Roosters' star sent naked pic of ex

From: AAP October 24, 2012 4:33PM

SYDNEY Roosters NRL player Joseph "BJ" Leilua has been given a one-year good behaviour bond for sending a naked photo of his ex-girlfriend to her brother and her best friend.

Earlier today, Leilua was cleared of assaulting the woman at a South Sydney hotel.

However, Downing Centre Local Court magistrate Carolyn Barkell found Leilua guilty of using an iPhone in an offensive way.

Leilua had sent the naked photo of Cee-Jay Silbery to her brother and her best friend after he heard she was seeing another man.

The offence carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison.

Magistrate Barkell told the court the photograph was clearly offensive.

"The accused, angered at what he thought was his girlfriend's unfaithfulness, sent her brother and her best friend a photograph of her genitals in order to make her sad,'' she said.

"It was an extraordinary hurtful thing to her brother and her best friend.''

Prosecutor Rick Mansley told the court the fact that Leilua had sent the photo to a family member made "it even worse''.

"In my submission what you have in front of you is grossly offensive,'' he said.

Leilua was dealt with under Section 19B in relation to the charge, meaning there is no conviction recorded but the incident remains on his record.

He was ordered to pay $500 for his good behaviour bond and will return to court if the 12-month bond is broken.

Earlier, Magistrate Barkell dismissed six of seven charges against Leilua, including four assault charges and two charges of breaching an AVO.

The charges related to an alleged incident involving Ms Silbery and her friend at the Allawah Hotel in Sydney's southern suburbs on May 26 this year.

Ms Silbery failed to turn up to court on Wednesday despite being subpoenaed to give evidence about the assault.

Given her absence, prosecutor Rick Mansley conceded there was not sufficient evidence to convict Leilua over the alleged assaults against her or breaches of AVOs.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/roosters-star-sent-naked-pic-of-ex/story-e6freuy9-1226502509355

The NRL is facing a showdown with angry players tomorrow in their demand for a bigger share of the $1 billion television deal.

Interim CEO Shane Mattiske is under threat of a revolt by players who are incensed over delays to finalise their collective bargaining agreement.

The Daily Telegraph has obtained a copy of an email players union boss David Garnsey sent to all NRL stars last week, revealing his frustration over the NRL's refusal to meet with him.

He told the players he was kept in the dark by the NRL for more than three weeks.

"Contrary to my assumption that ARLC would respond to us relatively quickly in relation to the financial proposal we presented to it on 24 September, by 12 October we had not received any feedback on the proposal," he wrote.

"Nor had they been in touch with us about a future meeting date.

"On 12 October, I left a message for the ARLC's in-house counsel, Emma Simpson, to contact me but that call was not returned.

"On 16 October, I contacted Mr Mattiske and expressed my concern about the long period of silence (22 days) and the fact that my earlier call had not been returned.

"He agreed that we needed to schedule some more meeting dates and indicated that he would arrange for Ms Simpson to communicate with me."

The lawyer emailed Garnsey the next day to set up a meeting for October 25.

The ARLC has a plan - now it needs a leader

It didn't eventuate, again highlighting the problems the NRL is experiencing without a CEO.

"We assembled our negotiations team for 25 October, only to receive an apologetic email from Ms Simpson at 7.15pm on 23 October, informing us that the meeting on that day had been cancelled 'due to unforeseen circumstances'," Garnsey wrote in his email.

"While it is true that the ARLC has recently had a number of urgent matters to address, it is unquestionably disappointing that the ARLC has not been able to find time to respond to us."

Finally, a meeting has been set up for NRL headquarters tomorrow. Garnsey will be accompanied by Storm winger Anthony Quinn and Parramatta prop Tim Mannah for the negotiations.

The players union chief executive is facing huge pressure to deliver a satisfactory deal. One Origin star told me yesterday that players across the entire game were "filthy" about the delays.

"How could they reveal a strategic plan when they don't even know the cost of player wages," he said.

"The game got a 100 per cent increase from the TV deal but the salary cap has gone up only 13 per cent for next year."

There is even talk of a no-confidence vote in Garnsey if the CBA is not finalised within a fortnight.

A senior Penrith player has been openly talking with other players about setting up a rebel union.

