Players, coach and now officials behaving badly
Sydney Morning Herald
Friday July 10, 2009
FIRST it was the players, then Sydney Roosters coach Brad Fittler was at the centre of an off-field scandal and now match officials are grabbing headlines for the wrong reasons after the arrest of World Cup final video referee Steve Ganson. The 39-year-old, who was described by The Guardian as one of "Super League's leading referees and certainly its most colourful", was arrested after an altercation at a taxi rank in St Helens last Saturday night. He was not formally charged and has received the backing of the Rugby Football League after being appointed to the high-profile Leeds-Wakefield match this weekend.Bear marketThe Central Coast Bears last night launched their membership drive in the latest step in the club's campaign to return to the NRL. Bears chief Greg Florimo was joined by former teammates David Fairleigh and David Hall, football manager Bradley Clyde and Wayne Pearce, who is an ambassador for the Central Coast team, at a function in Martin Place, at which the club attempted to entice businesspeople to back the bid.Tupou for TigersWests Tigers have signed former Brisbane Broncos winger Tame Tupou as they battle a growing injury crisis that this week claimed Kiwis Test utility Dene Halatau. Tupou has been in England since joining Bradford as a replacement for Lesley Vainikolo in 2007 and he made an impressive start with 10 tries in his first 12 games but has not played since undergoing reconstructive knee surgery last June and had his contract terminated in January. The 26-year-old, who played under the name Gary during his stint at the Broncos because he was too shy to tell Wayne Bennett his real name, has gained a formal release from Bradford and is expected to be available for the Tigers' next match against the Cowboys. Meanwhile, Halatau will be sidelined for up to two months with a knee injury suffered in last Saturday night's win over Souths. He joins Chris Heighington (leg), Keith Galloway (knee), Dean Collis (forearm), Blake Lazarus (knee) and Peni Tagive (shoulder) on the club's lengthy injury list. Despite missing most of this season, Lazarus this week had his contract extended for a further two years. Tagive has signed with the Dragons and will be joined at St George Illawarra by South Sydney prop Michael Greenfield.Shark hunt fruitfulThe Sharks have continued their rebuilding program for next season with the signing of Penrith and PNG hooker Paul Aiton on a two-year deal. Aiton's recruitment follows the snaring of Tigers utility John Morris, Manly forward Adam Cuthbertson, in-demand Eels halfback Albert Kelly and his Parramatta teammate Broderick Wright. Meanwhile, Cronulla players are rallying around halfback Scott Porter after the sudden death of his mother, Sharon, on Wednesday.White moveTitans prop Matthew White has agreed to terms for a new deal but Gold Coast are in danger of losing promising winger Jy Hitchcox, who has attracted the attention of a number of Sydney clubs.Touchie's security callTouch judge Julie Young, the sister of former Knights hooker Mick Young, has called for increased security at Newcastle Rugby League matches after being the victim of disgraceful abuse by spectators at Cessnock Sportsground last Saturday. The 23-year-old was verbally abused by a crowd member on the hill while performing her duty as touch judge in the match between Central Charlestown and Cessnock. She was then confronted by another spectator as she left the field at full-time. "The guy on the hill ran down and yelled at me 'you're a f---ing idiot, go and get f---ed' and 'you're not going to f---ing get out of here alive,"' Young told the Newcastle Herald. "And then when I was walking off at the end of the game a guy came up to me, within about a metre, and yelled 'you're a f---ing disgrace' in my face. I appreciate everyone is there to watch the boys play footy and not to see us get involved but I don't have to put up with that. I didn't feel scared, I'm just not happy that I didn't get any support." Young said she reported the initial abuse to the referee during a break in play and pointed out the offender. "Even when I pointed him out he was able to stay inside the ground and continue drinking and there is nothing that protects us when we leave the field," she said. Young's brother Mick, who was playing in the Central Charlestown side, said he heard a spectator yell "we're going to rape you" to his sister but Julie said she was unaware that had been said. Police this week met Cessnock officials and have put all clubs on notice that they will not tolerate drunken or antisocial behaviour.Doin' it for the kidsSouth Sydney players will tonight adopt the Premier League practice of taking the field at ANZ Stadium holding the hands of school children when they accompany 17 primary pupils from Santa Sabina Del Monte College at Strathfield. They are doing so in support of the Alannah and Madeline Foundation "Better Buddies" Framework, a national charity protecting children from violence and its devastating impact. It was established in memory of Alannah and Madeline Mikac, aged 6 and 3, who, along with their mother and 32 others, were tragically killed in the 1996 Port Arthur massacre.
© 2009 Sydney Morning Herald
Share This