NRL to take SBW to Supreme Court

[Timmah]

Sonny vs the NRL: Supreme Court style
28 July 2008, 12:40pm
Exclusive by Lisa Davies and Michelle Cazzulino

THE NRL is set to take legal action against defector Sonny Bill Williams, The Daily Telegraph has confirmed.
Sources within the National Rugby League said it was only a question of when a Supreme Court judge would be available to hear the matter, which is likely to commence this afternoon or early tomorrow.
Lawyers will seek an injunction against the star, which would prevent him from playing anywhere other than at the Bulldogs.
We reveal the development just hours after tracking down the League deserter in Singapore.
Williams, 22, refused to talk about the decision that has rocked rugby league as he boarded a flight to his new career playing rugby union in Europe.

But Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan was talking, telling reporters at a Canberra press conference that Rugby league will not miss Sonny Bill Williams if the Bulldogs star moves to play rugby union in France.

Swan, a league fan, was finishing a press conference on an unrelated matter when he was asked if Williams should be forced to honour his contract.

"It has been a fantastic season for rugby league and I don't think rugby league is going to miss Sonny Bill one bit,'' Swan told reporters.

Before approached by The Daily Telegraph at Singapore's Changi airport, Williams was like any other traveller, dressed casually in a T-shirt and clutching his passport and ticket.
A stunned Williams refused to say when he signed his $3 million contract with new French club, Toulon.
He refused to answer questions about whether he was aware of the furore his actions had created.
Williams became stony faced and fled into the toilets before emerging a short time later, retrieved his boarding pass and passed through Customs.
On Saturday, Williams walked out on a $2m contract with the Bulldogs, prompting NRL boss David Gallop to threaten him with a lifetime ban, and urge rival rugby codes to unite to stop cashed-up international clubs stealing local talent.

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,24087459-5001021,00.html

 

[Noa]

Sonny vs the NRL: Supreme Court style
28 July 2008, 12:40pm
Exclusive by Lisa Davies and Michelle Cazzulino

THE NRL is set to take legal action against defector Sonny Bill Williams, The Daily Telegraph has confirmed.
Sources within the National Rugby League said it was only a question of when a Supreme Court judge would be available to hear the matter, which is likely to commence this afternoon or early tomorrow.
Lawyers will seek an injunction against the star, which would prevent him from playing anywhere other than at the Bulldogs.
We reveal the development just hours after tracking down the League deserter in Singapore.
Williams, 22, refused to talk about the decision that has rocked rugby league as he boarded a flight to his new career playing rugby union in Europe.

But Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan was talking, telling reporters at a Canberra press conference that Rugby league will not miss Sonny Bill Williams if the Bulldogs star moves to play rugby union in France.

Swan, a league fan, was finishing a press conference on an unrelated matter when he was asked if Williams should be forced to honour his contract.

"It has been a fantastic season for rugby league and I don't think rugby league is going to miss Sonny Bill one bit,'' Swan told reporters.

Before approached by The Daily Telegraph at Singapore's Changi airport, Williams was like any other traveller, dressed casually in a T-shirt and clutching his passport and ticket.
A stunned Williams refused to say when he signed his $3 million contract with new French club, Toulon.
He refused to answer questions about whether he was aware of the furore his actions had created.
Williams became stony faced and fled into the toilets before emerging a short time later, retrieved his boarding pass and passed through Customs.
On Saturday, Williams walked out on a $2m contract with the Bulldogs, prompting NRL boss David Gallop to threaten him with a lifetime ban, and urge rival rugby codes to unite to stop cashed-up international clubs stealing local talent.

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,24087459-5001021,00.html

Was Candace on the flight as well.

Anyway dubious over the NRL's involvement, there obviously sh*tting themselves over the implications of this.

 

[Timmah]

Who wouldn't be sh*tting themselves? One of the biggest commodities in the game just fled the country in the dark of night!

 

[Noa]

Im coming from the point of view that if they cant do anything about it they may have to gasp, shock, horror start administering the game the way it should be.

Rather then the shambolic way it is right now which perpetuates this type of thing.

Thats what there crapping there pants over, the snowball that this could cause.

 

[Everlovin' Antichrist]

Fled into the toilets again?

He spends more time in the bog than someone who exists only on chicken vindaloo made by a dodgy restaurant.

Did whatsername sort him out there like last time?

 

[Dragons84]

Contracts for employment are not specifically enforceable (because of public policy reasons - i.e, if they were, it would be akin to slavery).

Restraint of trade clauses (ie, can't play for another club) won't be enforced if they would leave a person destitute (ie restraint of trade clauses that prohibit you for playing for "any other club" wouldn't be enforced).

From a non-Bush Lawyer

 

[NK Arsenal]

Hope he gets f**ked over.

F**k you $cumbag

 

[COB]

slight tangent , but i wonder if it gets to the court if SBW & his legal team challenge the salary cap as a restraint of trade to get out of his contract?

If we wins - would this mean all NRL Player Contracts ( including his) are illegal ?..Could open a can of worms for the NRL.

 

[Freak2]

slight tangent , but i wonder if it gets to the court if SBW & his legal team challenge the salary cap as a restraint of trade to get out of his contract?

If we wins - would this mean all NRL Player Contracts ( including his) are illegal ?..Could open a can of worms for the NRL.

The best post on this forum of 2008!! - If not ever

Double Eviction:
It's time to go Salary Cap!!
It's time to go David Gallop!!

 

[Chapsta]

If the NRL can't do anything about SBW, then there's nothing to stop every other player breaking their contract mid season and heading off overseas.

This case will no doubt set a precident ie. If Sonny can go overseas, then everyone else can. Unless SBWs actions are found to be illegal, by the courts.

 

[roughyedspud]

just sue him for breach of contract and have done with it..

 

[sharko]

They only want our marquee players..there are not enough French teams over there to completely sap league in this country..the most interested observers will be the ARU..they stand to gain by getting some excellent league players turned into Wallabies at somebody elses expense..they will think it a super deal!

 

[Freak2]

If European Rugby grows as big as they think they will the ARU have got more to lose than the NRL.

Super 14 will be decimated!

The only big winner here is the AFL. Absolutely laughing!!!

 

[steeden.]

slight tangent , but i wonder if it gets to the court if SBW & his legal team challenge the salary cap as a restraint of trade to get out of his contract?

If we wins - would this mean all NRL Player Contracts ( including his) are illegal ?..Could open a can of worms for the NRL.

by all means, correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm certain it's been said publicy on the ABC at least that the salary cap is indeed a restraint of trade, however as it prevents clubs from overspending and ultimately going under it's something that's kept in place for the good of the game. Not sure how that would stand up in court though. Badly would be my guess.

 

[butchmcdick]

Hope he gets f**ked over.

F**k you $cumbag

Stop acting like a jilted teenager.

 

[Rockin Ronny]

They only want our marquee players..there are not enough French teams over there to completely sap league in this country..the most interested observers will be the ARU..they stand to gain by getting some excellent league players turned into Wallabies at somebody elses expense..they will think it a super deal!

he's a 20 year old Kiwi who struggels to string 3 words together and who has never lived up to his promise due to injuries and other rubbish.

The NRL/News is a product owned by a media organisation to flog Pay TV. After what they did to the Bears and tried to do to Souths, it's laughable when they try to take the high moral ground.

 

[Kiki]

BAHAHA he fled into the toilets. he is literally a 12 yr old girl.

 

[screeny]

Greenberg said yesterday that his QC was bullish about their chances so we can only hope it's not false bravado.

 

[joondalup_giant]

so could SBW potentially be without a contract at the end of all this either from unin or league?