Life imitates art?
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...y-on-poor-player-behaviour-20091211-komh.html
SYDNEY Roosters players yesterday endorsed the club's decision to stand down star halfback Mitchell Pearce after he was charged with indecent assault following a boozy Christmas drinks session.
That was the shock scenario faced by the NSW Origin representative during a hypothetical court hearing in which Pearce played a fictitious player named Wayne Johnston, who had gotten into trouble with the law.
Other Roosters players performed the roles of NRL officials, club management, the coaching staff, Pearce's teammates, his family, sponsors, fans and the media.
The simulated trial - run by former police prosecutor Albert Giubin and Tony Morris from Mock Court International - followed a horrific season for the Roosters this year dominated by negative headlines about off-field incidents and poor on-field performances.
Roosters officials admit they can't afford a repeat next season and under new coach Brian Smith the club has adopted the mantra: ''New Attitude, New Beginning.''
The hypothetical off-field incident involving Pearce, which was not dissimilar to some that have plagued the NRL this season, was splashed across the newspapers and threatened the player's career. There were also concerns about fed-up sponsors pulling out of the club, while the NRL was unhappy about the damage done to the game's image.
Pearce, who maintained his innocence but said he was too drunk to remember the incident, admitted to fearing the sack if the charges were proven.
Nate Myles, who acted as an NRL official, said Pearce should be stood down as he overstepped the mark by going to a well-known eastern suburbs pub after the team drinks and barbecue had ended late at night.
There was also discussion about whether the club had been irresponsible in supplying the players with free alcohol.
Todd Carney, who played the role of a journalist, said it was a big story he would have no qualms in running - especially after being supplied with a photo taken on a mobile phone that appeared to support the allegations made by a 23-year-old woman who claimed to have been groped.
Pearce's ''mother'' said she was ashamed but supported her son and said the incident went against his character. However, teammates weren't as sympathetic and said it was in the best interests of everyone for him to be stood down as his presence was a disruption they didn't need.
All later said they believed he was guilty, despite his pleas of innocence.
The coaching staff, which comprised James Aubusson, Ben Jones, Steve Naughton and Tinirau Arona, were also ''pissed off'' that they had to waste so much time and energy during the lead-up to a game dealing with an off-field incident involving one of the team's key players.
However, the players were adamant they should not be banned from drinking alcohol. ''I think every player was given an insight of what happens if you make the wrong choices and who it affects,'' Roosters captain Braith Anasta said.
''It affects so many people and to have an understanding of what it is like to sit on the other side of the fence is good for all the players and maybe everyone might think a little bit more before they do something.''
A key point of the session was to remind the players, including the Roosters under-20s squad, which was in attendance, of the increased scrutiny on them as NRL players
''They need to understand that everything they do will have a consequence and they need to think of that before they go out and do something,'' Giubin said.
''It is pointless doing it afterwards and saying, 'Oops, I made a mistake'. That is just not good enough.
''They need to look at how they behave as people, how they behave as a team and how they are perceived.
''They need to accept that they have this profile and say that's part of life. The reality is that they determine their own destiny.''
