gong_eagle
First Grade
- Messages
- 7,655
Luke O'Donnell: I'm not a thug
By Steve Mascord | June 02, 2008
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/sport/nrl/story/0,26799,23792636-5006066,00.html
NORTH Queensland second- rower Luke O'Donnell last night accused touch judge Russell Turner of "grossly inappropriate" behaviour and Penrith coach Matthew Elliott of hitting "below the belt" as it emerged he could face four charges from Saturday's spiteful loss to the Panthers. The NSW selection hopeful was sent off on Turner's report for lifting an elbow in the face of Luke Lewis, was involved in similar incidents with Luke Priddis and Trent Waterhouse and there was confirmation yesterday he was reported by Turner for verbal abuse as he walked off Dairy Farmers Stadium.
But in a remarkable outburst, O'Donnell told The Daily Telegraph: "I'll never plead guilty to intentionally elbowing someone in the face," and reckoned Penrith players should change their tackling technique rather than him altering his own running style.
He offered no remorse for comments made to Turner, saying "he has left me with a stain and I take it personally.
"I let him know what I thought when I came off because, one, I thought his report was ridiculous.
"Two, I didn't like the way he delivered it.
"And three, the way he stood beside the ref, shaking his head at me - half-trying to intimidate me - as Penrith players spoke to the ref was grossly inappropriate and unprofessional.
"If he can stand in front of the mirror and say to himself that he did the right thing, then he is a brave man. This is a stain against my name, how can they expect me not to be emotional?
Related Links
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
O'Donnell launches tirade at touchie
Glenn Jackson | June 2, 2008
http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/odonnell-launches-tirade/2008/06/01/1212258648814.html
NORTH Queensland lock Luke O'Donnell has launched an astonishing attack on touch judge Russell Turner - as well as Panthers coach Matthew Elliott - in a bitter aftermath to his sending-off on Saturday night against Penrith.
O'Donnell suggested Turner's input in his dismissal - for an alleged elbow on Panther Luke Lewis - was personal, and described the decision as "rubbish".
"Everyone can see it was rubbish," O'Donnell said. "It almost felt like … it was a bit weird, a bit personal, the way it came out.
"He was standing beside the ref [rookie Alan Shortall] and the ref was talking to the Penrith players - he [Turner] was looking in my direction and shaking his head. This is before he's given his report. I don't know why - my fate was probably sealed."
The Panthers went on to win 19-18 in golden-point extra time.
Amid suggestions that Turner may file a report over what O'Donnell said to him immediately after he received his marching orders, the Cowboy said Turner's claim that his actions were intentional was "below the belt" and a "blight" on him.
"I take a lot of offence to it [the suggestion it was intentional], and it makes me angry," he said. "And the more I see it on TV, it burns me.
"It's as if I chased Luke Lewis across the field and tried to knock his block off. That was pretty below the belt and uncalled for.
"If the ref was going off the touch judge's report, I thought that was nothing short of ridiculous, the way he delivered it. It was just so off the mark.
"It's been a slow road back for me [since a hamstring injury in 2007], and I certainly don't need to be missing more games."
Describing the incident as "innocuous", O'Donnell said he was attempting to push Lewis, and implored the match review committee to ignore Turner's report.
"I hope they take absolutely nothing that the touch judge said into account, because it was pretty out there … Anyway, he got his one-up on me. He got me sent off."
Asked if he felt Turner should be held accountable, he said: "He put a fair bit of pressure on the young ref. We played half a game with 12 men. I'm hoping it doesn't cost me more, but he cost me a half last night. I'll be shattered if I'm suspended for that.
"Our season's on the line, and the players are accountable for everything they do. Little things like that can have a big impact on people's careers. If you're going to be coming up, cocksure as he was, he'd want to make sure he was making the right call.
"I'm not trying to bag officials too much, because without them we don't have a game, but … if they're going to come out and make a big call, they should know they're going to be held accountable if they make the wrong call."
After the game, Elliott said the hit reminded him of an incident in 2003 involving O'Donnell and Michael Monaghan which led to an 11-match suspension for the then Wests Tigers player.
Elliott, who was coaching Monaghan's Canberra side at the time, also said O'Donnell "got" Panther Luke Priddis earlier in Saturday night's game.
To that, O'Donnell responded: "I was really disgusted that he had to bring up my incident from 2003. I'll say to the day I die, it was an accident. Unfortunately Michael Monaghan got injured, and if I had my time again, I wouldn't have attempted to tackle that way."
