Re: Blake Ferguson rejected by NRL: another Catalans coup? : Thu Oct 30, 2014 12:55 am  

Him wrote:

I just think we're going further and further, both here and in Australia, down a path where everything is up to and decided by the governing body ....

This is a direct result of opening the Pandora's box of "government interference in family".....ie, you can't smack your kids resulting in a generation of kids growing up with no respect for themselves, the law or anything else.
An entirely different thread!
Back to Fergie.......he's had his chance, he's blown it. Move along here, nothing to see other than an inane grin on a pseudo French internet nuisance.

Re: Blake Ferguson rejected by NRL: another Catalans coup? : Thu Oct 30, 2014 1:01 am  

The governing body sometimes has to step in because clubs have consistently shown a complete inability to think beyond the short-term aim of winning games next season.

The NRL has shown with the massive fine its hit Gallen with and other actions that it is taking a much harder line with players than it has in the past. They're doing it because too many NRL players get up to gross and/or criminal activity, only to get away with it because their club (or another one) needs them.

Every close season since I've been in Aus its only been a matter of time before we hear about assaults, public drunkeness or worse amongst NRL players. The game has a dire image in the press and amongst the general public because of it.

I have no problem with a couple of high profile idiots to be frozen out of the game if that's what it takes to get the message across to all players that such rubbish won't be tolerated.

Re: Blake Ferguson rejected by NRL: another Catalans coup? : Thu Oct 30, 2014 1:09 am  

The governing body sometimes has to step in because clubs have consistently shown a complete inability to think beyond the short-term aim of winning games next season.

The NRL has shown with the massive fine its hit Gallen with and other actions that it is taking a much harder line with players than it has in the past. They're doing it because too many NRL players get up to gross and/or criminal activity, only to get away with it because their club (or another one) needs them.

Every close season since I've been in Aus its only been a matter of time before we hear about assaults, public drunkeness or worse amongst NRL players. The game has a dire image in the press and amongst the general public because of it.

I have no problem with a couple of high profile idiots to be frozen out of the game if that's what it takes to get the message across to all players that such rubbish won't be tolerated.

Re: Blake Ferguson rejected by NRL: another Catalans coup? : Thu Oct 30, 2014 4:55 am  

ThePrinter wrote:

In this case (and the Hardaker one) so much is focused on how good the player is?

Question, if the player was average and MIGHT get in the Leeds team at a push or be a fringe player who'd be ok at best would people say he should be given a chance?

His ability/skill level shouldn't actually come in to it at all.

Agreed.

Re: Blake Ferguson rejected by NRL: another Catalans coup? : Thu Oct 30, 2014 8:28 am  

ThePrinter wrote:

In this case (and the Carney one) so much is focused on how good the player is?

Question, if the player was average and MIGHT get in the Catalans team at a push or be a fringe player who'd be ok at best would people say he should be given a chance?

His ability/skill level shouldn't actually come in to it at all. I wonder what the fake-French-thread starting ponce would say if English teams could sign him but French law ruled him out of singing for Catalans?

We are in the business of selling elite entertainment - the relative skill of an individual is pretty important in that proposition.

I don't share the view that Ferguson is a world beater that some on here are touting - people are quick to moralise and equally quick to forget - he would not have anywhere near the impact the likes of Monaghan, Bird etc have had.

Re: Blake Ferguson rejected by NRL: another Catalans coup? : Thu Oct 30, 2014 8:31 am  

PaulCam1972 wrote:

Another peice of utter tosh!!!!!
I'm Scottish born and bred, from the greatest clan in the Fatherland, and for some numpty to come out with "media bullsh@t" like you just have, really gets my blood boiling..

This isn't 1314, it's 2014 so shut the f@ck up with hatred of English - it's the hatred of media that you can land at Scottish and Irish feet... GREAT BRITAIN is my home and it's about time you foreigners respected our nation instead of spouting (as we say in Perthshire) PISH!!!!!!

You appear to be unfamiliar with the modus operandi of 'Monsieur' Jean Capdouze ...

Re: Blake Ferguson rejected by NRL: another Catalans coup? : Thu Oct 30, 2014 8:33 am  

JEAN CAPDOUZE wrote:

If he ran on the field in a kilt, then I am sure that the mass media would be very interested.

As for interest among the Scots and the Irish, I think that you underestimate their pride in having one of their own stand out in sports that have been long dominated by the hated English.

How would an indigenous australian (and not a very nice one), running around in the South of France ever be classed as "one of their own"? Of all the rubbish I've ever read on here!

Re: Blake Ferguson rejected by NRL: another Catalans coup? : Thu Oct 30, 2014 8:44 am  

The woman in league thing is bollox - a number of players have had instances of 'allegedly' assaulting women and that includes the best player in the world Greg Inglis. I bet there isn't a poster on here who would not welcome Greg Inglis to their club. Haven't seen Gutterfax condemning him!!

As I said people are quick to jump on the bandwagon and equally quick to forget.

Re: Blake Ferguson rejected by NRL: another Catalans coup? : Thu Oct 30, 2014 9:16 am  

Like it or not our players become role models, kids wear shirts with their names on the back, crowds chant their names, their images adorn newspapers and magazines.

I find it hard to afford that kind of adulation to a player who's been convicted of the type of crime we're talking about here. There's definitely something not right with our game offering the likes of Ferguson as heroes for young children who can't understand or don't know the background to that players crime.

Re: Blake Ferguson rejected by NRL: another Catalans coup? : Thu Oct 30, 2014 9:22 am  

Sal Paradise wrote:

We are in the business of selling elite entertainment - the relative skill of an individual is pretty important in that proposition.

I don't share the view that Ferguson is a world beater that some on here are touting - people are quick to moralise and equally quick to forget - he would not have anywhere near the impact the likes of Monaghan, Bird etc have had.

Have you ever seen Blake Ferguson play? I have, and I share the view of thousands of fans, including Nicholas Polites, that he is a devastating attacking force, more potent than even his friend and former fellow troublemaker Joshua Dugan. He is certainly more potent than Joel Monaghan and Gregory Bird, talented though they both may be. As a centre Blake is at the same level as Sam Burgess is as lock forward. In other words, Blake Ferguson is an exceptional talent.