Mitchell Pearce yesterday and now Martin Kennedy banned until December 2017 for breaching anti-doping policy.

Ex-Rooster Meehan avoids jail time
After threatening a taxi driver and stealing his rolling tobacco and a pouch of change, ex-NRL player Willis Meehan left his passport in a Sydney taxi.

The 20-year-old was on Thursday sentenced to 150 hours of community service over the incident last July, but Magistrate Christopher O'Brien warned that the "disgraceful conduct" had put him perilously close to being jailed.

"You are running out of chances," he said as Meehan nodded silently in Downing Centre Local Court.

During the sentencing, Meehan's lawyer Chris Watson tendered character references, one stating his client had been a mentor for aspiring rugby league players.

"I hope not, for the future of the sport," Mr O'Brien said.

Court papers state Meehan hailed the cab about 9.30pm after drinking in Double Bay in Sydney's east.

He and a friend wanted to go to Matraville.

At the start of their trip, Meehan was friendly.

He told the driver Qingping Wu he was "the best" and offered to help with problem passengers.

"If you get s*** from anyone, let me know, I'll shoot him," he said, according to court documents.

"I have a gun."

But moments later the 195cm heavyweight boxer flipped and pretended to pull a pistol on the victim.

With two outstretched fingers held at Mr Wu's temple, Meehan asked: "You want to die?"

After stopping at nearby traffic lights, Mr Wu dashed from the cab, terrified by the threat but returned after noticing Meehan and his mate leaving.

He soon realised his coin purse with about $80 and a pouch of rolling tobacco had been stolen.

But Meehan had left his New Zealand passport behind and it didn't take police long to track him down.

Six weeks prior to his taxi outburst, Meehan had been sentenced over assault charges.

He confronted a man outside The Star casino and headbutted him three times after a long night of drinking.

At the time Mr O'Brien gave him a good behaviour bond but decided against recording a conviction.

"Sometimes courts get it wrong," he said on Thursday.

For breaching the bond Meehan was fined $1500, had convictions recorded against him and must adhere to another 18-month bond, which begins on Thursday.
https://au.news.yahoo.com/nsw/a/30678580/former-nrl-player-close-to-jail/

#Clubincrisis

I can't believe the newspapers actually blacked out the dogs eyes to protect the dogs identity.

Anthony Milford, Jarrod Wallace, Ben Hunt, Dylan Napa, Edrick Lee & Chris Grevsmuhl all banned from Origin selection for 12 months.

Anthony Milford, Jarrod Wallace, Ben Hunt, Dylan Napa, Edrick Lee & Chris Grevsmuhl all banned from Origin selection for 12 months.

Are any of those regulars for the blues ?

Thurston can win the Origin Series for Queensland on his own.

Will have to go to the Auckland 9's one day looks like good fun.

2016 Auckland 9s Winner: PARRAMATTA EELS :d :d

First trophy in 13 years.

Last trophy was 2005 wasn't it?

NSWRL figures support Auckland’s bid to host overseas State of Origin fixture from 2018

2 days agoby DAN WALSHSource: FOX SPORTS
ANOTHER successful Nines event has increased Auckland’s chances of hosting the first overseas Origin fixture in over 30 years, with NSWRL figures offering their support for shifting the greatest jewel in the game’s crown across the ditch.

State of Origin’s expansion into new rugby league markets has been on the table for some time at League Central, with former chief executive Dave Smith last year confirming one game every three years will be played at a neutral venue.

In 2018 Melbourne will again host an Origin match, as it has in both 2012 and 2015, with Auckland, Perth and possibly London among the alternative expansion options when the current agreement with the MCG expires in two years’ time.

With a rapidly growing interest in the interstate series both the NSW and Queensland governing bodies ran promotional campaigns involving Origin coaches Laurie Daley and Kevin Walters, as well as a host of former greats in the lead-up to the weekend’s Downer Auckland Nines tournament.


On the back of another successful event that attracted over 80,000 fans through the gates at Eden Park, the venue’s new chief executive Guy Ngata confirmed to The Australian it would use Auckland’s growing reputation as a sporting mecca to poach an Origin game from 2019.

While stressing any final decision on venues lies with the ARLC, NSWRL CEO Dave Trodden said the NSW board is open to the prospect of New Zealand hosting the first overseas Origin contest since an exhibition game in Los Angeles in 1987.

“They run a great tournament over here with the Nines and there’s a real appetite for quality live sport there,” Trodden said.

“You look at how they run other sports here as well, Bledisloe Cups and the like, they’ve proven they can put on a quality event.

“(Origin in New Zealand) is not something that we’ve ever given consideration to because it’s never been on the agenda previously.


“I’d say there’s a couple of Australian venues that might have an interest in it as well, and there’s a Test match in Perth so there’s significant interest over there as well.

“That said we’re open to the idea and there’s always something to be said about spreading the word of rugby league everywhere.”

With both NSW and Queensland merchandise in unprecedented demand across the ditch, the NSWRL sent legends Steve Menzies, Josh Perry, Steve Roach and Matt Cooper to Auckland to spruik the Blues brand.

Former NSW and Manly great Menzies sees Origin’s expansion into overseas markets as inevitable once the hosting rights come up for tender again in the next cycle.

“It has such a broad reach, Origin,’ Menzies told Fox Sports News.

“Not just in Australia but in many countries throughout Europe and America too.

“I think expanding the game, the next couple of years I think (Origin) has been locked down but you have to look at avenues of taking Origin outside of Australia.

“Melbourne’s been a great starting point and I think Auckland or somewhere similar is the next step.

“When that happens I’m not too sure but I think definitely in the future you’ll see an Origin move overseas.”

Get in Rabbits. Will offer Sam Burgess and Inglis a potential spitroast if we take the Provan-Summons.

Also, can we change the title of the thread to The Offical Rugby League thread? I watch just as much SuperLeague as NRL and there are some great games. Love that they have relegation and promotion too. End of season gets epic.

\:d/ Super League fan on here \:d/

I immensely dislike the current format compared to the standard 2 tier system and especially compared to the good old days of English Rugby League where you went out to "Win all 4." But the fact they still have Promotion and Relegation and the Challenge Cup as well in addition to wrestle free rucks make it just as interesting as the NRL.