The NRL's chief operating officer Graham Annesley said he had not been told about any suggestion Turner was verballed by O'Donnell, but said: "I haven't spoken with Russell Turner but any official has the ability to lodge a report."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Steve Mascord | June 02, 2008
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/sport/nrl/story/0,26799,23792636-5006066,00.html
NORTH Queensland second- rower Luke O'Donnell last night accused touch judge Russell Turner of "grossly inappropriate" behaviour and Penrith coach Matthew Elliott of hitting "below the belt" as it emerged he could face four charges from Saturday's spiteful loss to the Panthers. The NSW selection hopeful was sent off on Turner's report for lifting an elbow in the face of Luke Lewis, was involved in similar incidents with Luke Priddis and Trent Waterhouse and there was confirmation yesterday he was reported by Turner for verbal abuse as he walked off Dairy Farmers Stadium.
But in a remarkable outburst, O'Donnell told The Daily Telegraph: "I'll never plead guilty to intentionally elbowing someone in the face," and reckoned Penrith players should change their tackling technique rather than him altering his own running style.
He offered no remorse for comments made to Turner, saying "he has left me with a stain and I take it personally.
"I let him know what I thought when I came off because, one, I thought his report was ridiculous.
"Two, I didn't like the way he delivered it.
"And three, the way he stood beside the ref, shaking his head at me - half-trying to intimidate me - as Penrith players spoke to the ref was grossly inappropriate and unprofessional.
"If he can stand in front of the mirror and say to himself that he did the right thing, then he is a brave man. This is a stain against my name, how can they expect me not to be emotional?
Related Links
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
O'Donnell launches tirade at touchie
Glenn Jackson | June 2, 2008
http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/odonnell-launches-tirade/2008/06/01/1212258648814.html
NORTH Queensland lock Luke O'Donnell has launched an astonishing attack on touch judge Russell Turner - as well as Panthers coach Matthew Elliott - in a bitter aftermath to his sending-off on Saturday night against Penrith.
O'Donnell suggested Turner's input in his dismissal - for an alleged elbow on Panther Luke Lewis - was personal, and described the decision as "rubbish".
"Everyone can see it was rubbish," O'Donnell said. "It almost felt like … it was a bit weird, a bit personal, the way it came out.
"He was standing beside the ref [rookie Alan Shortall] and the ref was talking to the Penrith players - he [Turner] was looking in my direction and shaking his head. This is before he's given his report. I don't know why - my fate was probably sealed."
The Panthers went on to win 19-18 in golden-point extra time.
Amid suggestions that Turner may file a report over what O'Donnell said to him immediately after he received his marching orders, the Cowboy said Turner's claim that his actions were intentional was "below the belt" and a "blight" on him.
"I take a lot of offence to it [the suggestion it was intentional], and it makes me angry," he said. "And the more I see it on TV, it burns me.
"It's as if I chased Luke Lewis across the field and tried to knock his block off. That was pretty below the belt and uncalled for.
"If the ref was going off the touch judge's report, I thought that was nothing short of ridiculous, the way he delivered it. It was just so off the mark.
"It's been a slow road back for me [since a hamstring injury in 2007], and I certainly don't need to be missing more games."
Describing the incident as "innocuous", O'Donnell said he was attempting to push Lewis, and implored the match review committee to ignore Turner's report.
"I hope they take absolutely nothing that the touch judge said into account, because it was pretty out there … Anyway, he got his one-up on me. He got me sent off."
Asked if he felt Turner should be held accountable, he said: "He put a fair bit of pressure on the young ref. We played half a game with 12 men. I'm hoping it doesn't cost me more, but he cost me a half last night. I'll be shattered if I'm suspended for that.
"Our season's on the line, and the players are accountable for everything they do. Little things like that can have a big impact on people's careers. If you're going to be coming up, cocksure as he was, he'd want to make sure he was making the right call.
"I'm not trying to bag officials too much, because without them we don't have a game, but … if they're going to come out and make a big call, they should know they're going to be held accountable if they make the wrong call."
After the game, Elliott said the hit reminded him of an incident in 2003 involving O'Donnell and Michael Monaghan which led to an 11-match suspension for the then Wests Tigers player.
Elliott, who was coaching Monaghan's Canberra side at the time, also said O'Donnell "got" Panther Luke Priddis earlier in Saturday night's game.
To that, O'Donnell responded: "I was really disgusted that he had to bring up my incident from 2003. I'll say to the day I die, it was an accident. Unfortunately Michael Monaghan got injured, and if I had my time again, I wouldn't have attempted to tackle that way."
The NRL's chief operating officer Graham Annesley said he had not been told about any suggestion Turner was verballed by O'Donnell, but said: "I haven't spoken with Russell Turner but any official has the ability to lodge a report."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Last edited:
