Rooster Jake Friend charged with high range drink driving

[Halycon]

f**king hell this keeps getting worse. I seriously don't care anymore. Sack him, don't sack him, whatever. f**kin morons.

I'd be inclined to agree with this. Regardless of the argument that the punishment handed down to the player should, in practice, take into account the status of the player (Stewart), we should be emphasizing the severity and relevance of the crime. Whilst Friend is barely a known entity, drink-driving is a particularly serious issue that resonates with a key, impressionable demographic of rugby league and taking a 'soft' approach on this is a slippery slope indeed.

 

[sneagle]

Not good but he is young and stuffed up. A few weeks on the sideline is sufficient imo.

Even though I'm still extremely p***ed about Stewart. I tend to agree.
This guy is young - has he been in trouble before? Granted it was an extremely dangerous and silly thing to do - I'm sure the law will charge him accordingly, but I would suggest they stand him down for a couple and during that time get him to work with the victims of drink drivers - maybe by confronting him with the consequences he may wake up.

 

[petetheileet]

I reckon he did this on purpose. After the effort the team put in on Sunday he probably didn't like the idea of another 25 weeks of that crap and thought this would be the quickest way out of his contract.
In fact, I don't think Freddy is enforcing his alcohol restrictions that well. He probably should've ran them all through the breath tester on Sunday because it didn't look like there was a sober head out there.

LOL all good points there!!!

 

[Pierced Soul]

he didn't just threaten her, he beat her up aswell..

well i'm glad i'm not the only one who heard it was a bashing since i had my post deleted and told "there was no bashing" :roll:

still whilst friend was stupid to do what he did and he did endanger others in his actions, cherington deliberately endangered someone elses life and i cant for the lfie of me udnerstand why he wasnt sacked and deregistered unless he's a a future propect for the club :roll:

 

[sass]

peirced soul - it's still just allegations. considering he's not playing until it's resolved in court, I think the roosters are doing the right thing. I'd rather see people get judged under the law before they get deregistered or permanently booted as well. that goes for stewart and friend too.

 

[Russell Crowe's Band]

Face of the game = 5 weeks
Upper echelon players = Nothing
Average players = Sacked

upper echelon get stood down then sacked.

 

[Babyface O'reilly]

Even though I'm still extremely p***ed about Stewart. I tend to agree.
This guy is young - has he been in trouble before? Granted it was an extremely dangerous and silly thing to do - I'm sure the law will charge him accordingly, but I would suggest they stand him down for a couple and during that time get him to work with the victims of drink drivers - maybe by confronting him with the consequences he may wake up.

I think you've got it pretty right here. In the meantime, what a great start by my boys!

 

[cookie40]

Isnt this a case of two different things. If what the players are doing is illegal then they face the court and whatever they decide, ie fines, jail etc. On top of this, if the offence also brings the game into disrepute then they may add to the fine. If the offence is against any NRL/Club policy then they have the right to fine/stand down etc. I think that people are trying to decide what the overall punishment should be without considering that in this case he will already get a double punishment. And before some of you blast me because it is "Drink Driving". I personally think the courts should throw the book at him.

 

[Tommax25]

I would expect the Roosters would at least stand him down, or sack him come this meeting. Obviously the NRL are only going to get involved if the find the Rooster's decision to be unsatisfactory. Really bad timing for this bloke to do what he did, he's going to be copping it even more now.

Are you serious? Bad timing? When is it a good time to drink drive, or get caught drink driving? There is no bad timing anymore, that went out the window with stewart being the first suspended on this issue. The precedent was changed and it was a week ago when it changed so ALL players know the consequences. Were the roosters involved? I dont think so, I havent heard all the details yet, but if friend isnt suspended for 4 nrl games minimum then we are following a game of hypocricy.

 

[Tommax25]

wrong

this is why Stewart was suspended

http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/stewart-will-return-in-five-manly/2009/03/13/1236919566423.html

Actually the whole paragraph is:

"Every person bound by this code shall, whether or not he is attending an official function arranged for the NRL, the NRL competition, the related competitions, representative matches, the ARL competitions or a club, conduct himself at all times in public in a sober, courteous and professional manner."

