More info on Morly

[The Backpacker]

Does anyone know if those Leeds players who went to jail for assault were also banned from playing world wide?

Chev Walker actually played in the Boxing Day match with his home detention anklet on under his sock. :roll:

 

[The Backpacker]

Now, we all know how I love the media, so heres an interesting twist. Notice the use of the word misdemeanor by the UK media....

Great Britain star Adrian Morley is set to escape a suspension after being banned for drink-driving.

The were fears the Sydney Roosters forward, 26, would be handed a six-month ban following his misdemeanour.

But the Rugby Football League said that, although its investigation is still not complete, Morley is unlikely to receive further punishment.

"It looks extremely unlikely that Adrian Morley would be subject to any kind of suspension," said a spokesman.

It has emerged that Morley was banned from driving for three years, not the six months previously reported, because it was his second offence.

His latest offence occurred on 13 December when he was stopped for allegedly driving erratically near his Salford home.

He initially gave a false name to police but was recognised by one of the officers.

He was said to be more than twice over the legal limit.

Morley, a former Leeds player, may still face problems obtaining a permanent visa to live in Australia following his conviction.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/3367135.stm

 

[Holla if ya hear me]

Well...he is coming to a town near you!
just announced that he is free to play in the NRL
Stock up the pub
Hide the keys
Stock up on running shoes
Oh... and dont forget to give them a false name

 

[Anonymous]

Looks like Maurice Lindsay is backing Morley:
http://www.leagueunlimited.com

Morley finds support from Lindsay
Written by: Matt Starkey
19/1/04


English Super League boss Maurice Lindsay says Adrian Morley is unlikely to face any suspension from the game for his drink-driving conviction in the U.K. late last year.

Lindsay, who is in Sydney for the Cougar World Sevens, branded weekend speculation that the Sydney Roosters forward could serve a six-month global sporting ban as "a gross exaggeration by the English authorities or a gross exaggeration in the media".

The law against bringing the game into disrepute gave rise to the theory that Morley could be suspended from the game because the recent Ashes sponsor was an anti-drink driving campaign.

Morley was fined almost $AUD5,000.00, banned from driving for three years and ordered to complete 40 hours' community service for drink-driving last November. But Lindsay says a fine and reprimand ought to be sufficient punishment for the 26-year-old.
--------------------------------------------

 

[terracesider]

Does anyone know if those Leeds players who went to jail for assault were also banned from playing world wide?

The RFL took no action. The RFL Chief Executive, Richard Lewis expressed the view that the the courts had dealt with it so the RFL had no business imposing further punishments. The Leeds club took the same view. A similar line was taken by the RFL and Bradford over Leon Pryce's recent, well publicised assault case.

I suspect the proposed world-wide ban originated when somebody at the RFL had a knee-jerk reaction to the press but now wiser heads (Lewis?) have prevailed and according to the BBC and other reports the RFL is taking no action.

The question of bringing the game into disrepute is a grey area, complicated in the UK by European Union human rights legislation. The offfence does not affect Morely's ability to do his job, so to sack him would certainy be open to legal challenge.

Moreover, Morely's NRL employment is a matter for the Australian authorities. Does the RFL have the authority to interfere in Australian employment law?

 

[Penelope Pittstop]

Terracesider, that's some pretty impressive banners you've got there ;-)

Thanks for the updated reports. It would appear that the Telucrap has blown the RFL out of proportion. Anyway, Morley has been cleared to play round one, from what I now understand of the situation.

Everyone off the Morley express, and wait at the station for the next diatribe.

 

[RoostarGirl]

Everyone off the Morley express, and wait at the station for the next diatribe.

Exactly Pen