Times and Independent articles timesonline.typepad.com/rugby_league/ www.independent.co.uk/sport/foot ... 57066.html

Times and Independent articles timesonline.typepad.com/rugby_league/ www.independent.co.uk/sport/foot ... 57066.html

Sam Wallace should get off his high horse. I love how he criticises rugby league for letting it's 'star player' continue playing despite a possibilty of prison hanging over his head yet when quoting players in football who have been dropped from the international setup names Alan Smith, Johnathan Woodgate & Nicky Butt as being treated more strigently. Hardly Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand is it?

If Wayne Rooney did assault somebody and was heading to prison and England had the World Cup final the day after would they drop him? I'm inclined to believe they wouldn't.

The fact that Pryce and Reardon did absolutely nothing to warrant prison or criminal charges is often overlooked in this case. It is unbelievable that they face prison, shocking in fact.

Meanwhile he praises football for it's saintly stance, yet ignores the blatantly obvious fact that Gerard is only out of prison because he plays for Liverpool and England. What he did is ten times worse than what Pryce did.

If you took all the Premier League footballers eligible for England and went through them based on their past behaviour, excluding anyone who has done something worse than the Bradford 2, you wouldn't get a full team out of it.

This is no defence of whatever has gone on, and as I've not been in court, it is not right for me to judge, but your post is bob on. Let's take this further - should anyone in any job not be allowed to continue to work? Sports journalists say? Should Lee Hughes never play football again?

It's also worth noting that Tony Adams was sentenced to prison in 1991 for dangerous driving when over the limit and still played for England afterwards.

But no, only rugby league has bad uns.

From what I can gather, Leon Pryce has pleaded guitly to pushing someone.

Hardly Ben Cockayne territory.

I do not condone or accept the assault charges that both Pryce and Reardon have pleaded guilty to but to suggest football is holier than thou in this respect is poor journalism which is the point I was getting at.

It is up to the club and sport in general to give somebody a chance to resurrect their career after a conviction if they feel it is the right thing to do and to play somebody who has yet to be convicted means nothing.

As for Lee Hughes I don't think he should be stopped from playing football but I do feel he spent way to little time in prison for killing a man.

The controversy it is aiming to create still doesn't mask the fact that it's actually a very poor article. Maybe the guy is a follower of rugby league, but it would surprise me as his comments about the game are strangely distant.
Just a shame that it takes negative news to get the nationals scribbling away about our game.

And keeping up the good work, it's good to see a match report for the Bath vs Wasps games on the rugby league section

I agree with Saddened here. What Pryce and Reardon did deserves punishment but not a sentence.

rlBen Cockaynesrl did deserve a sentence.

Well done to Castleford and hopefully Hull KR for the action they've taken.

You must get around a fair bit to have witnessed both incidents.

Must've been a hell of a push if he's facing prison

I know not everyone likes our rules on [isub judice[/i but they are what they are, and so until sentencing is complete we cannot allow any discussion of what Pryce did.

Michael.