Morkel
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- Jan 25, 2013
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Knights players on receiving end of abusive texts from Nathan Tinkler
Knights players on receiving end of abusive texts from Nathan Tinkler’s phone
NEWCASTLE Knights players have been receiving abusive text messages from tyrannical owner Nathan Tinkler’s phone.
Only days away from being forced to hand back Newcastle’s NRL licence after a spectacular collapse as club owner, The Daily Telegraph can reveal some players have been receiving the out-of-line text messages for most of this season.
Currently one of rugby league’s most-loathed individuals, Tinkler’s reputation is poised to take a further hammering amid revelations the one-time billionaire’s phone was used to brand players “soft” and claim the club has “no heart”.
The Daily Telegraph has been told out-of-form fullback Darius Boyd has been one player who has come under fire in the text messages, including one message which insinuated the Queensland and Australian representative could be traded prior to the NRL’s June 30 transfer window.
Another player who has regularly received text messages being critical of the club and other teammates is star five-eighth Jarrod Mullen, with other senior players also believed to have been on the receiving end.
The messages were being sent as early as round two this season, with the Knights losing their opening three games of the year to Penrith, Canberra and Melbourne. The Daily Telegraph has been told the texts continued until recently.
The failed Knights owner promised to turn Newcastle into an NRL superpower when he privatised the traditionally blue-collar club in 2011.
But the Newcastle community’s patience for the tycoon’s litany of excuses about late payments to players and staff has finally run out, with the NRL poised to end the ownership feud early next week.
Contacted about the text messages, Tinkler’s right-hand man from Hunter Sports Group, Troy Palmer, said via text message: “I assume you have evidence of this as this is a serious allegation and will take whatever action available.
Nathan Tinkler arrives ICAC. Photo Jeremy Piper
Nathan Tinkler arrives ICAC. Photo Jeremy Piper Source: News Corp Australia
“Nathan has always had an excellent relationship with players. They love him. You obviously haven’t heard about how he visited Alex (McKinnon) last week a day before his ICAC hearing and helped Alex with the first movement of his legs.”
The ironic element of the messages to Boyd is the fact the Newcastle fullback is owed a $200,000 third-party payment and is fuming about the way he’s been treated.
Boyd has a get-out clause in his contract if supercoach Wayne Bennett is no longer the Newcastle coach, which appears an increasingly likely scenario given the seven-time premiership-winner’s contract is with Tinkler’s Hunter Sports Group.
20 Newcastle Knights staff and players yet to be paid 0:31
Up to 20 Newcastle Knights staff and players have gone unpaid as uncertainty over the ownership of the club remains.
The Knights ownership dispute is expected to finally be brought to a head early next week, with the NRL head of club services Tony Crawford in continued negotiations with Tinkler, HSG and the Knights Members Club.
The Knights Members Club have been attempting to exercise their right to buy the club back for $1 for the past month, with the terms of the privatisation contract stipulating it must come debt-free.
A crucial element of the handover to the Members Club is also the $10.52 million Westpac bank guarantee.
Given the way Tinkler has chosen to do business at the Knights, there are fears the club’s level of debt could greater than previously thought.
This is most likely what the NRL has been attempting to resolve for the past eight weeks, when all parties involved have been gagged from speaking publicly.
Knights players on receiving end of abusive texts from Nathan Tinkler
Knights players on receiving end of abusive texts from Nathan Tinkler’s phone
NEWCASTLE Knights players have been receiving abusive text messages from tyrannical owner Nathan Tinkler’s phone.
Only days away from being forced to hand back Newcastle’s NRL licence after a spectacular collapse as club owner, The Daily Telegraph can reveal some players have been receiving the out-of-line text messages for most of this season.
Currently one of rugby league’s most-loathed individuals, Tinkler’s reputation is poised to take a further hammering amid revelations the one-time billionaire’s phone was used to brand players “soft” and claim the club has “no heart”.
The Daily Telegraph has been told out-of-form fullback Darius Boyd has been one player who has come under fire in the text messages, including one message which insinuated the Queensland and Australian representative could be traded prior to the NRL’s June 30 transfer window.
Another player who has regularly received text messages being critical of the club and other teammates is star five-eighth Jarrod Mullen, with other senior players also believed to have been on the receiving end.
The messages were being sent as early as round two this season, with the Knights losing their opening three games of the year to Penrith, Canberra and Melbourne. The Daily Telegraph has been told the texts continued until recently.
The failed Knights owner promised to turn Newcastle into an NRL superpower when he privatised the traditionally blue-collar club in 2011.
But the Newcastle community’s patience for the tycoon’s litany of excuses about late payments to players and staff has finally run out, with the NRL poised to end the ownership feud early next week.
Contacted about the text messages, Tinkler’s right-hand man from Hunter Sports Group, Troy Palmer, said via text message: “I assume you have evidence of this as this is a serious allegation and will take whatever action available.
Nathan Tinkler arrives ICAC. Photo Jeremy Piper
Nathan Tinkler arrives ICAC. Photo Jeremy Piper Source: News Corp Australia
“Nathan has always had an excellent relationship with players. They love him. You obviously haven’t heard about how he visited Alex (McKinnon) last week a day before his ICAC hearing and helped Alex with the first movement of his legs.”
The ironic element of the messages to Boyd is the fact the Newcastle fullback is owed a $200,000 third-party payment and is fuming about the way he’s been treated.
Boyd has a get-out clause in his contract if supercoach Wayne Bennett is no longer the Newcastle coach, which appears an increasingly likely scenario given the seven-time premiership-winner’s contract is with Tinkler’s Hunter Sports Group.
20 Newcastle Knights staff and players yet to be paid 0:31
Up to 20 Newcastle Knights staff and players have gone unpaid as uncertainty over the ownership of the club remains.
The Knights ownership dispute is expected to finally be brought to a head early next week, with the NRL head of club services Tony Crawford in continued negotiations with Tinkler, HSG and the Knights Members Club.
The Knights Members Club have been attempting to exercise their right to buy the club back for $1 for the past month, with the terms of the privatisation contract stipulating it must come debt-free.
A crucial element of the handover to the Members Club is also the $10.52 million Westpac bank guarantee.
Given the way Tinkler has chosen to do business at the Knights, there are fears the club’s level of debt could greater than previously thought.
This is most likely what the NRL has been attempting to resolve for the past eight weeks, when all parties involved have been gagged from speaking publicly.
