From the Telegraph

[Hurriflatch]

Just cop it on the chin

By DEAN RITCHIE Rugby League Writer

April 16, 2004

INTERSTATE rugby league rivalries are set to explode today after Parramatta chief executive Denis Fitzgerald put the boot into the Broncos -- describing them as introspective whingers not interested in the game's well-being.


Fitzgerald's outburst comes after the Broncos claimed they were dudded when the NRL penalised them two competition points for fielding an illegal 14th man against Wests Tigers in round three.

"The Broncos appear to me to have very insular thinking," Fitzgerald told The Daily Telegraph last night.


"The Broncos have little thought about the overall good of the game.


"They are the only team in Australia's third largest city so they should be grateful for the advantages they have.


"But Brisbane always seem to be complaining about a Sydney conspiracy when they get the rough end of the pineapple.


"They blow up each time they don't get their own way. They broke the rules. They should cop the penalty and move on."


Brisbane intend to appeal this week's NRL decision to enforce the two-point deduction. As of last night, their appeal had not been forwarded to the NRL. The club has until Monday to do so.


Broncos chief executive Bruno Cullen last night responded to Fitzgerald's comments, saying: "Denis is entitled to his opinion but we have an obligation to our players and fans. The players fought for 80 minutes and deserved the two points."



But Fitzgerald, rugby league's longest-serving chief executive, claimed the Broncos "want everything their own way"."The Broncos always seem to be complaining about the central body," he said.


"They have plenty of opportunities in Queensland. They shouldn't be screaming blue murder about how unfairly they are treated.


"They want everything their own way, just like they did in 1995 when they played a leading role in the formation of an alternate competition.


"We have to be supportive of the NRL management. David Gallop and Graham Annesley are doing a wonderful job in difficult circumstances.


"They have shown strong leadership."


NRL boss Gallop said last night he was disappointed at the Broncos' reaction to the NRL penalty. "It's been a difficult procedure but for them to call a 2 1/2 hour meeting we had with them last week 'a waste of time' was unfair and unfounded."

 

[half]

hahaha as much as what i agree with what he says, i wish he wouldn't say that

no wonder hindy won't be chosen for australia

 

[planeteels]

I agree with Fitzy 110%

The Broncos want to use other examples of similar breaches.. but I wonder how many of them are as a result of a player entering the field of play after being told by the sideline official to Stop and wait on the sideline until the other player leaves the field???

 

[planeteels]

One thing Ioften wonder...

The Broncos spend so much Time and Money taking the NRL or League to Court... Why don't they try to get sponsorship from the High Court???

 

[Glenn]

ROTFLMAO :lol:

Ahh Broncos whinging at its best, only people I know that are bigger whingers than the Poms

Fitz is right on the money. Brisbane knew the rules,broke them, and now expect nothing to happen to them #-o

 

[Eels Dude]

I agree with Fitzy 110%

The Broncos want to use other examples of similar breaches.. but I wonder how many of them are as a result of a player entering the field of play after being told by the sideline official to Stop and wait on the sideline until the other player leaves the field???

Agreed there. It seems like there so-called 'similar breaches' aren't similar at all. Denis Fitzgerald is never far from controversy, seems like another reason for a war between Smithy and Bennet.

 

[AlexTheEel]

Dennis is right. When dont Brisbane have a whinge? If they dont get a player in rep football they say theres to much NSW influence on selectors. They didn't want the golden point. They have more advantages than any other team yet nothing is ever good enough.

 

[thedux]

The Broncos have missed the point completely. They lost the two points because Parker ignored the official but they insist on claiming it happens every week with regards to 14 on the field. The difference is that the officials have given the go-ahead to other players. Those guys would complain if they had nothing to complain about!!!!!

 

[Eelectrica]

I've got no problem with the Broncos going through the proper NRL appeal channels to overturn the ruling. Just as long as they accept the decision if the appeal goes against them and leave it there.
If they bring it to court it will be three way tie for my most hated teams: Chooks, puppies and drongoes.

 

[Twizzle]

I wonder how hard we would fight it if we lost two points.

At least Wayne Bennett and Misty would then agree on something.

 

[Eelectrica]

I'd expect us to go as far as we could within the rules laid down by the NRL. I wouldn't agree with going outside that and going too the courts.

 

[parra_princess]

Can't believe it but Dennis is actually on the money...for far too long the Broncos have always thought they are above the game or that they are the game. I think Eelectrica is right I don't really have a problem with them fighting it, what will really annoy me is if they keep launching appeal after appeal until they get them back.

 

[parralight]

Denis MAY be on the money BUT.... I just wish that he would shut his big fat mouth.

Who does he think he is ? Its David Gallops job to run the NRL not Denis.

Im sick and tired of officials from our club coming out big noting themselves

Brian Smith - We have the biggest meanest team etc etc
and Fitz - Well everything he says

Id much rather we just snuck under the radar and won the bloody premiership!!

 

[Hurriflatch]

NRL must look beyond Sydney
Comment by Barry Dick
April 16, 2004

SOMETIMES a decision is made that is so astoundingly illogical and patently unfair that it is beyond comprehension.

The NRL's decision to deny the Broncos the two premiership points they earned against Wests Tigers last month because of a harmless interchange mix-up falls squarely into that category.

Unless the Broncos' appeal is upheld this will mean 80 minutes of effort by the 34 Broncos and Tigers players will have been wasted, because the two points on offer in the match will have disappeared into the ether.

Perhaps the worst aspect of the heavy-handed penalty is that the NRL has ignored the fact one of the Broncos' players, Shane Webcke, was taken out of the game illegally and therefore there never was a situation where it was 14 players on 13.

I am more convinced than ever the NRL has become a modern-day NSWRL – a Sydney-based and Sydney-centric mob who couldn't care less about the game anywhere else.

Despite five NRL clubs being based outside NSW and another one being based outside Sydney, every decision is made in – and I suggest for – Sydney.

It is a simple fact that no senior NRL official lives outside the NSW capital and none seems terribly interested in what happens in Melbourne, Auckland, Canberra, Newcastle, Townsville – and certainly Brisbane.

The S-for-Sydney RL seems unaware that rugby league is in trouble in Brisbane. The AFL has staged a remarkably successful invasion in the past 10 years and will not give up until it has won the war.

You can write your own ticket about league resisting long-term as long as decisions like this one are made by people who won't look beyond the boundaries of Sydney.

The Courier-Mail

at least Mr Dick lived up to his name

 

[Parra_Boy]

no wonder hindy won't be chosen for australia

And that just further confirms what Fitzy is saying, they can't handle the pressure being put on the club when something doesn't go their way or somebody bags the club out.

 

[PJ Marshal]

broncos have been cry babies from day one, if it was us in their situation theyd prob want us booted from the comp, its typical qld dumb ass aittutde :roll:

 

[JessEel]

i agree with ParraLight - instead of attracting media attention from nothing but talk, we should be attracting it for playing like champs!!

whats bugs me is fitzy shoots his mouth off, and leaves the team and the fans to cop it?!! :evil: like after he said that souths and melbourne should be booted outta the comp, souths fans and melbournes fans are abusing us, when it was that fool that said it!
the telegraph must put a call into him everytime something happens, just knowing he'll say something controversial!