Quote The likes of Doncaster, Barrow and Co don't have that many fans. They can't afford to be losing fans because of cheating - and that's what I see this as being.
Ah, I see so Wigan players who break the rules shouldn't be given a lifetime ban but players at other clubs should. '"
Jesus wept.
Where on earth have I said this?
Quote The likes of Doncaster, Barrow and Co don't have that many fans. They can't afford to be losing fans because of cheating - and that's what I see this as being.
Hock not only broke RFL and international doping rules he also broke the law, surely discrediting the game more. Yet he should be allowed a 2nd chance for his stupid actions but the Doncaster player shouldn't?
Drugs cheats discredit and tarnish the integrity of the game just as much if not more than betting. Who's on drugs and who's not? We have no idea. '"
Gareth Hock taking cocaine does not discredit the integrity of the game more so than a captain of his team betting against his own club to lose and willing them to lose by a certain amount during a game against Toulouse. I'm staggered you think what Hock did was worse.
Gareth Hock was stupid. He took cocaine. He did not cheat. He did not look to fix results. Fans will look at Hock and think what a silly lad.
Shaun Leaf tried to fix results. He was the captain of his club and bet against his team to lose on two separate occasions.That's terrible. The ultimate betrayal to his teammates, fans and the Doncaster RL. The Championship struggles for crowds as it is. It struggles for sponsors. Who would want to watch a game that they think might be bent? Who is going to want to sponsor a game they might think is bent?
A quote from Andy Gregory:
Quote The likes of Doncaster, Barrow and Co don't have that many fans. They can't afford to be losing fans because of cheating - and that's what I see this as being.
"The likes of Doncaster, Barrow and Co don't have that many fans. They can't afford to be losing fans because of cheating - and that's what I see this as being.
"In the end things like this will affect the very existence of some clubs. I could honestly see some of them going bump."'"
Quote The likes of Doncaster, Barrow and Co don't have that many fans. They can't afford to be losing fans because of cheating - and that's what I see this as being.
Then Leaf recalled Doncaster's visit to Toulouse in the Co-Operative Championship in 2009, which they lost 52-6. A senior rugby league official (The Sun knows his name) took a more-than-usual interest in a fixture where Toulouse carried a 48-point handicap.
Although they fell two points short, Leaf claimed: "I lumped on big style, £600 to lose. We got a good head start. It was 42 points at half-time. Trouble was they dropped their level and we picked ours up.
"So it was a scrap in the second half and one of our kids scored." None of Leaf's team-mates behaved improperly or knew he had bet on the team to lose.'"
How would you feel if you were a Doncaster fan and have paid all that money, took all that time, to take you and your family to Toulouse to watch your team get battered and then saw this? Would you ever go watching the club again in France? Honestly, how would you feel?
To quote Andy Gregory:
Quote The likes of Doncaster, Barrow and Co don't have that many fans. They can't afford to be losing fans because of cheating - and that's what I see this as being.
"Families only have so much money and if that means not going because they think someone's cheating, it will be very hard for clubs to survive.
"The likes of Doncaster, Barrow and Co don't have that many fans. They can't afford to be losing fans because of cheating - and that's what I see this as being."'"
I'd feel absolutely betrayed and I would want to see him banned from the game completely. Not a four month-ban, not a 12-month ban, not a 2 year ban, not a £600 fine. BANNED. Never to set onto an RL pitch again.
Quote The likes of Doncaster, Barrow and Co don't have that many fans. They can't afford to be losing fans because of cheating - and that's what I see this as being.
I'm happy for the Doncaster player to receive a harsh ban. A year, 2 years, whatever. But it shouldn't be a life ban. '"
Do you think a year/2 years would be a big enough deterrent for this never to happen again?
IMO people who put the integrity of the game into question have to be punished swiftly and be given a ban that is long enough to deter anyone else from ever cheating in the same way again.
If this type of betrayal of the game can happen, if the games core values can be undermined to this degree, and all it amounts to is a 12 month suspension, then something is terribly wrong.
I repeat: If you gamble on getting caught, you gamble on your career - wouldn't happen again then.
Harsh?
Not at all. Remember this is someone who is willing to stab the sport/the fans/his team-mates/the club in the back just to make a few hundred quid.
Quote The likes of Doncaster, Barrow and Co don't have that many fans. They can't afford to be losing fans because of cheating - and that's what I see this as being.
How many incidents of betting has there been since the Long & Gleeson affair? It's hardly a recurring issue. There have certainly been more incidents of drug taking, violence off the pitch and salary cap issues in the same time period which cause equal if not more damage to the credibility of the sport yet you aren't advocating life bans or the equivalent in these cases? Why not?'"
Once is too many when someone questions the validity of the contest. Off-field incidents do not question results. Taking cocaine does not question results.
Taking performance enhancing drugs or breaking the salary cap to boost on field performance is cheating and should be treated in exactly the same way. Absolutely rigorous with the punishments handed out. The credibility of the competition, of any competition, is of paramount importance.
Quote The likes of Doncaster, Barrow and Co don't have that many fans. They can't afford to be losing fans because of cheating - and that's what I see this as being.
Is this really the worst thing a player could do?'"
Well I certainly cannot think of anything worse.
He's betrayed the sport. He's betrayed his team-mates, the supporters, the club. He is the captain of the club and has slagged his team-mates off in the press too. He bet against his own team (bare in mind he was the captain) to lose. I honestly mate can't think of a bigger betrayal.
You obviously can I take it? Please tell me what is worse?
into playersheads there will alwyas be exceptions. Wonder how much actually comes in to RL through bookies paying for advertising. Anyone any ideas? im sure its a hefty sum.
'"
