NRL General Discussion Thread

[Unbreakable]

Taylor may not play again in 2019 after being left out of Titans team

Michael Chammas
Thu 8 Aug 2019, 11:41 AM

After a week of soul-searching, Gold Coast have decided to leave Ash Taylor out of this week’s team to allow the halfback to continue his recovery away from the spotlight.

Taylor was on Tuesday named at five-eighth for the Titans’ clash with the St George Illawarra Dragons on Saturday, however NRL.com understands he won’t travel with the team for the match at Kogarah.

Club hierarchy gathered this week to discuss Taylor’s immediate future after a modest performance against the Roosters in his first game back in the NRL after an extended period away from rugby league.

It was determined by the coaching staff and club officials that it was best for Taylor and the Titans for the 24-year-old to be removed from the NRL team, potentially for the remainder of the season.

The fact the Titans were thrashed by the Sydney Roosters at the Sydney Cricket Ground didn’t help Taylor’s cause, however there are concerns he may have been brought back prematurely.

It’s unclear whether Taylor will play in the Intrust Super Cup this weekend, or play another game at any level this season, with the club to assess the situation on a week-to-week basis.

Incoming Titans coach Justin Holbrook has coached Taylor in the past, but will no doubt be keeping a close eye on the situation as his time with St Helens in the Super League draws to a close.

"I actually had him in the Junior Kangaroos and he was an outstanding young player,” Holbrook told NRL.com last week.

"He got man of the match in the game against the Junior Kiwis when I had him. I know he's an outstanding young talent. I haven't spoken to him yet but that's something I will worry about before I get there."

Taylor is contracted with the Titans until the end of 2021, with the club still hopeful he can rediscover the type of form that saw him earn a lucrative extension just 18 months ago.

The former Broncos junior is still training with the Titans, despite being told he won’t play this weekend.

The Titans, who have not officially announced Taylor won't be playing in the NRL side this weekend, don’t have a recognised playmaker in their 21-man-squad, however they could play AJ Brimson, Bryce Cartwright or Tyrone Peachey at five-eighth in his absence.

Source: https://www.nrl.com/news/2019/08/08...-in-2019-after-being-left-out-of-titans-team/

 

[Alec]

The hell is going on with him? Can't even play a game? He has to be one of the biggest busts in Rugby League history.

 

[Foordy]

source: Courier Mail

 

[Foordy]

that is a perfect example of the ineptitude of the NRL and why they are the most amateurish governing body in professional sport world wide...

the only conclusion that can be drawn from these two cases is that the NRL believe that walking off the field too slowly is worse than trying to take someones head off

 

[Sproj]

that is a perfect example of the ineptitude of the NRL and why they are the most amateurish governing body in professional sport world wide...

the only conclusion that can be drawn from these two cases is that the NRL believe that walking off the field too slowly is worse than trying to take someones head off

Remember when Cameron Smith got binned last year? He literally took 4-5 minutes to get off the field, we’re all good here says the NRL.

 

[tommy]

Remember when Cameron Smith got binned last year? He literally took 4-5 minutes to get off the field, we’re all good here says the NRL.

He actually got to the sideline and stood there refusing to leave the field.

 

[Sproj]

Did you see how slowly Smith

He actually got to the sideline and stood there refusing to leave the field.

Yep, and that was after the slow walk and ref backchat.

 

[Browny]

And the disrespect of laughing at the ref

 

[Super Freak]

Everyone in the media complains about players taking their sweet ass time exiting the field when they have been binned.

The NRL do something about it and enforce the rule.

Now it's unfair.

 

[Super Freak]

He actually got to the sideline and stood there refusing to leave the field.

I think that was because Storm were making a change at that time and he was standing there waiting for the player to get in position before he exited the field.

The NRL needed to do something about it and now they have. And now the media are complaining.

 

[Foordy]

Everyone in the media complains about players taking their sweet ass time exiting the field when they have been binned.

The NRL do something about it and enforce the rule.

Now it's unfair.

I don't think they are complaining about the fact that he was fined ... But to fine him more than a player that illegally hit someone in the head taking him out for a week or two with concussion is ridiculous

 

[Sproj]

I don't think they are complaining about the fact that he was fined ... But to fine him more than a player that illegally hit someone in the head taking him out for a week or two with concussion is ridiculous

I thought that was fairly obviously the point.

 

[Lockysillegitimatechild]

The bs bias crap from the nrl has become too much.
Now, i don't think its the biggest or worst tackle I've ever seen but ponga shoulder charged on the weekend to save that try. There's no question about it. Didn't get charged and got away with it, just like slater used too. No surprises there. Pisses me off but used to that type of one rule for the media darlings, one for every other player...

