Newcastle coach Wayne Bennett admits he’s disappointed he never had the opportunity to work with Russell Packer and help the controversial New Zealand Test prop turn around his bad boy image.
The former Warriors’ forward was jailed for two years earlier this month, which he is appealing against, after being found guilty of assaulting a man in Sydney last November.
Packer was subsequently sacked by the Knights without playing a single game for the club having signed a four-year deal at the end of last season.
The 24-year-old, who was fined $15,000 last year by the NRL for urinating on the field during a Warriors game against Brisbane, was put behind bars by a magistrate for fracturing the eye socket of a 22-year-old man following a disagreement outside a Sydney bar.
Former police officer Bennett, who has never shied away from signing players who have endured problems off the field during his long career, said he was confident the culture at the Knights could have helped Packer.
“My upbringing is probably as much to do with how I handle situations and people. I saw a lot when I was young and was taught a lot of lessons,” Bennett told Newcastle’s KOFM Rush Hour show.
“The great tragedy with Russell is that we never had the chance to work with him. We have a great club here with some very strong young men and we could have helped him.”
However, the seven-time premiership-winning coach said the front-rower had no one else to blame for his predicament.
“The reality of the situation is you’ve elected to be a rugby league player and there are some things that go with that,” he said.
“But the bottom line is, that’s the job you’re in. You have to adapt to it and you have to take the good with the bad.
“I tell these guys here these are the rules you’ve got to play by guys.
“You get treated differently as in Russell’s case, you’ve got a profile, you’re going to get yourself into trouble, you’re going to be treated differently.
“That’s the price you pay for being a rugby league player. If you don’t want to pay that price, well go work for BHP, go work for Telstra, go work for whoever you like.”
karlos
Guest
Stuff him.
turbodewd
Guest
Ian McCullough, in your first paragraph: " turn around his bad boy image." Its not image, Ian, its reality. Savage reality. This person will spend 2 years in jail for a vicious assault. I hope his victim overcomes this and I hope Mr Packer comes out a better person in 2 years. An appropriate punishment by the sounds of it.
Corunetes
Guest
You're right Ken. Another part of the problem is possibly the timing of the court case with all the problems with the "king hit" merchants and the ensuing publicity.............. Demonstrates the blank space between his ears if he couldn't read the signs.... Players have had these rules pounded into them for many years now!
Football fan
Guest
I dare say that Russell Packer's problems are much more than a 'bad boy image'...
Australian Rules
Guest
I must say, when I think about this whole incident...my sympathy starts with the head-stomp victim, not the professional footballer who did the stomping.
Pot Stirrer
Guest
I to was suprised when i heard the punishment he got, how ever i think thats becuase it was alot more serious than we were led to believe.
eagleJack
Guest
Agree with you Ken. Im content with the tough penalty handed out in this case. But I'd love to see some consistency. The fact of the matter is Packer would have walked if he wasn't a footballer. Dozens before him have. But Magistrate Grogin wanted to make an example of him, and knew the exposure the case would receive. So let's hope that Magistrate Grogin, and the rest of the Magistrates, follow through with this ruling and hope that a precedent is set. Sadly this won't be the case.
Carlos
Guest
Personally I think its not enough there should be post gaol restrictions on him as well, he stomped on an unconscious guys head FFS...its only luck that his victim isn't brain damaged or dead. The guy deserves his punishment and given the spate of deaths from these sorts of attacks he should consider himself lucky not to be imprisoned for manslaughter. Zero sympathy for him and all the other coward thugs out there bashing people in steroid / alcohol / energy / drink rages'
The eye
Guest
Packer has probably cost Newcastle their season.Theyve now got zero serious grunt in the front row,Willie can't bend the line,Snowden won't be back till Round 6 or 7,a junior is going to have to be rushed in or Houston Jeremy Smith or Mckinnon do a Gallen and move up.
robdowney
Roar Rookie
"the great tragedy with russell...." this dude deserves no sympathy. he is responsible for his own actions and the consequences, bennetts comments are highly insensitive with regards to the victim of russell's violence.
Ken
Guest
Just to be clear I should add that I don't really have a problem with the tougher penalty, as long as it's not applied only to footballers.
Ken
Guest
Doesn't the Packer case bother you at all though? It seems fairly clear, to a layman's eyes like mine, that he would not be doing 2 years behind bars if he wasn't a footballer. While we may argue that it's soft, these sorts of case (first offence, escalated disagreement, etc) would generally warrant a fine and suspended sentence. I don't want to downplay the incident, his actions were pathetic and I have no sympathy for him personally but I don't want to see footballers get heavier penalties than 'normal' people any more than I want them to get weaker penalties.
Steve b
Guest
This guy thinks he can do as he pleases and have no consequence for his actions good on the Knights we dont need this type in the game . You cant put a brain in a concrete block Bennet had no hope of changing this guy.. Good riddance for mine.