Rugby league cleanskin Cooper Cronk says the NRL is past the point of tolerating the loose actions of players like South Sydney star Cody Walker.
Walker is being investigated by NSW Police after a video emerged online showing the 2019 NSW State of Origin five-eighth kicking a man in the chest in an altercation in Casino last December.
The third man in, Walker apologised and claimed he was emotional and grieving the suicide of his cousin when he was caught on film karate-style kicking the man.
“It was not a true reflection of my character and who I am as a person,” Walker said.
Cronk accepts that may be the case but feels enough is enough at a delicate time when the NRL is trying to prove it’s worthy of a chance to relaunch the season during the coronavirus pandemic.
“It’s not a major indiscretion. It’s just not a good look,” the four-time premiership winner told Fox League Live.
“Just from our selfish point of view in terms of rugby league, it’s just not a good look.
“I just don’t think you can have one of your star players who is an inspiration to a large portion of this country and who a lot of junior rugby league players aspire to be like, you just can’t have that look coming through on social media or the news outlets or what-not.”
Detectives have opened an investigation into the brawl and claims footage from the incident has been used in a blackmail attempt against Walker for $20,000, after the original incident was not reported to police.
“So where this lands in terms of the NRL, look, the integrity unit will look at it,” Cronk said.
“Is it at the serious end? I’d say no. Is it at the bottom end? No.
“But it’s just a couple of levels up that’s going to have to be dealt with.
“He’s very lucky that – we don’t know what happened – but he didn’t cause any damage.
“If that had have caused severe damage to the person he kicked or someone else around, then this is a completely different story.
“So the blackmail is not for us to discuss.”
With Souths in eighth spot after a one-from-two start and without retired leaders Sam Burgess and Greg Inglis, Cronk believes new captain Adam Reynolds is under huge pressure entering next week’s competition restart.
The Rabbitohs resume against the defending champion Sydney Roosters, then face Melbourne and Cronk believes Wayne Bennett’s men will struggle to make this year’s top eight.
Nat
Roar Guru
I would delete all that as well champ. It's been fun. Kisses. :happy:
Nat
Roar Guru
Baaahahahahaha. Now you're the Libel Law expert. This just gets better. ""Losing 2 games wages on the contract he is on, will be around the fine I called for. Only difference is I thought he should have an extra lump of cash that he would be hit with if he does anything else. Say, ex match payments he is on $600k over a 26 round season (which this won’t be), that is a 46K fine if the club withholds payment for suspensions." Davico May 23rd 2020 @ 1:16pm. Yet you still cannot show any evidence of any player losing match payments due to suspension. Should we move onto your "match payment" breakdown. Do you seriously beieve they get paid from week 1 to last game as you've outlined above? How is it then most NRL players had received 60% of their wage before the season shut down in March? Their contracts are Oct - Sept, monthly. They haven't been 'match payments' for full time NRL players for decades. Maybe bonuses/incentives for 27- on the list but Walker is not one of them is he? "De Belin is still contracted to the Dragons until the end of 2020 and is still being paid his full salary." https://www.nrl.com/news/2019/08/22/de-belin-withdraws-appeal-against-no-fault-stand-down-policy/ "Under the no-fault stand-down policy, introduced by the ARL Commission last month, the Dragons are required to continue paying de Belin while he is sidelined." https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/nrl/dragons-face-paying-jack-de-belin-1m-to-train-and-not-play/news-story/313760e0343621b03b541de2ddfe1436 That's an official responce from the NRL and from the Australian. Amazing what a quick google search can find. Youknow what I can't find? Anything about a player losing their match payments whilst suspended - not JDB or WALKER'S FORM...??? Your silence is deafening champ. Seriously buddy, let it go. You are down a path of no return and no amount of name-calling helps.
Davico
Roar Pro
Now you are bringing up JDB??? Suppose you think he is a stand up guy as well. That will do me! See Ya!
Nat
Roar Guru
You made the statement champ. Funnily enough you started with “likely” and now it’s a fact. So you do have proof, you just can’t post any details on a public forum? :laughing: :laughing: Of course you do. I’ll take your word for it shall I? :laughing: :laughing: Google search for any news story buddy (would’ve thought that was obvious)? Heaps of players are suspended, surely there is one somewhere that confirms this? I’ve given you the option of any player and… Maybe someone who commited a serious crime? Is JDB still getting paid? :laughing: :laughing: Fifth time: Walker’s Form?