But then I stumble upon the "vote for the tackle of the week" page on nrl.com....and they put that up as a choice! Hahahaha the fucking audacity of the nrl. The difference nt rules and agendas the nrl have has gotten too much for me this year....

 

[Super Freak]

I don't think they are complaining about the fact that he was fined ... But to fine him more than a player that illegally hit someone in the head taking him out for a week or two with concussion is ridiculous

The NRL said they were going to come down hard on time wasters when issuing fines. The media applauded it.

Now, they aren't.

What did they think they meant by that?

 

[Super Freak]

Besides, the fine system was meant to be for lesser incidents which is why the MRC charged Burgess with a higher grading and it was the judiciary that decided it wasn't worthy of a higher charge.

Not sure what the NRL is supposed to do there. Lower the fine Gordon received because the judiciary fucked up?

 

[tommy]

The NRL said they were going to come down hard on time wasters when issuing fines. The media applauded it.

Now, they aren't.

What did they think they meant by that?

Is the clock running when players get binned?

If the clock is stopped is it really time-wasting? I'd say most people thought they were referring to their newest grey area, which they only decide to penalise when it suits them. The shot clock.

 

[Kimlo]

Cameron Smith’s wife given diamond ring by the NRL
August 15, 2019

The NRL is scrambling to explain why Cameron Smith’s wife Barb was presented with a diamond ring in recognition of her husband’s 400th game.

The gift was not listed among the official ones to Smith when the NRL formally celebrated his milestone in July and has raised questions about why the wife of a player would be rewarded by the game. The lavish gift was not approved by the Australian Rugby League Commission.

Cameron
Smith and his wife Barb, who was gifted a ring (not the one picture) by the NRL.
At the time of the milestone match, the NRL revealed it was presenting Smith a Waterford crystal football after the game, as well as a specially commissioned mural in Smith’s image in Richmond. No mention of the diamond ring was made.

Greenberg presented Barb Smith with the ring at a private dinner the NRL held for her husband in the week leading up to this 400th game. While the dinner was covered in various sections of the press, there was no mention of the ring.

“Our biggest stars wouldn’t be where they are today without the women in their lives,’’ Greenberg said. “We make no apologies for honouring the amazing role Barb has played and the sacrifices she has made throughout Cameron’s career. “His feat made history and may never be done again. It was right to acknowledge the achievement in the way we did.”

The Storm denied they were involved. “We had no idea it was coming,” Storm chief executive Dave Donaghy said. “It was a gift from the NRL. We gave her a bunch of flowers. "It comes after the NRL allowed Smith a testimonial game at Suncorp Stadium at the start of last year, well before his retirement, when he pocketed $150,000 while donating $15,000 to a charity.

There’s no suggestion that Smith or his wife have done anything wrong. A concern for Smith and the NRL is also whether the gift has income tax implications. While Barb Smith will claim the ring was a gift, the Australian Taxation Office could deem it assessable income given the ring was received in recognition of her husband’s occupation.

An NRL spokesman said the gift to Barb Smith had no salary cap implications. “It is a gift from the NRL,” the spokesman said. “No different to gifts for 300 games, premiership rings or players who are paid out of the NRL marketing fund to promote events.” The NRL says that, depending on the player’s circumstances, it will replicate the gift for any player who gets to 400.

Cameron Smith at his testimonial at Suncorp Stadium. Photo: AAP Image/Josh Woning

St George Illawarra’s James Graham played his 400th first-grade game last weekend with limited official recognition. Why Smith’s wife was given the gift at all is confusing given Smith received the Waterford crystal ball in recognition of his achievement. There are also questions around the lack of transparency around the lavish present given how well Smith has been rewarded and the peculiar relationship between the Storm and the game’s administration.


Melbourne have been allowed to celebrate their 2009 season, for instance, going as far as carrying official commemoration on their NRL jersey ‘‘celebrating 1999 & 2009 grand finals’’, with no recrimination from the NRL. This is after the Storm were stripped of their 2009 premiership for cheating the salary cap. The Storm had their name removed from the premiership trophy and were ordered to remove the 2007 and 2009 premierships from their website.

Source: The Daily Telegraph

 

[Super Freak]

I was under the impression that kind of stuff is not allowed...

Giving a player a crystal ball in recognition of his 400th game is one thing. Giving family members gifts and keeping it hush hush. Very suss.