed by kids and wanted to make the point.
I think Benji Marhsall has done well to come back with a busted arm as did Preston Campbell to play a game out when he had broken his jaw in the early part of the game.
LAS, these are the small highlights i can think of, the rest involve boozing, fighting, guns and glassing your girlfriend…
The Link said | August 29th 2008 @ 10:53am | Report comment
LAS i’ve got two for you, Steve Menzies and Danny Buderus
True Tah said | August 29th 2008 @ 11:00am | Report comment
Westy,
there are still plenty of gentlemen in the NRL, all who have been mentioned above and all are outstanding good role models.
However, these guys, Menzies, Buderus, Wing, El Masri are reaching the sunset of their playing careers, although I hope they remain in the NRL, who is going to reprimand the Ben Roberts, Greg Birds of the NRL world?
It is a very sad fact of human nature to focus on the negatives and forget the positives in any situation, and for all the Craig Wings, Jaime Simpsons, Hazem El Masris, it just takes one act from the Greg Bird to tarnish the reputation of the lot.