Just thinking about the recent criminal trials for SL players - Cockayne, Pryce, Reardon, Bird - and wondering, would people be supportive if any player found guilty of a criminal offence should then be punished by the RFL for bringing the game into disrepute? It seems a little unfair that KR do something quite honourable in suspending Cockayne for the duration of his community service commitments whereas Saints let Pryce off because he's a key player to the side.
I'd quite like to see the RFL getting tough with players (especially international players) who bring bad press to our game, it might sort out idiots like Cockayne and Pryce who clearly haven't learnt from previous misdemeanours.
Post subject: Re: RFL punishments for SL's criminals?
Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 10:42 am
EHW
Club Owner
Joined: Nov 02 2003 Posts: 8627
Gazemous wrote:Just thinking about the recent criminal trials for SL players - Cockayne, Pryce, Reardon, Bird - and wondering, would people be supportive if any player found guilty of a criminal offence should then be punished by the RFL for bringing the game into disrepute? It seems a little unfair that KR do something quite honourable in suspending Cockayne for the duration of his community service commitments whereas Saints let Pryce off because he's a key player to the side.
I'd quite like to see the RFL getting tough with players (especially international players) who bring bad press to our game, it might sort out idiots like Cockayne and Pryce who clearly haven't learnt from previous misdemeanours.
Thoughts?
they should all be suspended whilst serving their sentence.
I agree with the RFL interfering with suspensions for players found guilty of serious criminal offences. But lets not get overzealous like the NRL who banned Brett Stewart despite him not being proved guilty of anything yet.
You've got to be careful on things like this, as offences are obviously completely different so should be treated differently. Players obviously have a responsibility as role models for the clubs they play for and the sport itself. Should it be FORCED into the contracts of professional that they must adhere to the law or otherwise be punished by the game as well? Can't apply one rule to one and another to another. It would have to be all or nothing. And do the RFL have the legal right to do this? I don't know much about law so couldn't really say.
Each act should be taken on it's own individual grounds and a view taken on that. Cockayne's was a very serious crime and KR's response is fine by me.
Pryce's was absolutely nothing so didn't warrant any action at all by the club, the warning comes because it's not the first time he's got into trouble. Those getting all sanctimonious about his 'crime' need to get outside more and breath in a few times.
Reardon was cut by Wire as an excuse for how poor he is as a player and the poorness of his injury record. If they had Pryce they, nor Hull KR would have taken the action they did.
Last edited by Saddened! on Tue Apr 28, 2009 10:53 am, edited 1 time in total.
Its the only time the game gets decent column inches anyway. While I don't condone any of the crimes/activites of these players it does help raise awareness of the game. (Albeit not in the positive fashion we would like).
Saddened! wrote:Each act should be taken on it's own individual grounds and a view taken on that. Cockayne's was a very serious crime and KR's response is fine by me.
the courts defin the seriousness of the offence, if the RFL then suspends a player for the length of their sentence they are by definition taking into account the seriousness of the offence.
Less serious offences like Pryce's get a shorter suspension, more serious ones get a bigger suspension.
Post subject: Re: RFL punishments for SL's criminals?
Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 11:02 am
Bobbin' Along
Player Coach
Joined: Sep 23 2006 Posts: 8033 Location: sea level once again
Gazemous wrote:Just thinking about the recent criminal trials for SL players - Cockayne, Pryce, Reardon, Bird - and wondering, would people be supportive if any player found guilty of a criminal offence should then be punished by the RFL for bringing the game into disrepute? It seems a little unfair that KR do something quite honourable in suspending Cockayne for the duration of his community service commitments whereas Saints let Pryce off because he's a key player to the side.
I'd quite like to see the RFL getting tough with players (especially international players) who bring bad press to our game, it might sort out idiots like Cockayne and Pryce who clearly haven't learnt from previous misdemeanours.
Thoughts?
Honorable or not our club were crucified in the local media. To be honest if a court of law has decided that a crime doesn't warrant a custodial sentence I think the RFL are in a moral dilemma if they then take away that player's livelihood.
Having said that I do believe the courts are over lenient.
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