Russell Packer

[Billy]

Hope you don't mean Joel Barton? He is a grub lol...

No.
Don't think he went to gaol till after the Knights cut him for fighting at training.

I was talking about a halfback, who I think has kept out of trouble since, and had a good year in the real NRL this year, and for the last few years as well.

 

[Defender1]

No.
Don't think he went to gaol till after the Knights cut him for fighting at training.

I think you're right. He's been a few times since though...

 

[JOJO82]

Just sign him up, we need props and he will do. Give him a chance and if he stuffs up send him packing.

 

[ASJ82]

Anyone else think he will choose Bennett ?

 

[Onemangang]

Signed someone that actually killed someone? After all what Packer did could easily come under attempted murder.. Stomping on an unconscious persons head is a disgrace.

lol at the attempted murder, there was a line up of people wanting Dane Laurie here?

 

[Jaybro]

Look people make mistakes and they shouldn't be punished for the rest of their lives for it ......

I don't think people quite understand the full effect of going to gaol and how bad a punishment it is, so I think Russell has paid a very hefty price for his mistake so I think it would be great to see him return to the NRL. Although I'm not sure the NRL would feel the same the point I think everyone is missing is wether or not the NRL will register a contract for him in 2015 ????

 

[cowboyman]

lol at the attempted murder, there was a line up of people wanting Dane Laurie here?

What else could someone possibly achieve by stomping on a mans head if it isn't murder???.. Packer's a very lucky man in that he didn't kill the bloke.

Nothing Laurie ever did will come close to Packers incident.

 

[Nickwpearce]

I am really surprised, I've had my head stomped on twice, once in my own front yard... Violence is everywhere yet everyone acts like its such a rare thing and doesnt happen that much...

Anyways joey johns did some horrible things, and so has plenty of other players, bird, thurston, mason...

Move on, he has paid his penalty and i doubt he will do it again

 

[Sammyyy]

Getting rid of this culture started when we got rid of Mason.

Don't need him back. Bennett can have him.

 

[Onemangang]

What else could someone possibly achieve by stomping on a mans head if it isn't murder???.. Packer's a very lucky man in that he didn't kill the bloke.

Nothing Laurie ever did will come close to Packers incident.

ha ha ha, yeah Im not even gunna bother with the attempted murder bit, but Laurie did the same thing but to his missus

 

[MattyM]

A part of me is saying NO due to what he did, the seriousness of the situation and our past issues but another part of me is saying YES due to our lack of experience, numbers and size in the front row.

I'm cut.

 

[Billy]

I get a bad feeling about Packer.
He has the skills we need for the team, but I don't see a guy who would put in extra effort for the team. Just a feeling I get.
I'd rather Richie Faas - not as good a player, but one who will try hard for sure.

 

[ragnor]

A part of me is saying NO due to what he did

What follows is a list of players, past and present, some who have done questionable things, some who have done *very* questionable things.

* Kurt Gidley
* Darius Boyd
* Andrew Johns
* Robbie O'Davis
* Mitchell Sargent
* Darius Boyd
* Willie Mason
* Chris Houston
* Ben Kennedy
* Clint Newton

I'm curious how anyone can justify the above players being given contracts and not Russell Packer. Or Danny Wicks for that matter.

Frankly aren't the meatheads in the front row supposed to have a bit of mongrel in them?

 

[Billy]

* Kurt Gidley - never charged with anything
* Darius Boyd - accused by the media
* Andrew Johns - convicted of a tiny misdemeanor carrying a tiny fine
* Robbie O'Davis - never convicted or even accused of a crime - took a suppliment he didn't know was banned
* Mitchell Sargent - tested positive to a drug - never charged with anything
* Willie Mason - several small fines for very minor things
* Chris Houston - not convicted - charges were dropped
* Ben Kennedy - not charged with any crime - says his drink was spiked.
* Clint Newton - I don't even remember this one

The worst you have in that lot is Willie's DUI, and i'd have 10 friends at least that I consider model citizens who have gone low range DUI, and a few who have gone high range who i think just had a silly moment.

 

[Beaumont]

Billy - among other things Mason did test positive to drugs in 2003 while playing for the Bulldogs and was fined by the Club.

 

[Billy]

Billy - among other things Mason did test positive to drugs in 2003 while playing for the Bulldogs and was fined by the Club.

80% of people under 30 have used recreational drugs at least once.
NRL players would be no different.
If we banned every player who had ever tried a drug we would have to let under 16s into the NRL to make up the numbers.

 

[mullenmagic]

* Kurt Gidley - never charged with anything
* Darius Boyd - accused by the media
* Andrew Johns - convicted of a tiny misdemeanor carrying a tiny fine
* Robbie O'Davis - never convicted or even accused of a crime - took a suppliment he didn't know was banned
* Mitchell Sargent - tested positive to a drug - never charged with anything
* Willie Mason - several small fines for very minor things
* Chris Houston - not convicted - charges were dropped
* Ben Kennedy - not charged with any crime - says his drink was spiked.
* Clint Newton - I don't even remember this one

The worst you have in that lot is Willie's DUI, and i'd have 10 friends at least that I consider model citizens who have gone low range DUI, and a few who have gone high range who i think just had a silly moment.

Joey using recreational drugs throughout most of his career (according to him) is worse than Mason I'd say.

 

[Beaumont]

80% of people under 30 have used recreational drugs at least once.
NRL players would be no different.
If we banned every player who had ever tried a drug we would have to let under 16s into the NRL to make up the numbers.

That don't make it right or ok.

 

[Billy]

Joey using recreational drugs throughout most of his career (according to him) is worse than Mason I'd say.

According to him he used them in the off season and on a few occasions during the season(after games). He also made it very clear that he took these drugs during the season in the years before his mental illness was diagnosed and he started treatment, due to the lack of inhibitions common to people with bipolar disorder.
It's a myth that he was on drugs when playing. He never said it. I watched his interview. I watched the statement by his psychiatrist, and I read the statements, and they made it very clear that never happened.

 

[mullenmagic]

According to him he used them in the off season and on a few occasions during the season(after games). He also made it very clear that he took these drugs during the season in the years before his mental illness was diagnosed and he started treatment, due to the lack of inhibitions common to people with bipolar disorder.
It's a myth that he was on drugs when playing. He never said it. I watched his interview. I watched the statement by his psychiatrist, and I read the statements, and they made it very clear that never happened.

I never said he took anything while he was playing. I said throughout his career, which means from the moment he signed with the Knights until the moment he retired, which includes the off season.