Paul Gallen might be a lot of things – he’s been called a grub, a racist and a thug. But you’ve got to feel a bit sorry for him in this case. He’s lost $10,000 for doing what thousands of other men do every Friday and Saturday night.
The media attention on players is absolutely ridiculous, and if it doesn’t ease off soon, it’s going to cause long term damage to rugby league in Australia.
I agree he did the wrong thing.
He was dealt with by the authorities, as anyone else would. However, most other people wouldn’t have been fined $10,000 by their employer for it.
So who is to blame? The media, of course. Why would they think that I want to read about Paul Gallen being arrested for taking a piss? Is that really news?
The worst part about it is that, had the media not been involved, he never would have been fined. The club only takes action to appease the sponsors, whose name is tarnished by the reports in the media.
Think about it: if an NRL player pisses in the street and there is nobody there to report on it, does it actually happen?
Nick the Rooster
Roar Rookie
Mushi........ I'm sorry but you're wrong. He's not in showbiz. He doesn't act, sing or dance. He's an athlete who plays at the top level of a sport which happens to be televised. What a lot of people forget is that these guys are just ordinary guys, who usually aren't too bright. Most of them are brought in from country towns, handed a wad of cash, and made to spend most of their time with other guys brought in from the country who have been handed a wad of cash, and then told to behave like choir boys. Its like lighting a stick of dynamite and complaining when it explodes. The clubs and the league need to work harder on protecting these guys rather than letting them piss their careers up the wall.
Mushi
Guest
Yes it is us who don’t “think to deep” and not the guy who can’t see why actions which affect public perception should effect careers that are reliant on public perception. If you want to read about the other news stories regarding national interests and politics then I suggest you start at the front page, not the back page of the paper or buy something other than the tele.
Mark Young
Guest
Mushi I couldn't have said it any better myself. Spot on.
Hayden
Guest
Cheer up Lisa. I'm pretty sure it'll be the Warriors who get the spoon in '10.
M1tch
Roar Guru
dont worry its a typical post from someone who is anti rugby league..you see with the other codes its the individuals..but when it comes to RL the 'code' has the problem
Springs
Guest
The public buy the papers no matter what the stories are. I don't think the public writes in saying that they want to know the latest rugby league scandals, maybe readers of womens magazines do. The papers realise a lot of the public are interested in sports so they think we want to hear our game trashed at every opportunity. If players play coutry footy they will still be scrutinised. Craig Field was involved in a scandal about a robbery, has been ot of the pro scene for about five years.
Pete
Guest
are the media really to blame? they only print it because the wider public read it... and then we write about it on sites like this. Its a two way street, they won't publish it if no one wants to read it... but who stops first, does the media stop printing it or do we stop reading... All in all, it comes down to the players... stop behaving like morons. If you don't like the downside of the limelight, go any play country footy and find another job. How hard is it to restrain yourself and not piss near someone's head or break into a house?Many of us would give our right arm to have the talent you have and play in the competitions you do. ... on reflection, don't know how effective I'd be if I gave my right arm away.
Mick from Giralang
Guest
How is Gallen's ridiculous behaviour rugby league's fault? The game has officially expressed its disgust by fining him $10,000!!!!! You get lesser penalties for grievous bodily harm in the NSW court system. If anything rugby league inissists on higher standards than society in general.
san jorge
Guest
Lisa, Gallen racially abused another player and Bird was found guilty of a crime...yes his conviction was overturned on appeal but there was obviously enough evidence for the first judge to be convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that the assault had occured.
Andystath
Guest
Paul Gallen is everything that is wrong with Rugby League.The story told to the media was that poor Paul couldn't find a toilet and after exhausting every possible avenue to urinate in private he was forced to hang a piss in public.The reality is that he and some mates were walking up Erskine St and one of his mate either fell over or decide to lay down on the pavement and Paul being Paul thought it was hilarious to piss on or near his head.This was at a fairly major intersection possibly Sussex st or Clarence. The Sharks and the NRL have then fined young Paul for his misdemeanors,much to his disgust.Now its a case of he wants to take his bat and ball and leave.Go to Manly Gallen,it would be a perfect fit.
Mick from Giralang
Guest
Scott, you've just been fined $10,000 by the Roar. I'll PM you with details of where the money can be lodged...
Mick from Giralang
Guest
JIimbo. Absolutely not true...the game's ratings, crowds etc were on the way up from the early rounds. It can be argued the game flourished DESPITE the coverage of poor behaviour.
sheek
Guest
No Scott, We've all done a piss in a public place at one point in our lives. Gallen should have realised that as a public person, he didn't have the same leeway as the rest of us. He should at least tried to be more discrete. I haven't pissed in a public place for over 25 years (unless surrounded by lots & lots of trees & bushes), so I like to think I've matured, & also come to understand better the signals my body sends to me. At the end of the day, try to apply some practical common sense.
sheek
Guest
Redb, My understanding is that The Australian bought in Melbourne will contain some local content not found elsewhere. The paper has some editorial control in each major capital city. Each capital city has its own editorial staff. For example, during the winter months, Melbourne, Adelaide & Perth editions of The Australian will carry more AFL content, while Sydney & Brisbane will carry more NRL content. Not much, but enough to acknowledge the different levels of support.
sheek
Guest
MarkR, Master Blaster is correct. The Australian is the national newspaper covering events in every state & territory, including sport. Most people in Melbourne will read the Age (I presume); in Sydney's it's the Daily Telegraph ( a mostly useless paper); in Brisbane it's the Courier-Mail; in Perth, it's the Westralian & in Adelaide it's the Advertiser; & so on. Most of the state capital dailies are cannon-fodder rubbish, which shouldn't bear any resemblance to their popularity, nonetheless. But this doesn't distract from the fact The Australian is the national paper, & read by people who generally think & care!!!
jimbo
Guest
I don't think these guys are being unfairly accused - Johns admitted his sins but wouldn't name names. Gallon pleaded guilty. Bird initially tried to lie and said it was his flatmate that glassed his girlfriend and then changed his story that she tripped and fell hitting his glass with her head. Bird is a steroids junkie and is prone to violent outbursts. He is just lucky that he has a doormat for a girl friend who was kind enough to change her story so that he could get out of jail. Or do you honestly think his girlfriend tripped over and her head fell onto his beer glass?
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
I have to be honest and own up! I was busting through the week and there were no toilets in sight so I found a friendly tree. Even though I were busting, I would not have even looked for a tree had I been a high profile footy player. Jump in the car and wet your pants, but risking front page bad publicity should never been an option.
sheek
Guest
1. Paul Gallen is an adult. 2. God gave Gallen, like all of us, the ability to make choices. 3. Gallen is a public figure, which carries both responsibilities & burdens. 4. If Gallen wanted a piss, he should have thought more of the consequences, & been more discrete. Gawd, us humans are pathetic. We come up with all sorts of excuses for all sorts of behaviour. Anyone ever heard of accepting RESPONSIBILITY for your own actions????????????????????
sheek
Guest
Well, let's not bring politicians into it, they're not any better. But brain surgeons, or any surgeons who save lives, that's something to aspire to.....
jameswm
Guest
Scott Maybe you should read what Rocky said again. And it's pretty obvious what tax bracket Gallen is in.