Davico
Roar Pro
“Surely a quick google search would find some reference of any player losing match payments for suspension?” OMG are you really this dense? You think players get match payments for games they don’t play through suspension??? You think all aspects of player contracts are made public and available on google? I would hope that you would have some sort of confidentiality to your work contract that it would not be easy to find, otherwise, you really do have no clue! You think I am going to come onto a public forum and reveal details about somebody else’s employment contracts or disclose indiscretions certain people may have had without their permission?? Have a think!
Nat
Roar Guru
"Do your own research" :laughing: :laughing: I would have thought that would be easy to prove with all your contacts. Surely a quick google search would find some reference of any player losing match payments for suspension? Come on mate it's your statement. Prove it. 4th time. Walker form? I'm not going to stop asking.
Davico
Roar Pro
Sorry is that English?
Davico
Roar Pro
Hyperbowl, is that like the Superbowl? Do your own research! You either don't have any relationship with any players, don't know any player managers or have never been in a position where your behaviour, if untoward, would have an impact on your contract. Plenty do, including those who work in or are involved in the mining industry as an example. You are becoming incoherent so I will leave you to it. :thumbup:
Nat
Roar Guru
Oh, they’ve mod’d me. It’s not oofensive, it’ll be up soon enough. You’ve made it interesting now, I’ll be bck tomorrrow. xx
Nat
Roar Guru
Oh, now we are going from opinion into a statement of fact. And to think I was going to let you go. Two words: Prove it. Walker has a clause in his contract about such incidents and he will not be paid? Prove it? In fact, show me any document/article that shows a suspended player was doc'd their weekly wage. Prove it? For the 3rd time, you said Walker has "form": Prove it? I will admit I'm "clueless" and "naive" when you can prove one damn thing you right. If/when you cannot produce somemthing that proves your hyperbowl you don't get to say 'they should have' - that's an opinion - and you really should have stayed there.
Davico
Roar Pro
So you think that there is not a clause in every players contract that if they are suspended for disciplinary reasons there is no hit to their pay? What you think Souths are going to pay him for games he does not play? You are either clueless to the way that sports contracts are written (highly likely) or you are naive. Back to the Bundy mate you are embarrassing yourself
Nat
Roar Guru
Baaaaaahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha... Now Walkers not getting paid!!! AND he is going to fight it is he???? :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: You've gone from embarrasing to pathetic.
Davico
Roar Pro
You think Cody gets paid for games he doe not play during suspension???? You stated that you would take him at his word that he would accept whatever happened. That does not seem to be the case! You did not have the balls to actually say what you thought the NRL should give him so give me a break. Weak as water! Did I not say that I thought the penalty to the club was light? Comprehension seems to be an issue with you. Maybe you and Cody can get together and blame all your problems on emotion and the drink. Done
Nat
Roar Guru
Ohh champ, learn to accept when your wrong. You had an opinion, it wasn't in lone with the NRL or police. Why do you think I made you put into words what you thought was fair. It wasn't close - not by a long shot. Grow up. Accept it You wanted '$60,000 fine for Cody and 2 points deducted for the club!' What happens: $15k for the club (provided that gets up, the club never said they wouldn't challenge) and 2 games for Cody. Some how, in your deluded little mind those two outcomes are the same? You are allowed to disagree with the NRL's penalties as well, it is still just an opinion. Claiming you and they are like-for-like is embarrasing. You still haven't answered what Cody's "form" is?
Davico
Roar Pro
Said like someone who has been shown up and proved wrong. HAHA Build a Bridge!
Nat
Roar Guru
Mate, let it go. You couldn't be told and now your reaching. Finished. Done. Go find another cause to jump on your high horse about.
Davico
Roar Pro
I did not even say anywhere that he should get suspended! Losing 2 games wages on the contract he is on, will be around the fine I called for. Only difference is I thought he should have an extra lump of cash that he would be hit with if he does anything else. Say, ex match payments he is on $600k over a 26 round season (which this won't be), that is a 46K fine if the club withholds payment for suspensions. The club fine is a joke. I imagine that the current situation has a lot to do with that. Yes you missed it by a mile, and can you please point out where all the rational people stated he would get 2 weeks? It will be interesting to see how your defense of him and how he would accept his medicine will play out considering that it sounds like both him and the club will both be challenging the punishment! So much for that hey??
Nat
Roar Guru
Your way? 2 weeks is what every rational person suspected he would get, you are well OTT and that's why I wanted you to put it on writing. The club got 25% of what you wanted for Cody. I missed by a mile as i told you. We're done here.
Davico
Roar Pro
Jeebus. Dull as well as dense!
Gray-Hand
Roar Rookie
Wait a minute ... He got a two week suspension. Have you been carrying on like you have because you thought other people here (and the player himself) were trying to argue that something like a 2 week suspension would be excessive?