The game's most senior agent Wayne Beavis confirmed there was unrest among the players.

"We don't want to fire the cannon too early," he said yesterday. "We'll wait and see what happens at the meeting on Thursday."

Garnsey last night defended himself against increasing opposition from the players and their agents.

"I want the best deal, not the quickest deal," he said.

"Player salaries should be raised to reflect the increased revenue. I'm disappointed the process hasn't moved along."

'Exclusive' media rights could kill post-match reporting

DateDecember 13, 2012 - 1:14PM

SO, the NRL's new digital deal looks set to partially fund a salary cap of around $5.8 million – with each club's marquee player allowance to be increased.

Sometimes the independent commission gives the impression of being the proud curator of a domino show. You walk in and the room is dark, you have a whinge about doing your cash at the turnstile, and then the lights come on and someone flicks the first bit of square plastic.

All around, there's that sound falling dominoes make as thousands of the blighters go down, colours change, little bridges are crossed and balls tossed in the air. There's a toy train set involved ...

There was a glimpse of this management style recently when the commission needed some extra cash for the club grants and a fifth Thursday night game for Channel Nine materialised out of nowhere, generating a handy $30 million upfront payment.

Advertisement It seems that if the commission has added expenses, it wants to pay for it with added earnings without touching central funds.

We should all be happy we can watch games live on our mobile devices, like sports fans elsewhere in the world. We should all be pleased that players are not going to boycott the All Stars game.

And rumours that the NRL is about to take on at least two, maybe more, full-time journalists for its digital division will be greeted with tears of joy from those of us in the terminally ill industry.

One aspect in the slew of announcements over the past 48 hours intrigues me, however. NRL.com and Telstra will have "exclusive" rights to post-match media conferences.

I dearly hope they mean "exclusive live" rights. After all, who's going to ask questions at a post-match media conference if they can't use the answers?

Last year, when North Queensland coach Neil Henry erupted about refereeing decisions in his team's preliminary semi-final loss to Manly, Telstra lodged a copyright complaint about my press conference video on YouTube (WhiteLineFeverTV, since you asked).

There were almost 200 other press conference videos on my channel they had no concern about. I can only deduce their concern was that 4000 people had watched this one.

I lodged a counter claim, stating I shot the video myself and was an accredited journalist, and the video was restored more than a week later when the drama had died down.

A press conference is an open forum for all media, although under the NRL's rather generous television contracts, only rights-holders can broadcast live from inside a venue.

That said, I just hope the NRL hasn't sold Telstra something that isn't its to sell.

***



Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/exclusive-media-rights-could-kill-postmatch-reporting-20121213-2bawq.html#ixzz2Evn7VpT5

ARL Commission introduces new laws for Origin eligibility, benefit of the doubt and shoulder charge
Dean Ritchie
The Daily Telegraph
December 19, 2012 12:00AM

THE days of arrogant Queensland pinching NSW's finest - most notably Greg Inglis - are finally over.

At a marathon ARLC meeting yesterday, the commission tied up State of Origin eligibility rules.

Commissioners also decided to scrap the unpopular "benefit of the doubt" rule.

From next season, no player will be eligible to represent NSW or Queensland unless he has lived in that state before the age of 13 or is the son of an Origin player.

The player must also be eligible to play for Australia.

This will end Queensland's brazen theft of NSW-born players, including Inglis, Sam Thaiday, Israel Folau, Mat Rogers, Julian O'Neill, Wayne Bartrim, Billy Moore, Scott Sattler and Michael Crocker.

"It's about bloody time - Queensland have been getting way with this for 30-odd years," said NSW legend Benny Elias.

ARLC chairman John Grant added: "State of Origin is an incredibly important part of the game and the heart of the concept is a person's state of origin.

"It is fundamental, therefore, that the concept is preserved on that basis, simply because it is so unique.

"The commission introduced a number of important changes to eligibility in 2012 that solved many of the previous arguments, but it did not solve all issues of international player eligibility.

"The under-13 cut-off is one that has been put forward by the general manager of game development, Andrew Hill, after consultation with greats like Wayne Bennett, Bob Fulton and Tim Sheens, the state leagues and the Origin coaches."

