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Axe may still fall on Irwin: Raiders
Chris Wilson
Canberra Raiders general manager Don Furner said the club was entitled to apply double standards when it decided the fate of centre Steve Irwin this week. In a day of startling admissions, Furner said the Raiders would likely face an NRL salary cap breach this week and the club had a potential fight on its hands to retain halfback Michael Dobson.
The Raiders have offered a lifeline to wayward star Todd Carney, who returned to training with the Premier League squad yesterday, 10 days after he was involved in an alleged police pursuit in Bruce.
Police charged Carney, 20, with three driving offences and he faces a possible jail term when he appears in the ACT Magistrates Court on June 12. Carney has twice been guilty of drink-driving in NSW.
But the Raiders are still considering whether to sack Irwin, who was Carney's passenger in the alleged pursuit. Police did not charge Irwin for his involvement.
Irwin, 23, joined the Raiders this season from the Queensland Cup but he has not played a game for the club.
He had a knee reconstruction in September last year, but his recovery was stalled when he had arthroscopic surgery on the same knee about three weeks ago.
It may be another four weeks before Irwin is fit to play for the Raiders, if he gets the chance at all.
Furner admitted people would accuse the Raiders of double standards if the club sacked Irwin, who is serving an indefinite suspension. But he said the Raiders would make the best business decision, as early as tomorrow.
"Sometimes there are double standards and sometimes there are different qualities of players," Furner said. "Sometimes exceptions are made for better players or players that have been at a club longer. That's the fact of life.
"I could understand people would say that [the Raiders have double standards] if it happened [Irwin was sacked] but the reality is we're running a business that has to win football games."
Furner said management had talked with Irwin but had not made a decision. "We've got nothing to say, we're still working through a few things."
Furner defended the club's support for Carney, who is a Raiders junior and joined the full-time NRL squad as a 17-year-old.
He said Raiders fans had bombarded the club with emails, the majority supporting the club's decision.
"There's always 10 per cent that say 'listen, he's had enough chances why give him more chances than the others?'. They're fair questions, but at the end of the day they're not running the organisation."
The Raiders management met with Carney's manager David Riolo on Sunday and used the opportunity to also discuss the future of another young half, Dobson.
Furner said Dobson was a priority re-signing for the Raiders, but he anticipated other NRL clubs would fight for the former Australian Schoolboys representative.
A contractual dispute with his previous manager Cameron Day has delayed Dobson's contract talks.
Dobson, who turns 21 today, has now committed to Riolo and wants to resolve his future quickly.
"I'll look elsewhere if I have to," Dobson said. "I'll have to weigh up my options when the Raiders put an offer to me or when they let me know what's going on."
The Raiders could have another problem on their hands later this week. Furner expected the NRL would fine the Raiders for a salary cap breach, which he described as a minor and innocent mistake.
The breach would relate to the 2006 season. It is understood the breach related to unexpected bonuses paid to State of Origin representatives Adam Mogg and Clinton Schifcofske.
http://canberra.yourguide.com.au/de... league&story_id=589740&category=Rugby League
Please sign up dobson quickly, I think irwin should not be the scape goat fined yes but he didn't put a gun to carney's head.
Chris Wilson
Canberra Raiders general manager Don Furner said the club was entitled to apply double standards when it decided the fate of centre Steve Irwin this week. In a day of startling admissions, Furner said the Raiders would likely face an NRL salary cap breach this week and the club had a potential fight on its hands to retain halfback Michael Dobson.
The Raiders have offered a lifeline to wayward star Todd Carney, who returned to training with the Premier League squad yesterday, 10 days after he was involved in an alleged police pursuit in Bruce.
Police charged Carney, 20, with three driving offences and he faces a possible jail term when he appears in the ACT Magistrates Court on June 12. Carney has twice been guilty of drink-driving in NSW.
But the Raiders are still considering whether to sack Irwin, who was Carney's passenger in the alleged pursuit. Police did not charge Irwin for his involvement.
Irwin, 23, joined the Raiders this season from the Queensland Cup but he has not played a game for the club.
He had a knee reconstruction in September last year, but his recovery was stalled when he had arthroscopic surgery on the same knee about three weeks ago.
It may be another four weeks before Irwin is fit to play for the Raiders, if he gets the chance at all.
Furner admitted people would accuse the Raiders of double standards if the club sacked Irwin, who is serving an indefinite suspension. But he said the Raiders would make the best business decision, as early as tomorrow.
"Sometimes there are double standards and sometimes there are different qualities of players," Furner said. "Sometimes exceptions are made for better players or players that have been at a club longer. That's the fact of life.
"I could understand people would say that [the Raiders have double standards] if it happened [Irwin was sacked] but the reality is we're running a business that has to win football games."
Furner said management had talked with Irwin but had not made a decision. "We've got nothing to say, we're still working through a few things."
Furner defended the club's support for Carney, who is a Raiders junior and joined the full-time NRL squad as a 17-year-old.
He said Raiders fans had bombarded the club with emails, the majority supporting the club's decision.
"There's always 10 per cent that say 'listen, he's had enough chances why give him more chances than the others?'. They're fair questions, but at the end of the day they're not running the organisation."
The Raiders management met with Carney's manager David Riolo on Sunday and used the opportunity to also discuss the future of another young half, Dobson.
Furner said Dobson was a priority re-signing for the Raiders, but he anticipated other NRL clubs would fight for the former Australian Schoolboys representative.
A contractual dispute with his previous manager Cameron Day has delayed Dobson's contract talks.
Dobson, who turns 21 today, has now committed to Riolo and wants to resolve his future quickly.
"I'll look elsewhere if I have to," Dobson said. "I'll have to weigh up my options when the Raiders put an offer to me or when they let me know what's going on."
The Raiders could have another problem on their hands later this week. Furner expected the NRL would fine the Raiders for a salary cap breach, which he described as a minor and innocent mistake.
The breach would relate to the 2006 season. It is understood the breach related to unexpected bonuses paid to State of Origin representatives Adam Mogg and Clinton Schifcofske.
http://canberra.yourguide.com.au/de... league&story_id=589740&category=Rugby League
Please sign up dobson quickly, I think irwin should not be the scape goat fined yes but he didn't put a gun to carney's head.
