Trials without tribulations for the pre-season

[Timmah]

They're at it again, Scumday Telecrap ripping into the premiers with another new article reminding us of what we didn't need to be reminded of.

NATIONAL Rugby League teams embark on their annual pilgrimage to the country for trial matches this week, but one normally popular regional venue has missed out on a game.

For only the second time in a decade, Coffs Harbour will not be hosting elite rugby league this pre-season.

Local officials suspect the stench of last year's visit by the Bulldogs, which saw the game in crisis after allegations of sexual assault, has turned off other clubs.

When Coffs Harbour City Council and the Bulldogs agreed at the end of last season to forgo the third year of a contract between the two parties to play a trial in the city, each of the other 14 clubs were contacted by the NRL to see if they would play at the city.

The answer was no thanks.

The NRL said that this was because clubs had already made arrangements to play elsewhere and Country Rugby League general manager Terry Quinn hopes this is genuinely the case.

"The CRL doesn't have a problem with Coffs Harbour at all and we certainly hope the NRL clubs don't," Quinn said. "It was an incident that had a fair airing and has been resolved, so I think we should just get on with rugby league.

"I don't know why they've sidestepped it (Coffs) and I certainly hope they don't continue to do it."

Ben Payne, sports unit manager of CHCC, admitted there may be a hangover from 12 months ago, but he said negotiations were well advanced toward bringing trial matches back to Coffs in 2006.

"We've had discussions with the NRL over the weekend and we're looking forward to more trial games in the future," Payne said.

The region's love for league was evident last weekend when thousands crammed into the tiny Coranba Sports Field, just outside of Coffs Harbour, to watch the Russell Crowe-backed Sevens tournament.

The pre-season kicks off on Saturday night with the Eels and Sharks playing in Lismore, and Melbourne facing Central Qld at Rockhampton, while Wests will face Ulladulla on the South Coast.

Fair call reporting on Coffs' neglect but not a fair call to drag Canterbury through the mud to do it.
Typial Telecrap.

Am I the only one who is now boycotting this joke of a newspaper?

 

[ozbash]

nope, i wont buy it either :|

 

[Iafeta]

I don't. Ray Chesterton is practically racist in his appraisal of anything New Zealand.

 

[Timmah]

:lol: @ tony. Good call.

Anywho. Moving right along. I now refuse to buy that joke of a paper.

 

[KFC]

Two years in Coffs two scandals. Why isn't it fair? Seriously.

 

[innsaneink]

:lol: @ tony. Good call.

Anywho. Moving right along. I now refuse to buy that joke of a paper.

Yet you still read it online.

Staunch! :roll:

Make a statement!!! :lol:

 

[Timmah]

I read it in the paper you coot, then researched the article online to see if I could not worry about typing the whole thing out. This article has become the end of my association with reading the Tele. That's the point I'm trying to make you halfwit.

 

[innsaneink]

Maybe you should be directing your anger at your club, rather than the media.

Maybe if your club didnt drag the game thru the mud, the media wouldnt be doing likewise, as you call it.

And Im a halfwit, yet you're the one boycotting a media publication because they dont say what you want them to say. :roll:

 

[Timmah]

Why should I direct my anger at a club which was cleared of any wrongdoing?

Why shouldn't I blame a media that, 12 months on, sees fit to put bitter thoughts back in people's heads and drag not just Canterbury's name, but the NRL's, through the mud?

And why shouldn't I boycott a media publication? It's called exercising my right to free speech. It's not about them saying what I want them to say it's about tasteful journalism. And a lot of the Tele's crap is not in good taste!

 

[planeteels]

Was the club/player cleared ?
or
Was the case dropped due to insufficient evidence..?

sorry, i can't remember the outcome

 

[Bluebag]

The question is why didn't any other club step in to fill the void?

<aybe they have players who are at risk of playing up.

 

[gregstar]

i didn't realise it was all the media's fault!

