Going to war with the NRL over the Pearce punishment

[Pass the Ball]

Everyone is getting their panties in a twist a bit early on this.

We have not handed down a punishment and the NRL have not disagreed with what we have done.

This thread is an over reaction to a sensationalised tabloid article that you all point out is what Pearce got into trouble from in the first place.

People write these stories so that people buy papers or click on the article and to stir up opinion. You guys have taken it hook line and sinker.

I am sure by next week we will know if we have something to complain about...

[Bowzy]

Mitchell carried on like an absolute goose, but you'd be very naive to believe that the media didn't control how serious this situation is.

I feel like from the second it was made out to be the worst thing to happen to the game, while it was absolute drunken stooper, have we seen/ has there been worse things in rugby league that have happened? absolutely.

Now I get that this bloke has had a few chances, and he is in control of what he does and will serve the time for what he's done. But I personally do not believe what he's done deserves a consequence as much as people are saying, in fact it's absolutely ridiculous to suggest he deserves to sit out more than 6 weeks. There have been blokes that have bashed men and women, been involved with drugs AND performance enhancing drugs and players that have assaulted people overseas, that had served lesser consequences for their acts.

I dare say had this been another team, or another player this situation this wouldn't had been as terrible as it was made out to be. Hell two players over dosed on prescription medication in the offseason and this was apparently dramatically worse?

Theres a common trend with Roosters, and the way the media see's them, with somehow everything that's done here is severely over-sensationalised.

[stringaz]

Mitchell carried on like an absolute goose, but you'd be very naive to believe that the media didn't control how serious this situation is.

I feel like from the second it was made out to be the worst thing to happen to the game, while it was absolute drunken stooper, have we seen/ has there been worse things in rugby league that have happened? absolutely.

Now I get that this bloke has had a few chances, and he is in control of what he does and will serve the time for what he's done. But I personally do not believe what he's done deserves a consequence as much as people are saying, in fact it's absolutely ridiculous to suggest he deserves to sit out more than 6 weeks. There have been blokes that have bashed men and women, been involved with drugs AND performance enhancing drugs and players that have assaulted people overseas, that had served lesser consequences for their acts.

I dare say had this been another team, or another player this situation this wouldn't had been as terrible as it was made out to be. Hell two players over dosed on prescription medication in the offseason and this was apparently dramatically worse?

Theres a common trend with Roosters, and the way the media see's them, with somehow everything that's done here is severely over-sensationalised.

Eggshacktly

[milanja]

When people keep saying that he didn't break the law, you do realise, to be sacked by your employer, you don't need to break any laws, if you bring your corporation or company into disrepute be it with bad publicity or other detrimental incidents, you could be stood down or sacked, without police involvement.

Pearce has been involved in i think 3 public incidents, none that i think were bad enough to be sacked on their own, but you could see how others will soon have had enough.

How many other players are repeatedly in some form of trouble? Greg bird comes to mind(not sure how he is still around)

I have no problems with pearce returning to play for us, especially because the incident took place in a private place. As somebody else mentioned, the people that report on the game, are the one's who ruin it for a quick buck and to sell papers, and they are the first one's who will want exclusives if the roosters are doing well.

Screw the media, after the SKD and pearce incidents, we should put a media ban on all of them.

[Rooster_6]

The NRL aren't angry at the Roosters or Pearce for drumming up some positive PR, at the end of the day it's a benefit to the game, club & player. Our incentives are aligned.

There's a certain person with the NRL administration who's angry because they saw this as their opportunity to show 'leadership' and 'discipline' in their bid to become the next CEO. Watch closely at who takes credit for the punishment that comes down Pearce's way.

Said person doesn't like the fact that public outrage seems to have peaked and dropped off.

[zac]

The NRL's position is a nonsense. If it is caught on film, a disappointing, but relatively minor incident is worse than a criminal act. Talk about wanting to be seen to be doing something.

Perhaps as a compromise, MP could be outed for a few games and have some kind of suspended sentence to come into play if he breaches some stipulated behavioural guildelines.

