160 replies to this topic

[chuffer]

Likewise how Perry has proven to be a soft pudding at Saints.

careful now........can see this getting locked soon enough!!

[Griff]

Does this mean we won the Ashes more times than we thought ?

[roughyedspud]

why not?....it's not unreasonable

the aussies are unreasonable....

[gingerjon]

why not?....it's not unreasonable

You'd think it would be an established part of the competition.

[Johnoco]

careful now........can see this getting locked soon enough!!

Yeah, its not wise to be throwing names around in the circumstances...in whatever context you might think.

[Griff]

You'd think it would be an established part of the competition.

It's not cheap.

[ShotgunGold]

I worry it could completely ruin the World Cup.

This is a big point - all this needs to be cleared up by October - but really what are the chances of that happening??

What will the drugs policy be for the World Cup I wonder?? - hopefully it will be rigorous.

But the Aussies aren't even the WC holders. What can they say about it? They used drugs to lose?
Its not like RL will lose fans to other sports is it? They are all implicated.
I totally understand your concerns but not sure how a few cheats in Aus means we're all at it. It might even generate some bleeding publicity for the thing!!!

Yes New Zealand are World Cup holders but to be honest it doesn't sound like the drugs were being 'distributed' by the Kangeroos or Kiwis, it sounds like they were being 'distributed' by the NRL clubs - that share both Kangeroo and Kiwi (and Pacific Island) players.

Good old BBC:
"Traditionally, sport has been an arena where Australia has projected itself onto the world stage. There is great pride in how a nation of just 23 million people enjoys so much per capita success. If its sporting reputation is tarnished, then so too is its global reputation. That said, two sporting codes under particularly close scrutiny, Aussie Rules (AFL) and rugby league (NRL) do not have much of an international profile."

It is true though if you consider that Football, Cricket, Rugby Union and even the Olympics are involved. If Australian Olympic athletes are included in this (not sure if they are yet) then it would be an even bigger story.

I doubt any professional sport is 100% clean, unfortunately. Some are viewed with more suspicion than others, but when you combine single-minded and ultra-competitive people with lucrative rewards and fame, there will always be those who seek a little more advantage than is proper.

I think the major difference is whether it's on an individual or club (or league level). If an individual is doing this then the focus is obviously on them and yes you are right it will always happen.

But if Manly or Parramatta or the NRL themselves are directly involved then that is what will make the story so bad.

Edited by ShotgunGold, 07 February 2013 - 10:48 AM.

[chunks]

I'm on holiday in Aus and believe me, this is a massive story. Watched about an hour of press conference this morning and the sports guy on channel 7 described this as the biggest scandal ever in Australian sport. Has been building for a couple of days following the sacking of Essendon's sport science guy who was previously with Manly and hit the headlines for giving the players calf blood injections. Think he has worked with another 4 NRL clubs. The press conference was very non-committal with regards sports or clubs but the word widespread was used a lot. That said, the A League guy was quick to say it wasn't them.

What was surprising is that AFL players appear to have a 3 strike rule on "recreational" drugs and some states are very weak on betting rules. The later stages of the press conference concentrated on the latter and also the strong links with organised crime. Seems to me that controls are very weak and it's pretty much a case of closing the gate when the horse has already bolted.

The opening lines at the press conference were that sports fans would be shocked and disgusted. The whole thing has now been passed on the Aussie anti-drug body but with increased powers to question anyone but there will be nothing released for a while yet.

[gingerjon]

It's not cheap.

This is true - hence why the paralympics didn't have full coverage.

Random in-competition testing should be part though, surely?

[gingerjon]

the A League guy was quick to say it wasn't them.

They appear to have been less committal about the possibility of matches being fixed in their league though?

[chunks]

They appear to have been less committal about the possibility of matches being fixed in their league though?

I must admit I didn't see much more than the press conference this morning which was initially concentrating on the drugs side of things and as it progressed went deeper into the betting side. He was quick to deny they would be implicated on the drugs matters and that they weren't involved in the investigations into match fixing in other parts of the world but would work with the other sports governing bodies. I've been out all day so haven't seen any of the subsequent fall out other than the constant repetition of the sound bites.

I do get the impression that there will be an amnesty or reduced sentences for players to come forward now.

[hindle xiii]

Christ, yeah, it isn't just doping either, there's a whole other string to the bow.

[Griff]

This is true - hence why the paralympics didn't have full coverage.

Random in-competition testing should be part though, surely?

I'm sure it will be. All the big games plus some random others have testers at the moment. They pick out two from each side. Jacking that up from 4 to 34 just won't be possible financially. And, of course, they turn up at training too.

[twosevenzero]

Has dwarf throwing been mentioned ?

