I'm not a fan of apologist attitudes towards this type of behaviour - in the modern, full time world of professional rugby league, there is no excuse for a player, regardless of how much mongrel he has in him, to be unable to leave that on the pitch or training field; and for every one who's transgressed, there are dozens who haven't, so it's hardly an occupational hazard.
The more worrying thing, is the frequency this has happened at our club in the recent past - last year's drunk driving episode, then the car incident and now this; it seems to suggest that there's an issue with culture or leadership at the club that means the checks and balances on behaviour and conduct are not sufficiently powerful to act as a disincentive?
Perhaps JK can resolve this issue and leave CC to coach the players and MC to run the club?
It's always a risk with the bad lads army as others have suggested...
Cas gave Hampshire many, many opportunities at 6 this year, and it was very clear that he is not a half back. We were without a stand off for 3/4 of the season due to Roberts' injury and in the end (even after a few stints) the coach still chose to play Millington at halfback ahead of him! If Powell, Orr and Sheridan don't see any potential in him, who will?
As soon as we put him on the wing, he was a completely different player. Think he just needs to admit defeat on that one...
I have to say this strikes me most about Ryan. He clearly has skills but if he can't make them work for him at half back at Cas, it's unlikely to suddenly work at Wakefield. I'd suggest they have a better coaching set up than we do....in terms of depth and focus on half back....not on a coach to coach comparison.
Cas gave Hampshire many, many opportunities at 6 this year, and it was very clear that he is not a half back. We were without a stand off for 3/4 of the season due to Roberts' injury and in the end (even after a few stints) the coach still chose to play Millington at halfback ahead of him! If Powell, Orr and Sheridan don't see any potential in him, who will?
As soon as we put him on the wing, he was a completely different player. Think he just needs to admit defeat on that one...
What a crock of crap, just because he hasn't cracked it at the mighty Cas mean nothing - anyone who's followed him knows he's a H/B end of.
I don't get this Hampshire thing - is he not a Wigan player? Does he give two hoots about Wakefield? He went elsewhere initially didn't he, presumable chasing money, so why would he want to come to us anyway? I think we need to move on!
I don't get this Hampshire thing - is he not a Wigan player? Does he give two hoots about Wakefield? He went elsewhere initially didn't he, presumable chasing money, so why would he want to come to us anyway? I think we need to move on!
The logic seems to be that he's a fan, his family are fans and he did ask to go on loan to us but thuggy Wane refused - so there is something in it, whether it's as much as some make out I don't know.
Totally agree with all that. We are a club that Hampshire would love to play at and we are also the club that would give him a chance and develop his talent to be a true No6. It would be an ideal match for both parties.
However I heard we made him a derisory offer and were not that interested in taking him on board. Could internal politics be involved ? i'm sure you know enough to work that one out.
Yep I know what you mean.
However if we made a derisory offer I honestly think that would be more down to MC than JK at a guess. Not knowing the full extent of Kears roll it’s hard to say just how much input he has. Either way Kear has his faults but I find it hard to believe he’d cut off his nose to spite his face that much - truth is I just think we are as skint as ever.
Ditto the big “M” who I've met a few times though I’m yet to meet him sober! He’s strident in his opinions and holds nothing back yet he doesn’t strike me as so belligerent that he would put a grudge ahead of his sons development.
I’ll say it again I think we are as skint as we have ever been. Ours crowds, sponsorship and corporate though improved are still way off that of others and we certainly have no wiggle room. At the moment BV looks like a war zone and it was none to pretty before that.
It’s a crying shame when you have a club crying out for a player who wants to play for them but the stars just won’t align - unless we get a real sugar daddy he’ll never fulfil his wish to wear the shirt or not until he’s well past his best.
Even worse is that his place is being taken up by Miller who though a decent player in his own way is nowhere near the long term project Hampshire is a player you could build a winning team around.
What a crock of crap, just because he hasn't cracked it at the mighty Cas mean nothing - anyone who's followed him knows he's a H/B end of.
Him being at Cas has nothing to do with it - how many times have you watched him play this year at half back? Or are you basing this on his academy days? I know you'd love for the prodigal Wakefield son to return and slot in your squad, but burying your head in the sand isn't the answer. Ask anyone who saw him play this year - the moment we put him at centre/wing he was a completely different player. If he stuck that out as his position, he could go very far. As a half back? Not so much. I'd sign him on that basis.
The more worrying thing, is the frequency this has happened at our club in the recent past - last year's drunk driving episode, then the car incident and now this; it seems to suggest that there's an issue with culture or leadership at the club that means the checks and balances on behaviour and conduct are not sufficiently powerful to act as a disincentive?
It would probably more effective for the club to have the players spend the first two weeks of pre season on a building site doing some proper graft as if to say "knuckle down, work hard in your RL as you'll end up doing this full time unless you all buck your ideas up", the way some of our lot have been carrying on over the last two years.
I'm not a fan of apologist attitudes towards this type of behaviour - in the modern, full time world of professional rugby league, there is no excuse for a player, regardless of how much mongrel he has in him, to be unable to leave that on the pitch or training field; and for every one who's transgressed, there are dozens who haven't, so it's hardly an occupational hazard.
The more worrying thing, is the frequency this has happened at our club in the recent past - last year's drunk driving episode, then the car incident and now this; it seems to suggest that there's an issue with culture or leadership at the club that means the checks and balances on behaviour and conduct are not sufficiently powerful to act as a disincentive?
It's not just us though. Moore went AWOL at Huddersfield. Leeds players went to prison for fighting. Leon Pryce got in bother. Wigan players this year fell out with each other. Rugby players are working class lads who will do daft stuff, because that is what they do, and every blue-collar large workplace has enough lads like that.
I did say "some players", and it isn't every one. What makes them good players is that bit of pitbull in them, and occasionally it will be let loose in an unproductive way.
I'm not talking about half-wits like Locke and Tim Smith, who had very little pitbull in them, but those certain sort of players who's personality traits make them the players they are. Scott Moore. Gareth Hock. Players of that ilk. There are many others who don't transgress who possess similar characteristics, but you will always get some who just step over that line, because they've always been very close to it.
Personally, I don't judge them as human beings and accept some will be flawed. That is why they get kicks out of bashing the hell out of each other on a rugby pitch. To expect perfect role models out of young working class men who play a brutal sport is expecting too much.
It's unreasonable to expect them to be perfect role models, it's reasonable to expect them to have enough professional pride that they won't get drunk and crash cars or assault police officers, which brings the whole game into disrepute