Rugby League Scandals

[Penelope Pittstop]

Well talk about opening Pandora's Box. A topic that I am interested in at the moment is Rugby League Scandals. I am amazed at the amount of scandals we have had in RL. So far people have mentioned the following.

The Bulldogs
Super League
Souths Vs Balmain Grand Final
Newcastle Drug Affair
Kevin Hastings not being selected to represent Australia in 82.
John Hoparte
Souths being kicked out of the comp
Craig Field & Kevin McGuiness


I am interested to hear your thoughts on these or other incidents you deem 'scandal worthy'.

I remember being apoplexic over Wally Lewis not getting medical clearance to play for Australia. I was so pissed off, I stopped following league for a few seasons. At the time, I thought he was bigger than the game =;

Gauging the response I have recieved so far, I expect this to be a somewhat interesting discussion. ;-)

 

[legend]

Interesting topic Penny.

There was the Kevin Humphries corruption scandal that was aired on four corners back in the early eighties.

There was the Raiders salary cap dramas of 91/92

The biggest drama to ever rock league was the Superleague war and only now is the game showing signs of a recovery.

Regardless of which side of the fence you were on, the game changed forever in 95' when news broke that a rival competition, with the elite players would go ahead.

There werre some smaller scandals involving Souths and hotel room antics.

Scott Wilson failing a drug test.

Les Boyd's tackle on Daryl Brohman.

 

[Anonymous]

Every sport has its scandals and RL is no different.

The countless judiciary scandals where some players are more equal than others. I still maintain that Jim Hall and his treatment of Craig Smith was a scandal.

I think in time, the lid will be blown off the various betting scandals that go on. Thus far, the matter is only receiving lip service.

From a history perspective, one of the biggest Australian RL scandals was the 1909 grand final where Balmain forfeited rather than play the decider as a curtain raiser to a Kangaroos v Wallabies match.

Another early scandal was the pioneer Kangaroos sending James Giltinan and the NSWRL into virtual bankruptcy .

Then there was the once strong French Rugby League being shafted by their pro-Rugby Union Government of Nazi Collaborators in WWII.

Closer to home, the shafting of Newtown from the competition... this is closely tied with Legend's example of Kevin Humphries and the 4 Corners report.

Selection scandals include the non-selection of Kangaroo Len Smith in the 1940s - the allegation being that it was because he was catholic. Len quit RL afterwards and would have nothing to do with the game ever again. His replacement was a reserve grade player because the selectors had trouble finding someone willing to be tainted by the affair.

Bumper Farrell allegedly biting off part of Bill McRitchie's ear in 1945. A big controversy because the League saw much potential in Farrell who was also a policeman so he got off scott-free. Bill McRitchie who was a player of less potential spent 22 weeks in hospital thus ending his career.

Referees: 1960s top ref, Darcy Lawler and more recently Bill Harrigan. To this day, players maintain that Darcy used to gamble on matches that he was refereeing.
Bill's Parra v Knights match last year was worthy of scandal status.

Super League, Bulldogs are biggies... not enough sex scandals though. We leave to that our AFL cousins. ;-)

 

[roostergirl]

There apparently was one at the Roosters a few years ago....noone will confirm this one though ;-) An up & coming player being involved with the Captain at that times wife? And one of them had to leave...and the captain ended up at another club? Not sure how much is true lol

 

[Penelope Pittstop]

Guys, have you more information on the Humphries 4 corners report?

 

[Spike]

There apparently was one at the Roosters a few years ago....noone will confirm this one though ;-) An up & coming player being involved with the Captain at that times wife? And one of them had to leave...and the captain ended up at another club? Not sure how much is true lol

hahahaha Lam and Garlick pie

 

[Anonymous]

Guys, have you more information on the Humphries 4 corners report?

You know I actually wrote an essay about that in last year's F7s but I'm having trouble finding it now.

The programme was called, 'The Big League'and was put together by ABC journo, Chris Masters.

Basically, Humphreys was found with his hand in the NSWRL/ARL till.

It was sordid affair which saw the involvement of other colourful racing identities including the then NSW Chief Stipendiary Magistrate, Murray '$10,000' Farquar... so nicknamed because the was his top price for being bought off.

In fact, the 4 Corners report put Farquhar in gaol. It raised questions about whether or not he a fraud case brought against Kevin Humphreys. A Royal Commission was called and it was found that Farquhar had influenced the case. Humphreys was found guilty but I can't recall if he ever served time.

Prior to that, Newtown had been promised by Humphreys that relocation to Campbelltown was possible. He backed this up with money and arranged for the League to loan the Jets enough to make the re-location a reality. The money had to be paid back but not until the Jets started playing at Campbelltown and not before they sold their old clubhouse in Stanmore.

The New'Campbell'town Jets was the catch cry and they also had the backing of the Campbelltown Council. I know the Mayor well and he told me at the time that Newtown would have had no barriers in re-locating to the South-West.

But then the 4 corners report happened and Humphreys stepped down. Arko and Quayle took over the controls and one of the first things they did was to demand that Newtown pay back the money within days. The money had already spent on the home ground facilities.

This deception killed off what was left of the Bluebags. They were forced to sell their remaining assets and were subsequently forced to fold.

 

[Moffo]

Porno tapes of players doing the wild thing...apparently a Roosters one made an appearance this year

Brown slapping Barrett was pretty controversial

Mudnines whole career was controversial

Cheers,
Moffo

 

[GBT]

Scandal of a kind gave us this game; the argument over broken time and the subsequent forced breakaway from the darkside.

 

[midas]

There was a follow-up program to "The Big League" ,I think entitled "The Big Fix" concerning the events of 1978.This was stopped at the time by an injunction as nearly all the evidence was circumstantial from all accounts.
Apparently ,it would have been quite sensational but now will never see the light of day until all the central figures are deceased and none of the bastards will have the decency to cark it.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

It didn't involve current players but it's pretty well known in NZ that Warriors ex-fullback and board member Matthew Ridge was knobbing Nicky Watson, wife of Warriors boss (and Supposedly Ridge's good mate) Eric Watson. Dirty bastard Ridgey, but looking at Nicky Watson I can't say I blame him.

 

[maelgwnau]

Craig Field & Kevin Mcguiness Drugs Affair

Chris Walker - Leaving souths mid season for the Rorters