John Grant’s credibility will be under the microscope over the next couple of days. The Australian Rugby League Commission chairman of eight months has to deal with the James Graham biting allegation, and the Bulldogs shameful “Mad Monday” behaviour.
Bulldog Graham will face the judiciary tonight, having pleaded not guilty to biting Storm fullback Billy Slater’s left ear.
The weight of evidence makes Graham’s not guilty plea a mockery. But having taken that course, Graham is now fair game to cop a hefty holiday.
If the judiciary find Graham guilty and give him a bash-with-a-feather suspension, Grant must step in and take over. The Commission is the all-powerful authority.
The same applies to the guilty Dogs on “Mad Monday”. There’s probably only two or three of them, so it would be grossly unfair to lump the vast majority of the innocent in with the guilty.
Grant has already described reports as “serious”, and he’s recently received a shattered Canterbury chief executive Todd Greenberg’s assessment.
Greenberg has worked tirelessly to improve the Belmore culture over the last four years, only to have his valiant efforts torn down by a few in a matter of moments.
Let’s not forget one of Grant’s first decisions of import was to show David Gallop the door after a decade of great work keeping the code moving forward despite so many code damaging off-field disasters.
Gallop was one of the very best sporting administrators I’ve dealt with over nearly 50 years.
If that was an example of Grant’s muscle-flexing capabilities, then Graham if guilty, and the guilty “Mad Monday” players, face bleak futures,
And so they should.
What makes me, and plenty of others, very angry is hardly a word has been spoken this week about the sensational premiership victories of the Sydney Swans and the Melbourne Storm,
Nor the incredible comeback by the lowly ninth-ranked Australian cricketers to reach the semis of the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka.
The conversations and media coverage have been about Graham, and “Mad Monday”.
Rugby league doesn’t deserve such bad publicity to end a season of tremendous football.
So put those two items to bed John Grant, and quickly.
Tristan Rayner
Editor
Roarers, unfortunately this debate is proceeding down an unwelcome path. Comments are now closed on this post. Please think about your comments before posting. Thanks, Tristan. (Roar Editor).
Brett McKay
Expert
+ one more. Really disappointing..
Jay
Guest
Are you serious? two years.. James is 28 (I think) at the moment. That would ruin his career. I'd be happy with 5-7 weeks at most.
Prak
Guest
As a Bulldogs supporter, I don't agree with the actions of the people from the Mad Monday issue. I do think that the Channel Nine are making an issue about something that should have been dealt in house. Whoever said what should be dealt by the Bulldogs rather than the ARLC. What is the expectation of privacy when journalists use directional microphones to capture private conversations in an event that they were not invited to? There is a difference between this and having the same comments said to someone's face. It shouldn't matter whether it was a male or female reporter covering the story. Was the same equipment used for all the other Mad Monday celebrations of the other 15 clubs?
LRR
Guest
Both issues have nothing to do with Grant. Does anyone realise that the structure of any company sees the CEO dealing with the operational aspects and the chairman overseeing the strategic direction of the company? Do you really think the chairman of Commonwealth bank would get involved if there was a sexual harrassment complaint of a few ill thought out words from a teller in a branch in Dubbo? If he was dealing with these issues he would have no time to think bigger picture. Grant's problem is he has no faith in his staff to run the company and wants to get involved in the nitty gritty. Agree Gallop was one of the best administrators and should have been left to his own devices. How often do you see Mike Fitzpatrick, Chairman AFL do a Triple M radio interview? That's Demitriou's job. Granted NRL doesn't have a CEO at them moment (because of Grant's doing) but it's still the interim CEO's job. I think Grant is way to power hungry and needs to back off. I would be happy if we never see him quoted in the media again.
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
oikee is serious - that's the worry.
Red Rooster
Guest
Its Coffs Harbour all over again - the same attitude. The Bulldogs still havent changed.
Red Rooster
Guest
Mate it wasnt a nibble it was a chomp! He was chomping on it! Are you blind?
Happy Hooker
Guest
Where did you get your irony bypass done Christo?
Happy Hooker
Guest
It is different. That would be more like the government stepping in just because it didn't like the verdict and/or sentence handed down by the courts in a trial like Gordon Wood's. It is a ridiculous notion, and the ALRC under Grant will have more class than that. They have no right to summarily bump up the penalty because they don't like it or want to be seen to be tough. Even if they did step in (which of course they won't) Graham could go to court and have any purported increase in penalty overturned. You been sniffing the Pantene again Lordy?
AGO74
Guest
David - I criticsed John Grant on the decision to change the rules 2 weeks before finals. That is all I criticised him on. And if my opinion is not worth much (which it usually isn't) then perhaps you should liaten to the highly regarded league coaches and commentators who overwhelmingly have the same opinion as me and other fans. As for the rest of the criticism I made it is mainly about your jumping the gun hyperbore without giving the opportunity for due process to take place. I don't condone the statements made to the reporter. They are appalling. I do question the way the material was collated. If James Graham is found guilty then he certainly deserves a lengthy 10 week suspension but certainly not 2 years when you compare it to the reckless and intentional knock out of Dean Young by Greg Inglis.
eagleJack
Guest
Agreed Will and AR I was shocked reading some of the comments yesterday on the Roar. Blaming the fact that a woman being sent to report on Mad Monday was inciteful, makes me question the society we live in. Seems many are still stuck in the stone age. It is a tiny media commitment every club has to endure but the Dogs chose to ignore it. So the media waited. Poor management and lack of leadership from the senior playing group.
oikee
Guest
You keep saying that as if you were there. The media were asked to leave and refused. Sending a woman to a mad monaday grand final losing team is criminal. Some poepl should have more sense. Little red riding hood is now a true story, presented and played by channel 9.
crip
Roar Pro
Yep. Those commenters are brain dead
oikee
Guest
Rugby league has long been a open honest sport without predudice, unlike the dribble you keep writing. Go to the AFL blogs, they are the ones that seem to have homophobia problems.
sledgeandhammer
Guest
Yeah, nearly as funny as Hoppa sticking his finger up other players butts, maybe it was a 'love bite'. Very homo-erotic sport rugby league.
sledgeandhammer
Guest
Love the dumb comments about the 'wrong' of sending "a female reporter to interview a bunch of guys". In a Western Democracy in 2012 a women dared interview adult men. How dare she? She got what she deserved, right?
Bazza
Guest
David, I should have added the words 'as you said' after emphasis, sorry. I was supporting your viewpoint but with the added rider about the MSM.
Campaign to return Melbournes lost Premierships
Guest
On what planet was David Gallop a good CEO ? He was useless at leading this game, frightened to death of making any real decisions and thought crime and punishment was the only way to resolve bad behaviour. He was a massive loose cannon. Over reacted to everything and worse blabbed everything to the media so they could make a meal of it thus justifying his blatent over reaction. The Graham thing is bad and deserves a serious rap, the other thing has been blown out of all proportion. The guilty party ought to get a dressing down from the chairman then have to tell their mates how next year's mad monday celebrations will be alcohol free.
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
"he simply had his mouth open and Slater’s ear must have fell into his mouth" Seriously oikee, do you actually read the stuff you type before you click the "Add Comment' button?