2021 NRL General Discussion

[Thresher]

Why would they

Because there was photos of them with white powder.

And on top of this you're taking away from the fact that you reacted to my post by picking one part of it without taking the obvious meaning into consideration.

 

[Capital_Shark]

They both need each other equally.

And it is an illegal drug. They should get in more **** than they should. Here is hoping there is actual testing done.

I agree, though, without testing they could sit back and deny it all. Was all a gee-up. But I highly doubt it. Either way, isn't a good look.

Because there was photos of them with white powder.

And on top of this you're taking away from the fact that you reacted to my post by picking one part of it without taking the obvious meaning into consideration.

Yeah not keen on hauling people in for drug tests because that might've been cocaine on the table. Their season was over, leave em alone.

 

[Thresher]

Yeah not keen on hauling people in for drug tests because that might've been cocaine on the table. Their season was over, leave em alone.

It doesn't matter what you think mate. It's what has happened in the past. Do you think Ben Barba was just unlucky to have been tested after winning the Grand Final? That he was next on the list under Mr No Names Canterbury fullback in the President's Cup? Bit of rotten luck? That was the whole point of my post.

 

[Capital_Shark]

It doesn't matter what you think mate. It's what has happened in the past. Do you think Ben Barba was just unlucky to have been tested after winning the Grand Final? That he was next on the list under Mr No Names Canterbury fullback in the President's Cup? Bit of rotten luck? That was the whole point of my post.

That was Ben's 2nd positive test in 12mths. He wasn't the only one tested nor was he the only positive.

 

[Thresher]

That was Ben's 2nd positive test in 12mths. He wasn't the only one tested nor was he the only positive.

But it was obviously a targeted test. Why do you keep making points that have nothing to do with the context of my original post?

 

[Capital_Shark]

But it was obviously a targeted test. Why do you keep making points that have nothing to do with the context of my original post?

You made out like poor Barba was singled out, he wasn't.

 

[Addy]

Give them a fine, let's be hard and say $20k.

No point in banning them for 2 games, because this will be forgotten about in 10 days time, and instead in March next someone will ask "why isn't cheese or Munster playing" and someone will remind them there was a 7 second video of them in the same room as cocaine.

 

[Thresher]

You made out like poor Barba was singled out, he wasn't.

Thank you for addressing my actual post.

I didn't say poor Barba at any point. The tests that happened after the grand final were obviously targeted. And you'd assume that they did so because they thought that there was a chance of finding something.

All I was saying is that "Bet they never get formally tested and just go down in history as naughty boys. Barba, though also a domestic rock thrower, would have reason to feel more harshley done by."

 

[Capital_Shark]

Give them a fine, let's be hard and say $20k.

No point in banning them for 2 games, because this will be forgotten about in 10 days time, and instead in March next someone will ask "why isn't cheese or Munster playing" and someone will remind them there was a 7 second video of them in the same room as cocaine.

NRL 'fans' demand blood. We want everyone punished & suspended for some reason.

 

[bort]

That punishment would be based on the video, not a positive drug test.

I'm sure the NRL could drug test them outright, but it wouldn't exactly be random.

I couldn't care less. Without the players, the NRL would have gone bust midway last year. Let them have a few nose beers.

Give them a symbolic fine and move on.

Might have never even existed!

But can anyone tell me how Walsh gets a strike (in season) and they don’t (out of season)?
Is in/out actually nothing to do with it and it’s just a he got formally charged by cops and they haven’t and NRL is going to consider them out of season in terms of testing

 

[Capital_Shark]

Might have never even existed!

But can anyone tell me how Walsh gets a strike (in season) and they don’t (out of season)?
Is in/out actually nothing to do with it and it’s just a he got formally charged by cops and they haven’t and NRL is going to consider them out of season in terms of testing

Evidence. They got some on Walsh. Nothing proven against these lads yet.

 

[common]

Far out though. Pearce got a bigger suspension and fine for pretending to root a dog. He got what, 8 weeks or so, 100K something fine.

If these blokes get less than that it is a joke.

 

[bort]

Evidence. They got some on Walsh. Nothing proven against these lads yet.

Well if it’s not anything illegal I’m sure Muntster and big sniffy Smithy will volunteer for a test to avoid a fine and suspension. Sniffing white is punishable but just dancing white shouldn’t be. If they didn’t do anything wrong why cop a fine and suspension?
So the NRL does have evidence and whilst it is not strong doesn’t seem they are gunna try disprove it.

Anyway, your answer didn’t really respond to my question about why that article brought up in season vs out of season.

