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Smith 'damaging the code'
By Dean Ritchie
June 22, 2006
FED-up NRL chief executive David Gallop yesterday admitted Parramatta halfback Tim Smith was "damaging" rugby league as new Eels coach Jason Taylor ordered his players off the booze this weekend.
Kenny: Worst in 60 years![]()
Gallop was talking after Smith last weekend was involved in his third alcohol-related incident this year.
Last year's Dally M rookie of the year, Smith was in a drunken scuffle with Test cricketer Michael Clarke at Northies hotel at Cronulla.
The Daily Telegraph yesterday tracked Smith down at a Parramatta training camp at Shelly Beach on the New South Wales Central Coast.
In a day of drama yesterday, it was revealed:
"I've spoken to Denis and he's advised me a report will be to us by Friday and that a players meeting has been planned," Gallop said.
- Eels chief executive Denis Fitzgerald will complete a report to Gallop over Smith's latest drama by tomorrow.
- Fitzgerald will next week call a players meeting to discuss the club's recent problems with booze-related misbehaviour.
- Taylor told his players to have a "quiet" weekend with Parramatta having the bye.
"No doubt given the repeated incidents the meeting with their players will be critical.
"We are sure Parramatta will deal with the situation appropriately."
Asked about Smith's misdemeanours, Gallop said: "To succeed as a star of our game, there are expectations from our sponsors and fans as to the way players behave off the field.
"Repeated incidents like this damage the player, club and the game. Clearly Tim needs to understand that."
The Parramatta coaching staff, including Taylor, were angry The Daily Telegraph photographed Smith yesterday.
The Eels are away for two days at Shelly Beach's Blue Water Resort at Bateau Bay, and they spent yesterday afternoon tenpin bowling at Forresters Beach.
"I have no comment until I speak with Tim," Fitzgerald said.
Asked would Smith be sacked, Fitzgerald said: "No comment."
Was he disappointed?
"No comment," replied Fitzgerald.
Did Smith have a responsibility to the game to behave?
"No comment," repeated Fitzgerald.
The Eels boss did, however, confirm that Taylor had spoken to the players about drinking this weekend.
"The coach has spoken to them about having a quiet weekend," Fitzgerald said.
Parramatta have already held a booze summit between management and the coaching staff.
The Eels have been involved in four drunken dramas in the past six weeks. Smith has fought his way back into first grade after being dropped for turning up to training drunk.
The Daily Telegraph
Worst in 60 years: Kenny
By James Hooper
June 22, 2006
PARRAMATTA rugby league icon Brett Kenny last night labelled the current spate of alcohol-fuelled incidents surrounding the Eels as the worst period in the 60-year history of the club.
And Kenny questioned what happened to the alcohol summit chief executive Denis Fitzgerald called three weeks ago to address the perils of their players binge-drinking.
The comments from the retired Eels five-eighth come after halfback Tim Smith was again involved in a late-night indiscretion.
"Something's got to be done," Kenny said.
"They were supposed to have this summit on alcohol a fortnight ago and now apparently it's going to be next week," Kenny said.
"Maybe it was put off because they were just waiting for everything to die down but unfortunately Tim Smith hasn't let that happen, and not for the first time, either.
"You just can't afford to keep getting your name dragged through the mud.
"What the hell is going on? This is the worst period ever at Parramatta. Where's the leadership?"
The Daily Telegraph
http://sport.news.com.au/story/0,8659,19546639-32463,00.html
http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,19543951-23214,00.html