This doesnt surprise me at all with Joel but how do we know nothing has been done about it internally? For all we know, Joel may have been 'playing for free' for the last few weeks

Also, now the video is out then the CPS may decide to take a look

The problem is that by not revealing they've dealt with an incident of breach of discipline (which it surely is) internally, as other clubs have done following players being dropped/fined, once the details get out it makes it look like the club care more about covering for their stars than disciplining them for poor behaviour. The club must have been aware of how the video looked when they tried to keep it hushed up, and that if it did get out it would be incredibly embarrassing. They could have saved face by revealing Joel had been punished, even if they didn't give specifics. That way when the video did surface we'd see what he did and think the club did the right thing. Now the club is open to accusations of favouritism, of Rads just covering for his mate and keeping it quiet and of caring more about protecting their star players than protecting bar staff [ifrom[/i their players.

Just watching it now my my it’s worse than being there our games fitness was gone after the first few moments it’s a shocker and then to watch Joel’s star turn you think things can’t get worse dear me I know we do daft things drunk but in the public eye you can’t do that and expect to get away with it

The worrying thing for me is that Joel is supposedly taking up some kind of management position at the club when he finishes - that is really going to drive up standards isn't it?

Spot on. An awful event, badly handled IMO.

I can guarantee you wouldn’t have caught Joel doing this when at Saracens.
Says a lot about our culture, both at Wigan & within the wider sport.

The trouble is that, even if an apology is offered to the bar staff and it's accepted, the fact remains that yet again Wigan players have been misbehaving while out on the lash.

I know there are one or two stalwarts who still defend players' rights to go out and get legless, but my response would be: 'Just so long as you don't expect them to be winners on the pitch'.

Time and again in recent years, we've been hearing about players getting into scuffles, getting injured, getting on the wrong side of the law, staggering around town in the early hours. On top of that embarrassment, what kind of effect is it having on their fitness? They might look lean and mean on the outside, but we've all had a heavy night and been affected by it for several days - we all know from experience that this is something you can't just shake off come match day.

For professional sportsmen, this is just not good enough - not if we want to compete at the top level.

So, is it just someone being a bell, for which a slapped wrist will be adequate, or is it someone whose behaviour exemplifies what currently seems to be a communal disrespect for the club, the fans and, judging from this video, just about everyone else?

Devil’s advocate - This is bad and I’m not defending anybody here but this is very similar to the Albert Kelly incident in McDonalds. Hull made no public comment and within days of it coming out, he was given a new contract. I’m interested to see how Wigan handle this situation. I’m pretty sure the Albert Kelly one is on YouTube if you haven’t seen it.

Tbf it might not be the club who paid her. What she wrote is "they" paid me to keep quiet. That could mean the club or "they" could've been the Tomkins brothers off their own back.

I expect the club haven't seen the content of the video until today. They were probably advised that there was a video of Joel & Sam being drunk idiots and all parties have determined that the best course of action is for the players to pay a grand for the video to be deleted - and draw a line under it.

An awkard few days coming up. And for us fans, it is very demotivating and leaves a bitter taste.

Other than some knuckle dragger's twitter conversation mentioning she'd been paid to keep quiet, is there somewhere authentic that says this?

I can understand if the Tomkins pair had gone back and offered her some cash by way of an apology off their own back, but I cannot see the club doing, or even suggesting that. That said, if it is the case and she pocketed some "hush money", I wonder if she'll be refunding them!

I'm expecting the WW twitter editor will be called into work this morning. Its going to be a long day for him/her....

The second money becomes involved,if it has of course who knows,just surmising here,it gets very grubby indeed.

There's also the criminal offence that has been committed. From the video in question, it seemed the girls were going to contact the police with the matter. Could this constitute perverting the course of justice? Joel did appear to assault the young lady and she has been paid to keep it quiet...

The girl herself commented on Facebook stating she had been paid. As for perverting the court of justice I think you’re getting a little carried away, the police were not involved with the matter it was dealt with in house.

I really do think everyone is going over the top personally. Sam stands there doing nothing and Joel Tomkins says some choice words, going behind the bar is the no no but labelling it as abuse or assault is ridculous.