Aside from axing the unpopular benefit of the doubt call, the commission also determined that referees will now make on-field decisions in regards to try-scoring situations. If the referee is uncertain, he will signal time out and call on the video referee's assistance.

An ARL media statement said: "Only in those cases where the video referee believes there is 'sufficient' evidence to suggest the on-field decision is incorrect will he overturn the decision.

"In either case the video referee will communicate the outcome via the scoreboard."

After scrapping the shoulder charge last month, the ARL made an amendment to NRL rules to further define the banned tackle which reads: "Where a defender, without attempting to tackle, grab or hold the ball-carrier (or any opposing player) using the arms or hands, makes direct physical contact using the shoulder or the upper arm (tucked into the side)."

No player will automatically be referred to the judiciary panel for illegal contact from shoulder charges.

Instead there will be penalties for shoulder charges under the NRL judiciary code that will range from a base of 200 points (two-match suspension) for a grade one charge, increasing to 800 points for a grade five charge.

Racism row threatens to mar NRL All Stars v Indigenous All Stars match

by: Andrew Webster and Peter Badel
From: News Limited Network
February 06, 2013 12:00AM

RUGBY league powerbrokers are embroiled in a racial feud, with Aboriginal great Larry Corowa launching a savage attack on ARL commissioner Chris Sarra following the sacking of ARL Indigenous Council chairman Percy Knight.

Knight made this sensational allegation last night: "There is rampant racism within the NRL's administration and it is very toxic."

It comes in the very week when rugby league celebrates its indigenous heritage through the All Stars concept.

Knight received a one-paragraph termination letter from ARLC chairman John Grant on Friday, informing him he had lost the faith of his fellow council members.

That prompted a venomous response from Corowa in a fiery letter to Grant and Sarra, in which he asked: "Chris, how do you live with yourself in the knowledge that you played a prominent and key role in our demise from ARLIC?

"Is this the Aboriginal way or the Coconut way?"

The term "coconut" is a deeply offensive racial slur, suggesting an Aboriginal is black on the outside but white on the inside.

Corowa was not backing down when contacted last night. "The council is there to tick the boxes for white fellas, for the NRL and John Grant," the former Balmain winger said.

"The first council meeting I went to, there were more white fellas than black people and it's meant to be an indigenous body.

"The Australian government wants to close the gap on indigenous rights. The ARL Commission is widening the gap with the way we are treated.

"(Percy's) been knifed in the back. How can you have two meetings and want to get rid of him because he wants to engage the community and ensure we have a voice in the running of the game?

"We are sick of the control from the white people in the game. Aboriginal people do have brains and we can manage our own programs."

Asked if Sarra should resign, Corowa said: "Yes, he should resign immediately. The community had a meeting two weeks ago in Sydney and people voted no confidence in him as a commissioner.

"They don't want him representing Aboriginal people in rugby league."

Last night Sarra said he would be happy to meet Knight to address his concerns. "The tone of the letter says more about the people who are writing it than it says about me," Sarra said.

"I am happy to let my record in indigenous communities across Australia stand and I am happy to do the same in the context of my contribution as a commissioner in rugby league.

"At the core of this issue is that the chairman (Knight) just didn't have the confidence of his own council. It's as simple as that.

"If the relationship is 'toxic', then none of the fantastic things that are happening this week would be happening."

Knight and Corowa voiced their concerns in early December, claiming the council lacked a voice on key indigenous issues confronting the code.

Above all, the pair are furious that indigenous grants are being distributed to grassroots football by the ARLC's community arm, One Community.

They both say that is part of the reason for Knight's dismissal.

Knight said: "There are no black fellas involved with One Community. We don't want to be grouped with Polynesians or Maoris.

"We are first Australians."

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/racism-row-threatens-to-mar-nrl-all-stars-v-indigenous-all-stars-match/story-e6frexnr-1226571140875

The charity shield was on last night.

South Sydney: 28
St. George Illawarra: 10

Souths led at half time 16-0 and the Dragons got back to 16-10, but yeah, comedy of errors. Always good to see the Dragons lose. :lol:

Thought this was going to be shown live on 9. At least I've got a stream.

It is.

Well they have the block on up here.

I think Channel 9 used their yearly supply of jizz in that first half.

:lol: Roosters are so shit.

Yup.

Always good to see. :d