Is there more going on?

[Major JW Hochstetter]

After seeing the way things were dragged out in the past for us and other clubs, it would be in the best interests for the Broncos to act extremely swiftly if or when this latest rubbish comes out in the open. The club seriously cannot take weeks on end of negative publicity again as we finish off another season.

 

[Nashy]

Bruno has some tough decisions to make. If he stuffs this up, his job is gone.

 

[Kaz]

Bruno should quit now.

 

[Nashy]

That would make things worse right now. Once this shit blows over, then he should quit. No need to throw a spanner into an already smoking machine.

 

[tryhard]

What cover up? Their names have been in every reporters column since the story broke and I have not seen anyone from our club or the players named come out and saying anything to clear themselves.

Errrm the cover-up that has been going on for at least the past 12 to 18 months. The story has only just broken now, despite the fact some club insiders have been aware of certain 'issues' for ages and as they always do, swept it under the carpet hoping what was going on behind the scenes would never raise its ugly head. Is only the tip of the iceberg, but when there are mega $$$ tied up in sponsorship deals and a rapidly deteriorating public image to worry about, these are the types of things you don't want people on the outside knowing about.

Hopefully once everything is out in the open, the club can then begin to heal the wound which has been festering long before Bennett left...

Errrm! I was referring to the Origin players names being released.

On the other matter of drug and alcohol abuse reported in yesterdays paper both Bruno and Gallop said for legal reasons they will and cannot not name the player and investigations are underway at our club. This was on ABC radio yesterday. Again this morning on Fox.

Rumors on the drugs and the player have been around for years. Why do clubs try to hide these things? In the long run it all comes out. Press don't stop digging.

 

[Coxy]

Just an interesting time line.

1. Joel Clinton is stood down from the team to play the Storm on Friday night for disciplinary reasons.
2. Melbourne defeat Brisbane 48-4
3. Clinton is fined $50K for the incident, which is revealed to be that he invited a lady friend into his hotel room before the Wests Tigers game. Rumours go around there was more to it. Bruno laughably states that the players decided the punishment.
4. Swine flu scandal breaks out
5. Despite being suspended, Clinton is allowed to play against the Bulldogs.
6. Bulldogs win 44-22
7. Origin-depleted Broncos flogged 46-12 by Sharks
8. Origin-weary Broncos run out of gas 21-14 against Parramatta
9. Broncos overpower hapless Warriors 28-14. Clinton KTFO.
10. Bye
11. K.Hunt and Hodges overindulge during Origin camp, and come back to the Broncos looking worse for wear.
12. Origin-weary Broncos flogged 44-12 by South fucking Sydney
13. Titans romp home against Broncos 34-18, after leading 34-2 without raising a sweat
14. K. Hunt announces switch to AFL. Players laugh and joke around the day before the game with an AFL ball.
15. Raiders flog Broncos 56-0

The downhill spiral started with Clinton's ridiculous punishment. The rumours of "more to it" have proven baseless.

Quite simply the players' attitude comes down to lack of faith in the administration of the club, and they are acting out off the field etc. It's manifesting itself in gutless performances on the field.

 

[Scumbag]

Therefore, you're implying that this so called "downward spiral" is a by-product of player reaction to one specific incident involving The President?

If this is so, then that's an extremely immature reaction from the players and certainly not behaviour befitting Rugby League players in the top flight competition. As many of you have eluded to on this forum, the Brisbane Broncos are a business. We have conditioned each other to staunchy belive this on BHQ and the players would obviously know this fact too.

They are the employees, it is still their job to keep the business running for the rest of the season. I find it very unprofessional that as employees, they would behave like this when they have a responsibility to keep the business running smoothly and thus maintaining their jobs. That's if Coxy's theory is to be believed about this perceived decline.

This is very much akin in a way to playing a game of football. When a game of football is played, the players must accept the referee's decisions and simply get on with playing the game at hand. There is no room for mid-game backlash and for the affected team in question to simply shut up shop. Bruno and the administration take the place of the referee in this case.

I respect your opinions Coxy, but if your theory were correct and that is the reaction of the players, then that is rather unacceptable by today's business standards. It would have been more acceptable back in the days when the game wasn't so economically based and thus, player protests about the state of the game and over in house issues would have been more tolerable. We're talking about extreme pressure to excel for the appeasement of sponsors and other such external factors in today's day and age unfortunately here though.

 

[Coxy]

Not just that one incident, but that combined with the Alhambra thing, the no-tolerance alcohol policy and all the other stuff which seems to be rules for some and not for others.

The players are playing with no pride in their jersey...you have to ask yourself why.

 

[Scumbag]

Not just that one incident, but that combined with the Alhambra thing, the no-tolerance alcohol policy and all the other stuff which seems to be rules for some and not for others.

The players are playing with no pride in their jersey...you have to ask yourself why.

Have been for years. Very curious indeed.

 

[Coxy]

Well no, this is the first year I've felt the players just don't give a shit. Other years they've struggled, but there's always been an effort and a pride in what they were doing, no matter how bad it may be.

I just think this year there's lots of festering ill feeling toward management, and I think the Joel Clinton thing was the straw that broke the camel's back.

 

[Dexter]

Therefore, you're implying that this so called "downward spiral" is a by-product of player reaction to one specific incident involving The President?

If this is so, then that's an extremely immature reaction from the players and certainly not behaviour befitting Rugby League players in the top flight competition. As many of you have eluded to on this forum, the Brisbane Broncos are a business. We have conditioned each other to staunchy belive this on BHQ and the players would obviously know this fact too.

They are the employees, it is still their job to keep the business running for the rest of the season.

That is exactly the way they are playing. I want my team to love playing footy and love beating other teams and getting the better of their opponent.

Watmoughs game last night is a perfect example, he wanted to win that game and nearly did it by himself.
We have nobody putting their hand up ATM to lead this side including Locky.

In fact the way things stand right now if we sign Locky to 2 more years it would be largely a waste of money.

 

[Kaz]

Well no, this is the first year I've felt the players just don't give a shit. Other years they've struggled, but there's always been an effort and a pride in what they were doing, no matter how bad it may be.

I just think this year there's lots of festering ill feeling toward management, and I think the Joel Clinton thing was the straw that broke the camel's back.

Could be a backlash to the change of coach.

Henjak may not be very popular with senior players etc.

 

[Coxy]

Maybe not so much unpopular, but they don't respect him.

 

[Scumbag]

Well no, this is the first year I've felt the players just don't give a shit. Other years they've struggled, but there's always been an effort and a pride in what they were doing, no matter how bad it may be.

I just think this year there's lots of festering ill feeling toward management, and I think the Joel Clinton thing was the straw that broke the camel's back.

Could be a backlash to the change of coach.

Henjak may not be very popular with senior players etc.

Aww poor ponies.

Alright theory though Kaz.