 

[Timmah]

This current article is. It was not necessary to bring this issue up.

 

[CULLUS.ONLINE]

Sheeesh! I tell you what! Every person that rocks up to Ulladulla next saturday is going to be shocked when the find out that Wests Tigers ARE NOT playing Ulladulla, much to the contrary of every single proffesional report in this country!

 

[nqboy]

What ws that quote from Malcolm Noad? Something like "Let's just believe nothing happened at Coffs."

He's kidding, right? And you're kidding too, aren't you Dodge? It's a big stretch to say they were cleared of any wrongdoing. What you meant to say was that by cowering behind their right to remain silent, they ensured there was insufficient evidence to prove the allegations beyond reasonable doubt.

 

[Skinner]

nope, i wont buy it either :|

Didn't know you could buy it in the BOP...helluva News Agent :lol: :lol:

 

[Timmah]

What ws that quote from Malcolm Noad? Something like "Let's just believe nothing happened at Coffs."

He's kidding, right? And you're kidding too, aren't you Dodge? It's a big stretch to say they were cleared of any wrongdoing. What you meant to say was that by cowering behind their right to remain silent, they ensured there was insufficient evidence to prove the allegations beyond reasonable doubt.

So you're the police, the prosecution, the girl who got raped and a member of the Bulldogs board are you?

If you aren't any of those then how would you have a clue what did or didn't happen and furthermore why are you not exercising the innocent until proven guilty system we have here in Australia?

To suggest the Bulldogs made some sort of deal with the NSW PF and the Commissioner to "ensure there was insufficient evidence" is absolutely ludicrous and really shows the shallowness of your argument.

Anyway, nqboy, tell me why this topic should be continually brought up. What good can it do for the game if there's an argument and an article about it every week?

 

[innsaneink]

Why should I direct my anger at a club which was cleared of any wrongdoing?

Why shouldn't I blame a media that, 12 months on, sees fit to put bitter thoughts back in people's heads and drag not just Canterbury's name, but the NRL's, through the mud?

And why shouldn't I boycott a media publication? It's called exercising my right to free speech. It's not about them saying what I want them to say it's about tasteful journalism. And a lot of the Tele's crap is not in good taste!

Mud sticks :lol: ................. this isnt the medias fault, its your 6 players, get ur head outta the sand you ostrich.

Your clubs a stain on our comp, we all know all the crap thats gone on.......the medias slant in this instance is just reflecting popular opinion.

Local officials suspect the stench of last year's visit by the Bulldogs, which saw the game in crisis after allegations of sexual assault, has turned off other clubs.

The stench is everywhere.

 

[ibeme]

It's a big stretch to say they were cleared of any wrongdoing. What you meant to say was that by cowering behind their right to remain silent, they ensured there was insufficient evidence to prove the allegations beyond reasonable doubt.

Incorrect. Players gave full interviews to police during a visit to Dubbo. It was these interviews that concluded the investigation. 'Insufficient evidence' is a mis-leading term. Whilst there wasn't enough evidence to warrant charges, or support the claims made by the accuser, there was enough to support the players version of events that were maintained throughout the investigation. These details have since been released in a number of articles.

 

[planeteels]

It's a big stretch to say they were cleared of any wrongdoing. What you meant to say was that by cowering behind their right to remain silent, they ensured there was insufficient evidence to prove the allegations beyond reasonable doubt.

Incorrect. Players gave full interviews to police during a visit to Dubbo. It was these interviews that concluded the investigation. 'Insufficient evidence' is a mis-leading term. Whilst there wasn't enough evidence to warrant charges, or support the claims made by the accuser, there was enough to support the players version of events that were maintained throughout the investigation. These details have since been released in a number of articles.

The Term 'Insufficient Evidence' also implies that there is reasonable suspicion that an offence may have occurred, however the evidence is not strong enough to refute the defence. It doesn't necessarily mean that they believed the players.