[Johnny.]

My problem with Pearce has never been about getting pissed, dry humping the dog and pissing himself. It's the fact that he took Copley and Nikorima out with him, directly against the club's policy.

He was the captain of the team and thought only of himself. For that alone the club should sack him.

[eddie]

I just can't help myself thinking how Pearce's wage could be used differently in regards to the salary cap that must be obeyed.

But the nrl should take a backseat here.
It's an Elaine and Suzie problem, Suzie and Elaine.

[2026]

Fark the club.

My fixation with Pearce is more important

[ism22]

Was it Pearce who brought the game into disrepute or the official broadcasters - Channel 9 and News Limited who chose to purchase the video and publish it for all to see?

Was it the game or Pearce who was brought into disrepute?

All I hear is people criticising Pearce - not the NRL.

[2026]

Was it the game or Pearce who was brought into disrepute?

All I hear is people criticising Pearce - not the NRL.

It's always amazed me how they pay through the nose for the broadcasting rights then drag the product through the mud when it suits.

[Danish]

I hope we fight the pricks in court and destroy them.

I'm no supporter of Pearce, and my initial reaction wanted him gone just because I couldn't stand the embarrassment of the whole thing, but after the emotion clears and you look at it logically there is absolutely no reason for him to miss any more games than what he has already.

The NRL will get smoked in the courts if they try to enforce some ridiculously high ban and we fight them on it

[Arties Pie]

My problem with Pearce has never been about getting pissed, dry humping the dog and pissing himself. It's the fact that he took Copley and Nikorima out with him, directly against the club's policy.

He was the captain of the team and thought only of himself. For that alone the club should sack him.

This is what pissed me off also.

[ism22]

My problem with Pearce has never been about getting pissed, dry humping the dog and pissing himself. It's the fact that he took Copley and Nikorima out with him, directly against the club's policy.

He was the captain of the team and thought only of himself. For that alone the club should sack him.

I hear what you're saying.

However, for a little balance I'll share a workplace story. A few years back my wife did a grad program with a large accounting firm (much bigger than the NRL... put it that way).

They had a bonding week where they were put into groups and had to do a 'hidden treasure' game around Melbourne (each group had a senior in it and ~10 grads).

The senior for 1 group said 'fark it... lets go to the pub and get pissed instead'. They did that and came back to the office drunk, with no treasure at the end of the day. Later that night the grads in that group (plus a senior) ran amok in their hotel (a 5 star hotel)... getting drunk, setting off fire alarms by smoking in their rooms and running around the hallways 1/2 nude (with everybody knowing which firm they were from because there were signs everywhere, and they were treated like royalty during that week).

The people from that group clearly coulda been sacked (as could the senior). HOWEVER. They all got let off with a warning, forgot about it and have moved on (the senior is now a partner).

The senior was on money similar to an NRL player and TBH all the grads who made it would be too by now. It was silly and immature, but really... IMO sacking would have been over the top. Adding to this, there was no media scrutiny - so none of them had to suffer the pain of being smashed by every media outlet in the country.

Do some expect too much of footy players? Is a silly pre-season drinking session that shoulda 'stayed in Vegas' really THAT bad in the scheme of things?

[The Axe]

Ism, A good reference story.
I'm sure however, if the Global Accounting firm had a video clip of its employees broadcast on every media station with its brand included, the Senior and the grads would be queueing at CentreLink.

The Easts Brand is a commercial asset. Easts spend money each year promoting the brand. It would be one of Australia's most recognised sporting brands. I'm sure the accounting firm's logo would be as protected, if not more.

Pearce's actions damaged that logo and brand. It was not his first incident where the Brand has been damaged. And as Johnny stated, as a club captain, he led two younger players (read grads) astray and against the club's clear instruction to head home. If PEarce worked for EY, KPMG etc, he would be out the door if he damaged their brand's reputation.

N.B. Easts have the 20th most recognised brand in Australia Sport
http://www.businessinsider.com.au/th...brands-2013-12