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/new...d-by-manly-arrogance/1456934.aspx?storypage=2

It clearly states whether or not at an official function ect. If friend is not banned by the roosters he better be suspended by the nrl after the stewart precedent.

 

[Tommax25]

Why make jake the scape goat to all the nrls problems? he was drinking at the clovelly hotel with all the roosters players. Plently of other players have been caught drink driving over the years and you guys demanding to deregister him is ludacris. Players getting caught for drink driving is a regular occurance. Fine him and let the kid play

Ummm, you havent been following the news for the past two weeks or so, have you? Brett stewart has been made scapegoat, jake friend has been the guy after the scapegoat, and is going to cop whatever stewart copped if the nrl is consistent. Rightly or wrongly the stewart situation set a new precedent for drunken misconduct so friend will deserve anything he gets. (Although de-registering him may be harsh I agree)

 

[Tommax25]

Deserves whatever he gets for breaking the law... an idiot and a menace to society.
However, it doesn't appear that he breached the club's code of conduct regarding drinking, as he played on Sunday and Monday IS the day after.

But he breached the nrls code of conduct and that trumps the clubs code of conduct. If the roosters choose not to suspend him for 4 weeks Friend should be in trouble from the nrl here I'd say.

 

[Tommax25]

Drink driving is serious but why punish him more than previous players who have drove drunk?

Because 2009 is a new year and anything that happened prior to 2009 is irrelevant. The nrl wants to change the image of the game and has decided this is the year. I have had this same arguement with others about stewart and while I may not be happy about him being made a scapegoat, I have accepted it. You need to accept it too because friend will not play for 4 weeks mate, as long as the nrl remains consistent.

 

[Mr Angry]

Hey it's only drink driving , he will be sweet. NRL has no problem with that.

If he had a bong and caught a cab home, now then he would big trouble.

 

[Scottey]

Idiot.

So chucked from my Fantasy League team.

 

[aussies1st]

FMD it's like we get an incident every week now. Should be a case of who will be up for something next week.

 

[Gallus Gallus]

fox sports news just said friend will be fined 10 grand and is allowed to play this week.

 

[MSIH]

haha, that's ridiculous but not surprising. Lucky he isn't wearing Maroon and White.

 

[El Diablo]

http://au.sports.yahoo.com/news/article/-/5399636/friend-fined-10000-drink-driving

Friend fined $10,000 for drink driving
AAP - March 17, 2009, 6:32 pm
Sydney Roosters hooker Jake Friend, 19, was charged with drink-driving on Monday night. AAP ©

Sydney Roosters hooker Jake Friend has been fined $10,000 by the NRL club and ordered to undergo counselling and education after he was charged for a high range drink driving offence on Monday night.

Friend and his manager Steve Gillis met with the Roosters' disciplinary committee on Tuesday where it was decided he would be heavily fined.

He was earlier named on the interchange bench for Sunday's clash with Canberra and won't be stood down by the club.

"He was extremely remorseful and contrite and acknowledged his very poor lack of judgment," said the Roosters in a statement.

"He expressed sincere disappointment and apologised for his serious mistake."

"The club view this matter very seriously and taking into account his remorse, honesty, youth and unblemished record at the club, we have issued the following financial penalty: a fine of $10,000."

Friend will undertake counselling and education sessions and become involved in an awareness program on the consequences of drink driving.

He has also offered to undertake the traffic offenders' program.

"The club believes that these rehabilitation measures are in the best interest of both the player and the game and will provide a much better outcome than standing the player down."

 

[Mr Angry]

fox sports news just said friend will be fined 10 grand and is allowed to play this week.

Par for the course, the NRL will leave it in the proper authorities hands.

He will have to face court. He will be dealt with for endangering others lives by drink driving.

But hey had he done a performance reducing drug, without endangering a soul, with no police involvement the NRL would ban him for years.

Quality setup there.