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Players frustrated by doubt
By Ray Gatt
April 30, 2004
CANTERBURY captain Steve Price is disappointed a pall of doubt still hangs over the Bulldogs despite the players being cleared of rape allegations.
"If you've listened to the radio over the last few days there's certainly still speculation in the air," a typically honest and frank Price said yesterday.
"The way things happened ... they (the DPP) said no charges were to be laid because of insufficient evidence.
"Then they (police) make another statement that they felt something could have happened, but they couldn't quite prove it.
"For me that was a little disappointing in that either there is something to be called in for or there is nothing to be called in for. I think it is as cut and dried as that.
"I was hoping once the decision was made, either way, we could get on with life."
Price, widely regarded as one of the code's best role models, said the dramas of recent months would have a strong effect on everyone involved in rugby league.
"I'm sure everyone in rugby league will have learned a valuable lesson from this," Price said.
"It will certainly change our ways for everything we do, whether it is behaviour, our lifestyle ... everything has to change from this day onwards.
"You've got to do that, it's a responsibility. I suppose we are seen as higher profile people in the community and there are certain responsibilities that go with that.
"The Bulldogs are right at the forefront of that and if we do misbehave in the future we are going to cop it in a big way."
Commenting on the NRL's $150,000 fine and $350,000 suspended penalty, Price said it was a good wake-up call for everyone.
"Obviously we don't want anything to happen in the future," he said. "If no-one understands now that a professional rugby league player's life is 24/7 then they are in the wrong sport."
Price said he does not believe there are any divisions among the players over what happened in Coffs Harbour.
"Certainly there are no divisions in the team. We are a very tight-knit group and the proof of the pudding is how we have handled things over the last 12 weeks and the way we have performed on field," Price said.
He would not comment on suggestions that the names of players fined by the Bulldogs for breaking their code of conduct should be publicly revealed.
"That's not a decision for me to make. Obviously rules are there to protect players," Price said.
"I didn't make the rules and I'm not going to be making the decisions so it is really hard for me to comment.
"Whatever the club decides, we've got to stand behind that and move forward."
The Australian
Source: http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,9426519-23214,00.html
By Ray Gatt
April 30, 2004
CANTERBURY captain Steve Price is disappointed a pall of doubt still hangs over the Bulldogs despite the players being cleared of rape allegations.
"If you've listened to the radio over the last few days there's certainly still speculation in the air," a typically honest and frank Price said yesterday.
"The way things happened ... they (the DPP) said no charges were to be laid because of insufficient evidence.
"Then they (police) make another statement that they felt something could have happened, but they couldn't quite prove it.
"For me that was a little disappointing in that either there is something to be called in for or there is nothing to be called in for. I think it is as cut and dried as that.
"I was hoping once the decision was made, either way, we could get on with life."
Price, widely regarded as one of the code's best role models, said the dramas of recent months would have a strong effect on everyone involved in rugby league.
"I'm sure everyone in rugby league will have learned a valuable lesson from this," Price said.
"It will certainly change our ways for everything we do, whether it is behaviour, our lifestyle ... everything has to change from this day onwards.
"You've got to do that, it's a responsibility. I suppose we are seen as higher profile people in the community and there are certain responsibilities that go with that.
"The Bulldogs are right at the forefront of that and if we do misbehave in the future we are going to cop it in a big way."
Commenting on the NRL's $150,000 fine and $350,000 suspended penalty, Price said it was a good wake-up call for everyone.
"Obviously we don't want anything to happen in the future," he said. "If no-one understands now that a professional rugby league player's life is 24/7 then they are in the wrong sport."
Price said he does not believe there are any divisions among the players over what happened in Coffs Harbour.
"Certainly there are no divisions in the team. We are a very tight-knit group and the proof of the pudding is how we have handled things over the last 12 weeks and the way we have performed on field," Price said.
He would not comment on suggestions that the names of players fined by the Bulldogs for breaking their code of conduct should be publicly revealed.
"That's not a decision for me to make. Obviously rules are there to protect players," Price said.
"I didn't make the rules and I'm not going to be making the decisions so it is really hard for me to comment.
"Whatever the club decides, we've got to stand behind that and move forward."
The Australian
Source: http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,9426519-23214,00.html
