Russell Packer

Should the Knights attempt to sign Russell Packer again ??

  • Yes

    Votes: 24 72.7%

  • No

    Votes: 9 27.3%
  • Total voters
    33
  • Poll closed .
Junior11

Junior11

Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
Newcastle Knights still interested in jailed forward Russell Packer

By Robert Dillon

September 22, 2014 - 1:08AM

Incoming Knights coach Rick Stone has revealed the club is interested in offering Russell Packer a chance at NRL redemption once the controversial forward has been released from jail.

Packer has been imprisoned since January, when he pleaded guilty to assaulting a stranger in Sydney and stomping on his head in an alcohol-fuelled incident labelled "cowardly and reprehensible" by the presiding magistrate.

The former Warriors and New Zealand Test prop had only just moved to Newcastle to start a lucrative four-year deal with the Knights, but after his conviction the club terminated his contract.

Packer initially received a two-year non-parole period, which was reduced to 12 months on appeal.

He will be eligible for release in January and former Knights coach Wayne Bennett has been outspoken in his belief that the 24-year-old deserves a second chance in professional rugby league.

While Bennett has been angling to take Packer with him to the Broncos, Stone is similarly willing to give him an opportunity, providing he has been re-registered by the NRL.

"There's a bit of a process to go through with Russell," Stone said after yesterday's NSW Cup semi-final win against Illawarra.

"He's got to make up his mind where he'd like to play and probably then he's got to get registered by the NRL.

"But we're one of the clubs who have expressed some interest.

"Whether he decides to come and play for the Knights, only time will tell."

Stone said nobody at the Knights condoned what Packer did but declared "most people deserve a second chance".

"If we all had a good look at ourselves, we'd probably be disappointed with some of the things we may have done in the past," Stone said.

"We feel we've still got an obligation to Russell Packer.

"Obviously what happened, no one is going to condone it and we understand that.

"He's in a position where he's got to get his life back together, and if he chooses Newcastle to do that, we would consider it, that's all we're saying."

Packer has been incarcerated in Lithgow jail, a maximum security facility in the central west of NSW, and Stone indicated Newcastle officials visited him last week to discuss his future.

The coach also revealed that Packer's wife, Lara, and their two young children had remained in Newcastle rather than return to their native Auckland and the Knights had continued to support them during what must have been a harrowing time.

"Russell was in good spirits when we spoke to him last week," Stone said.

"He's learned some real tough lessons. Probably as tough a lesson as you can possibly learn, spending 12 months inside.

"Our first thoughts are getting him organised to be back in the community, more than footy.

"His partner has continued to live in Newcastle, and we've obviously stayed in close contact with her and helped her manage the situation with her two young kids.

"It's been a tough thing for her. But she's been real class.

"Russell's starting to get a few things like day release and weekends and stuff like that.

"As the year winds down, he'll get a bit more chance to get out and mix."

As well as Bennett, Packer's former coach at the Warriors, Ivan Cleary, is reportedly interested in signing him at Penrith.

Cleary was quoted recently as saying the NRL offered Packer an opportunity "to get his life back on track" and said "he's paid his dues as far as I'm concerned".

The precedents of Parramatta's Manu Ma'u and Warriors prop Suaia Matagi, both of whom are playing in the NRL after serving jail terms for assault, would appear to offer hope to Packer.

Former Knight Danny Wicks signed recently for Parramatta and hopes to resume his NRL career next season, having served an 18-month custodial sentence for drug dealing after being arrested in 2009.

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Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...ell-packer-20140922-10k4br.html#ixzz3DyFnWmL5
 
I don't know about it, it was so stupid what he did, incredibly stupid & thuggish. It's even more stupid the fact he would do that as an NRL player.

There is no doubt that spending a year in prison would have been a massive wake up call for him though, having a family outside too. He would be a better/smarter person for it & would be looking to have a massive year to redeem himself. I think whoever signs him will get great value out of him.

But still, to have anyone that would do that act in the first place, especially in his circumstances, is not someone you'd want to see the club get.
 
We need grunt up front, we have all done something stupid under the influence of alcohol, he had done his time for that.
 
He's definitely the type of player we need (on the field, not off it)... I'd give him a crack, but, with strong conditions and make sure he knows the second he brings the club in to disrepute he's gone.
 
Surprised by all the yes answers. Don't want this low-life back for at least another 5 years until he proves he has improved himself into at the very least a somewhat decent human being.
 
ASJ82 said:
We need grunt up front, we have all done something stupid under the influence of alcohol, he had done his time for that.
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Done plenty of stupid things, never viciously bashed a bloke on the ground in front of their mrs though.

Pass!
 
Onemangang said:
Why not, we have signed players that have done a lot worse
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Exactly, we've become a halfway house.

After Wicks, Tetevano and Packer we shouldn't be signing blokes who talk loudly in church. Leave the feel good redemption stories to someone else, at least until we've had a run of a few years without a player being thrown in gaol.
 
member 2299 said:
Really? Straight from the clink? Give him a miss Rick. Leopards don't change spots and he has had a couple of chances otherwise he would still be at the Worriers.
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True, but, it's interesting Cleary (who coached him at the Warriors) wants him at the Panthers... Sounds like those who know him can see something good in him?
 
I'm all for it, we need another prop and if it can make us more competitive and maybe win us a premiership, I won't care about his history.
 
I don't condone or like it one bit, punching someone and stomping on them is two different things...

But we need a front rower and a big one, and that is something he can give us, so sign him. I want to win a comp, so if its with a lame supercoach or some ex convicts who gives a crap, as long as we win!
 
I know some people get cranky at me but I'll say it again anyway. We have Chris Houston on the roster, who Danny Wicks went to gaol for supplying with 150 ecstasy tablets and cocaine, who didn't join Wicks in gaol only because of a technicality. And we have Darius Boyd on roster, who was alleged to have forced himself on a woman in a toilet cubicle and subsequently fined $50,000 by the Broncos. So it isn't like the club is coming from a position of moral superiority.

Buy a box of Depend adult diapers and sign Packer. And buy a tray of pies from Darby's and sign Wicks. We are not trying to split the atom here, just get some meatheads in the front row.
 
About 3 or 4 years ago we had a guy playing reserve grade who spent the off season in Long Bay. He was a very talented junior for us who had never been really fit, but that year he looked fantastic for the first 3 months at least. Gaol is a great place for guys who love their drink and late nights to do pre season training. Even Wicks looked the fittest he had been since under 18s when he got out of gaol.

Packer is a good player even though he has a beer belly. I wouldn't be surprized if he goes great when he gets out.
 
Billy said:
About 3 or 4 years ago we had a guy playing reserve grade who spent the off season in Long Bay. He was a very talented junior for us who had never been really fit, but that year he looked fantastic for the first 3 months at least. Gaol is a great place for guys who love their drink and late nights to do pre season training. Even Wicks looked the fittest he had been since under 18s when he got out of gaol.
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Hope you don't mean Joel Barton? He is a grub lol...
 
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