Two stories in the last 24 hours which really sum up the cultural differences between league and union......
Roosters players Jake Friend and Sandor Earl charged with assault
By Steve Gee 29, 2009
The 19-year-old was charged on Monday afternoon following a two-hour interview at The Rocks police station.
Friend was charged along with 19-year-old teammate Sandor Earl, with both players bailed to appear at the Downing Centre on July 20.
The charges come after Roosters coach Brad Fittler defended the pair on Sunday night following reports over the incident at The Tank nightclub earlier in the day.
The melee erupted about 3am - only hours after Friend played a key role in the Roosters 19-12 win over Cronulla.
Friend and Earl, who made his debut on Saturday night, were drinking with Roosters halfback Mitchell Pearce, who also gave a statement to police.
Pearce has been cleared over the incident.
Police said the scuffle began after a verbal altercation between the players and former Manly and Wests Tigers player Nick Bradley.
Police will allege a physical altercation ensued between the two groups and as a result Bradley, 29, received soreness to his back and a graze to his chin.
Kristy Bradley, 31, suffered concussion, bruising to her face, pain to her neck and back.
Ambulance officers attended and they were treated at the scene.
Friend, Earl and Pearce arrived at The Rocks police about 2pm on Monday afternoon, escorted by Roosters CEO Steve Noyce. The players were interviewed separately.
Police later released a statement after Friend and Earl were charged.
"A 19-year-old Maroubra man was charged with assault and a 19-year-old Glebe man was charged with two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm," the statement said.
"The pair were granted conditional bail to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on July 20."
and then......
Wallabies players James O'Connor, Josh Valentine and Quade Cooper fined
By Darren Walton June 28, 2009
Three Wallabies, including teenage sensation James O'Connor, have been fined for engaging in a food fight at a team hotel this month.
The ARU was on Sunday tightlipped about the skylarking, only confirming it took place during the Wallabies' just-completed inbound Test series. "The ARU is extremely disappointed by their behaviour as it does not meet the required standards of a Wallaby," a spokesman said. The ARU fined all three players and declared the matter closed. Despite disciplining the trio, the ARU did not deem the offence serious enough to drop O'Connor or Valentine from the bench for Saturday night's 22-6 Test win over France at ANZ Stadium. O'Connor, 18, and Cooper, just turned 21, have a history of high jinx. On the eve of their Test debuts against Italy on last year's spring tour, the two backline rookies were seen dodging and weaving traffic as they fired passes to one another on the cobbled streets of Padova.
David Gallop must be thinking "I would give my left nut for a month to go by where the worst thing I had to deal with was a food fight......"
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I was just thinking about this on Sunday, I can't remember a rugby player getting in any serious strife for a long time. Tiquiri and Sailor have had troubles but they are league players. Matt Henjak is the only bad one I can think of breaking your own teammates jaw, but he isn't all there in the head. Cameron Shepherd got drunk and ran over a car, no biggy. Rugby Leagues players are mainly all sub human creatures plucked out of public schools at a young age with little or no brains to help them out in life. Rugby Union players usually come from private school backgrounds with a strong moral upbringing and know what is right and wrong.
ReplyDeleteThe Rugby Union issue was a little "Toffy" for me. A food fight, man they carry on like brats.
ReplyDeleteAs for the League stars, again until we have zero tolerance we are going to get these boneheads playing. Piss them off at first offence. That is saying that they are guilty aswell because that is still before the courts similar to Brett Stewart. If they are guilty get rid of them from the game.
I imagine that if James O'Connor threw some food at a league player like Paul Gallen or Greg Bird he'd be out for the season with a broken jaw and/or 70 stitches around his eye from the subsequent glassing.
ReplyDeleteI hope O'Connor is banned from all high tea functions for the next 6 months.
That is outstanding. If gallen and bird could swing their arms due to the ever increasing size of their heads.
ReplyDelete