[Lounge Room Lizard]

The British on here think they can mock, but drugs have been in use in the british game as well as other activities including alleged Match Fixing involving top British teams in other sports. Instead of laughing and pointing fingers we should be concerned as it could weaken our game big time. The problems announced cover many sports. 40 Million dollars alone from Asia were recently put on an A League game for example. Many "Specialists" have worked with clubs from various sports from Union to league to Soccer to AFL. I think it will come out that all sports will be tainted whether it be drugs or match fixing etc. There is already investigations into AFL teams deliberately losing even before this came out.
The money on offer to cheat/throw games is huge and sadly people are weak. We have seen the lengths that people will go to with Armstrong to win-even destroying others careers if they try and speak out. This is not a RL problem its a sporting and social problem. This is not just an Australian problem neither. The recent revelations in European Soccer and no doubt in most sports is out there. Most of the time its covered up or ignored. Then all of a sudden a ripple effect shows how corrupt our society is. RL is not innocent but I doubt anybody can point fingers at our sport as I am certain that their own sport is just as bad or even worse. The game and sport now has the chance to do something about it. Lets just see how things are done.

Edited by Lounge Room Lizard, 07 February 2013 - 11:59 AM.

[Johnoco]

I can't see anyone laughing or pointing fingers though. We are all concerned of the damage it may do...but we have been told how rubbish we are for so long by the Aussies, is it any wonder some people are maybe saying...'hang on...'.?

[RidingPie]

The British on here think they can mock, but drugs have been in use in the british game as well as other activities including alleged Match Fixing involving top British teams in other sports. Instead of laughing and pointing fingers we should be concerned as it could weaken our game big time. The problems announced cover many sports. 40 Million dollars alone from Asia were recently put on an A League game for example. Many "Specialists" have worked with clubs from various sports from Union to league to Soccer to AFL. I think it will come out that all sports will be tainted whether it be drugs or match fixing etc. There is already investigations into AFL teams deliberately losing even before this came out.
The money on offer to cheat/throw games is huge and sadly people are weak. We have seen the lengths that people will go to with Armstrong to win-even destroying others careers if they try and speak out. This is not a RL problem its a sporting and social problem. This is not just an Australian problem neither. The recent revelations in European Soccer and no doubt in most sports is out there. Most of the time its covered up or ignored. Then all of a sudden a ripple effect shows how corrupt our society is. RL is not innocent but I doubt anybody can point fingers at our sport as I am certain that their own sport is just as bad or even worse. The game and sport now has the chance to do something about it. Lets just see how things are done.

LRL No one is laughing or mocking and the focus seems to be on how this could tarnish the sport in general the WC

[roughyedspud]

The British on here think they can mock, but drugs have been in use in the british game as well as other activities including alleged Match Fixing involving top British teams in other sports. Instead of laughing and pointing fingers we should be concerned as it could weaken our game big time.

the drug issue in australian sport is of their own making...for years they've brushed it under the carpet,dealt this issues "in house" and have a absolutely shocking stance on recreational drugs......according to a caller ringing in to a syndey radio station last night its no secret "sports stars" enjoy getting twisted on piils/coke on a night out......all that has led to where they are today......whats sad is last week alot of australians,fans, journalists,etc...printed with some glee that british clubs are about to step off a financial cliff.........well our cliff is the size of a door step compared to what the australians face if this drug scandal is as big as it appears...it could set them back 30 years imo

[gingerjon]

The British on here think they can mock, but drugs have been in use in the british game as well as other activities including alleged Match Fixing involving top British teams in other sports. Instead of laughing and pointing fingers we should be concerned as it could weaken our game big time. The problems announced cover many sports. 40 Million dollars alone from Asia were recently put on an A League game for example. Many "Specialists" have worked with clubs from various sports from Union to league to Soccer to AFL. I think it will come out that all sports will be tainted whether it be drugs or match fixing etc. There is already investigations into AFL teams deliberately losing even before this came out.
The money on offer to cheat/throw games is huge and sadly people are weak. We have seen the lengths that people will go to with Armstrong to win-even destroying others careers if they try and speak out. This is not a RL problem its a sporting and social problem. This is not just an Australian problem neither. The recent revelations in European Soccer and no doubt in most sports is out there. Most of the time its covered up or ignored. Then all of a sudden a ripple effect shows how corrupt our society is. RL is not innocent but I doubt anybody can point fingers at our sport as I am certain that their own sport is just as bad or even worse. The game and sport now has the chance to do something about it. Lets just see how things are done.

I don't think anyone is mocking - I'm genuinely worried that there's a shtstorm heading our way. I'm also not so wet behind the ears that I don't look at some players and think: hang on. But I'd be surprised if anything as systemic was happening in rugby league over here (less surprised for other UK sports) as, frankly, it's expensive relative to the rewards. I would be less surprised to hear that British-based players had connections with gamblers.

[roughyedspud]

damn right im worried......it could ruin the world cup and destroy the prospect of us getting the blue chip sponsors on board...


the NRL is already facing losing $100million off telstra