General Gower decision handed down.

[cablenathan_old]

Hey all.

Just got this direct from the Panthers website after the meeting today...

January 04 - Gower Penalty: Statement by Chairman Barry Walsh:

The Board today listened to Craig Gower’s case and after weighing up all the evidence it is satisfied that he has been guilty of misconduct under Section 8 (1) (b) of his NRL registered playing contract.

Accordingly, the Board has resolved that:

1. Craig Gower is to lose the captaincy;

2. Craig Gower has been fined $100-thousand with $70-thousand of that to be suspended and $30-thousand to be paid into an existing NRL program covering responsible use of alcohol by rugby league players.

With regard to the $70-thousand, the Board has suspended that payment on condition that Craig enters into an agreement with the club to be of good behaviour and comply with further conditions for the next 12 months.

Those further conditions are:

1. That Craig participate in an intervention program for social responsibility and seek counselling concerning the responsible use of alcohol and off-field behaviour.

2. That Craig comply with any intervention plan arising out of the program.

In taking these decisions, the Board has considered Craig’s exemplary conduct on the field and his genuine commitment to our community over the years.

Nevertheless, his actions on the Sunshine Coast caused distress to a number of people and damaged our club, our game and the National Rugby League.

A good call by the club IMO. Loss of the captaincy and 10% of his season earnings gone. I just hope that other clubs, and more importantly other players, take note and learn from his mistakes.

 

[warriors4life_old]

hopefully he learns his lesson and nothing like this occurs again

 

[Jesbass_old]

Puletua for captaincy? Or Priddis?

 

[mosh_old]

That 70,000 "suspended" money is a waste of time. Like taking a kids toys away and giving it back if he has been good, you end up giving it back regardless of the behaviour.

 

[warriors4life_old]

If Gower got fired they said it was likely that Puletua would take over the captaincy.

 

[mosh_old]

It has to be Priddis though as he stays on the field longer and is more experienced and has represented Australia

 

[Big Fobsta_old]

It has to be Priddis though as he stays on the field longer and is more experienced and has represented Australia

Puletua has been playing first-grade and Internationally longer than Priddis. He should get the nod.

 

[Kav_old]

That 70,000 "suspended" money is a waste of time. Like taking a kids toys away and giving it back if he has been good, you end up giving it back regardless of the behaviour.

It comes with certain conditions such as attendance at a "how to control your consumption of alcohol" group and, of course, a clean sheet in the meantime. At least Penrith are trying to address the cause rather than the effect.

 

[KeepingTheFaith_old]

I agree Kav. In 1999 Gower was involved in a similar drunken incident. 6 years on he hasn't grown up and is repeating those mistakes. Good on Penrith for trying to ensure that their is no third strike and he learns before he ruins his life.

 

[warriors4life_old]

From nzherald.co.nz

League: 'Hair bear' in line to lead Panthers

06.01.06

Kiwis second-rower and Penrith stalwart Tony Puletua could learn next week if he has been promoted to captain of the NRL team in the coming season.

Puletua and former Kangaroos hooker Luke Priddis are both in line to replace disgraced halfback Craig Gower, who was stripped of the captaincy on Wednesday.

The playmaker was axed following the club's investigation into a series of alcohol-fuelled incidents including the alleged groping of a teenage girl on Queensland's Sunshine Coast on December 19.

The 27-year-old was also fined A$100,000 ($110,000) - A$70,000 of which was suspended. The rest will go into an NRL programme aimed at educating players about the responsible use of alcohol.

The NRL may also impose penalties. Chief executive David Gallop has warned the Kangaroos star his representative career is in jeopardy.

Puletua, revered at Penrith as a mentor to young players, has already captained the team in Gower's absence.

He has said he would be proud to lead the club permanently - although if he was elevated, Gower would still effectively pull the strings at halfback.

"For me, it's disappointing because Craig is such an awesome leader on the field," Puletua said. "If you put aside what happened, he is still a great player.

"He will still be a leader on the field and it won't affect the way he plays."

A stony-faced Gower refused to answer questions after emerging from a three-hour disciplinary hearing.

Club chairman Barry Walsh later issued a statement confirming Gower's demotion, saying, "His actions on the Sunshine Coast caused distress to a number of people and damaged our club, our game and the National Rugby League".

Gower has publicly apologised over the incidents, highlighted by an allegation he groped the 17-year-old daughter of league great Wayne Pearce at a celebrity golf tournament which dovetailed with Gower's pre-wedding celebrations.

He is to marry former cheerleader Amanda Flynn on January 28.

A club spokesman confirmed Puletua and Priddis were the front-runners to inherit the captain's armband, though coach John Lang would consider other contenders.

"Basically it's up to John and he'll make a recommendation to the board," the spokesman said.

"There won't be a decision before next week."

Puletua has signed with Penrith until 2009 and is a popular figure at the club, where he made his NRL debut in 1997.

He has logged 147 appearances for the team and is primed for a big 2006 after missing the bulk of last season with a torn pectoral muscle.

The Panthers want their new captain installed well before their two pre-season trials against the Newcastle Knights and Parramatta Eels in mid-February.

Tony Puletua
147 games
29 tries
116 points

 

[warriors4life_old]

from the look of that article Puletua will get the captaincy.

 

[Skinny_Ravs82]

hopefully he learns his lesson and nothing like this occurs again

Considering it's the second time he's been stupid when drunk he never learnt nothing and probably never will. Idiot.

 

[Ronnie_7_old]

Looks to me like Puletua will get the nod.

You would have thought that he'd have learnt from the first time alright. His future wife was lasdy luck on the footy show wasn't she?

 

[Jesbass_old]

I assume she still is his future wife, Ronnie_7.

And Skinny_Ravs82, it's easy to judge the guy from the outside. If he has a problem with alcohol, it's a shame that it has resurfaced, but six years without incident is a pretty good run.

 

[warriors4life_old]

yea he is marrying her on january 28

 

[PHANTOM MENACE_old]

Gower got off lightley IMO. I hope Gallop punishes him further when he gets the report

 

[Ronnie_7_old]

I assume she still is his future wife, Ronnie_7.

Yeah I'd assume she still is too. What I meant was that she used to be lady luck coz didn't she get replaced half way through last year? Not she used to be his future wife

 

[Jesbass_old]

I assume she still is his future wife, Ronnie_7.

Yeah I'd assume she still is too. What I meant was that she used to be lady luck coz didn't she get replaced half way through last year? Not she used to be his future wife

Ah, gotcha...lol. I'm not sure - I haven't seen The Footy Show for longer than I'd like to admit.