I watched the Euro Semi final today played in a country where there are hundreds of covid cases recorded a day being played in a packed stadium. I also watched earlier this year my team Liverpool win their first title as the players gathered at a players place (including the coach) to watch Man City lose and them celebrate when Man City lost. Yes you can call it a house party and during the first lockdown when there were actual deaths from this strain and no vaccine around. There were even cameras taping this from the media. And as per above, this was during lockdown in England where no fans were allowed to watch a game so more strict than they are now. This ended up being a good news story as people wanted to see a reaction from the players. They did not put a doom and gloom on this and say that players should be banned, points deducted, they let the whole world down etc. They actually wanted to show the world how much it meant to the guys. In the end there was no harm done. No fine issued and the journalists were not out for any players blood. It was a good news story. Not that I am saying Saints on the weekend should have been as well but it was something they could have kept low key and not blown out of proportion. What a difference the EPL media is to the NRL. They actually support the code not try and damage their reputation with any opportunity they can find.
I am not supporting what the players did on the weekend, but I don't think it is the worst crime in the world like we are made to believe. I know the Warriors are sacrificing themselves by being away from their families and other players are following the strict guidelines. Our so called NRL journalists like to make it look like it was the worst crime in record? The Coffs Harbour scandal did not cop as much bad press as these guys did on the weekend. I mention this because their was alot of players involved. Nobody got sacked, no fines, suspensions etc. Copping a 50k fine and 8 games is a pretty tough punishment, plus the other monetary fines for the others and 1 game. Much harsher than other team have copped for hosting a party by far. Was that not enough?
What got me was the trash dished out last night on NRL 360. Accusing the Dragons of having a bad culture? I often thought when they say a bad culture it related to players being divided, not putting in for the coach, spreading rumours about the club etc. The weekend showed although it being stupid how close a knit the team is by all going to a guys place for a BBQ, In Origin or normal teams it is called bonding. The timing of this is what was the issue. It was done during lockdown with nobody from the public mind you. Then this anger at the lies the players said as if it was the first time a player lied. Sorry but there is a team that introduced wrestling and all these other disgusting tackles that ruined the game. When pressed they denied it. They lied, I have seen the coach asked do you practice these moves and he said, no we don't. But deep down everyone knows they do but choose to be quite. Never have they made such a huge fuss like last night about deceit when they publicly say all the time that coaches bend the rules, find ways to get away with stuff etc. Sorry but is that not worse than lying about a BBQ? You would not think so after last night? Why don't coaches or players get bastardised like Vaughny for lying or deceit? You would think by their reactions yesterday it was only the first time and it is only the one team that has done it. I suppose what they are lying about is about the game and does not interfere with the public. Hadley then goes on and wants a full investigation to see if the wives attended. If they did then the 13 fines issued would have been more if they were. Or do fines apply to men only? Shouldn't the cops be in trouble for not issuing more fines then? If it was wives as well then less than 13 players attended. Wake up Hadley. That shows what a vendetta he has against Saints.
JDB went through 2.5 years of hell. He is now finally back and they were just baying for his blood. He hid under the bed etc. This shows how damaged the guy is from the 2.5 years he has copped. As soon as he saw cops the guy panicked. Do you blame him. He knew that the journalists would have a field day with this and bring up his past as expected. I bet the first person on their list to look for was him. Obviously he is still mentally scarred. His wellbeing is not a factor at all for these guys, lets just lets get him for going to a party with mates. He is certainly on the radar for these guys.
Again, I am not supporting what they did but the 305k in fines and suspensions was enough punishment and far more than what other teams copped. I cannot believe journo's are not happy with this and want more. A player being sacked and a club accused of poor culture and the other rubbish is just a step to far and was driven by the media to react like this. Lets see how they treat other cases. The Saints board better step up if they see something is not treated the same in the future. Hadley said how iconic and famous our club is. Well they are doing a good job to damage their image.
Another odd thing to come out of yesterday from the board is how Norman escaped the same punishment as Vaughn? Has he not go the same amount of indiscretions? His record for off field is far worse than Vaughn. Very inconsistent and all that it shows is that they wanted Vaughn out for some reason and they found it.