 

[Addy]

Far out though. Pearce got a bigger suspension and fine for pretending to root a dog. He got what, 8 weeks or so, 100K something fine.

If these blokes get less than that it is a joke.

The Pearce punishment was OTT, NRL got that horribly wrong.

Pretty much all NRL punishments are out of step with the offences, zero consistency

 

[Capital_Shark]

Well if it’s not anything illegal I’m sure Muntster and big sniffy Smithy will volunteer for a test to avoid a fine and suspension. Sniffing white is punishable but just dancing white shouldn’t be. If they didn’t do anything wrong why cop a fine and suspension?
So the NRL does have evidence and whilst it is not strong doesn’t seem they are gunna try disprove it.

Anyway, your answer didn’t really respond to my question about why that article brought up in season vs out of season.

I wasn't attempting to answer in season v out of season. I don't know their criteria. You'd think Barba after the GF (last game) would be out of season if after being KO'd from a prelim was. Gotta remember there is ASADA random testing and NRL random testing & the consequences of returning a positive result differ depending on who busts you & when.

They'll be fined for the bad look whether its talc powder or Peru's finest fish scale. It's in nobody's best interests to prove what we all know. Just fine em 2wks pokie money & let it go away.

The Pearce punishment was OTT, NRL got that horribly wrong.

Pretty much all NRL punishments are out of step with the offences, zero consistency

100%. Just because they (a previous admin from yrs ago) got it wrong on Pearce doesn't or shouldn't mean we must continue to apply exorbitant punishments. We used to convict & punish people for being homosexual - just because we dished out bullshit punishment before doesn't mean we have to keep it up.

 

[CrazyMatt]

I couldn't care less. Without the players, the NRL would have gone bust midway last year. Let them have a few nose beers.

Give them a symbolic fine and move on.

Without players the NRL doesn't have a product to sell to have money to pay anyone anything.

Do you fellas really believe thats justification for players to be above the law and posses and use ILLEGAL drugs??? This is assuming that they used the alleged illegal drugs that were on the table of course.

 

[Greg86]

If it’s slap on the wrists it doesn’t send a message. Then again how many messages have to be sent for an nrl player to realise that their in a spotlight position.

It’s obviously coke, need proof that’s a big part. The players could come clean like Walsh and cop it. Denial of it just makes it worse.

Obviously ASADA didn’t find a positive test, so their bans don’t apply.

Will be interesting to see.

 

[bort]

If it’s slap on the wrists it doesn’t send a message. Then again how many messages have to be sent for an nrl player to realise that their in a spotlight position.

It’s obviously coke, need proof that’s a big part. The players could come clean like Walsh and cop it. Denial of it just makes it worse.

Obviously ASADA didn’t find a positive test, so their bans don’t apply.

Will be interesting to see.

An infinite amount won't get the message across to all.

NRL has proof, they have a video, obviously that is strong enough proof to suspend and fine them, if players disagree I am sure NRL would have let them get tested to prove otherwise.
If Munster is just stoked about his Christmas nativity set that just arrived and Cheese is only helping clean up some spilled fake snow then why not clear your names.

Even dumber and more deserving of punishment given Walsh was done just a day or two before and they let this knob film them and are a lot older than Walsh, been through a lot more NRL training to know better.

At the end of the day I don't really have a big issue with nrl players doing some recreational stuff off season but I just think they know it is illegal, they know it is bad look for nrl, they know it is bad look for them, in this instance someone else has just been done and they still did it with some **** who just filmed them and either sent it around or sold it. Deserve to be punished for being idiots.

Possible video is older than Walsh thing, if so maybe slightly less dumb to not being doing it just after he was caught but likely puts it in season so not really any better...

 

[Greg86]

The whole drug testing is BS, how often is it random. There are players that would be on drugs every weekend and party hard. COVID times might have slowed that. But look at Joey and rumours of Lockyer.

Barba was caught after GF in what’s pretty tough but he also had priors. You’d bet your house that any Grand final side winner or loser would be on it. Smart clubs like Roosters would hide them away from ASADA.

Its just interesting to see what the penalty will be, Walsh is a 19 yr old that fronted up.

Here we have the Australian no. 6 with all the nrls education under his belt. We had big fines for Pearce and Vaughn for off field. Have to see where this sits

 

[Gards]

Just as a refresher while we are on this subject - Brent Naden of the panthers tested positive post 2020 Grand Final to cocaine and copped a 4 week suspension

The interesting thing was it literally was a 4 week time period suspension (backdated) , not a 4 game ban. His suspension was served over Dec 2020 in the off season and he was allowed back at training / competition from Jan this year