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Fuming Fitzgerald calls for curfew after Hayne drama
               By Dean Ritchie | March 04, 2008
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/sport/nrl/news/
FURIOUS Parramatta chief executive Denis Fitzgerald will push for his club to introduce tough new guidelines under which players will be issued with late-night curfews and be banned from drinking at Sydney's most notorious nightspots.                    Fitzgerald revealed the radical policy last night after a dramatic day in which his star player Jarryd Hayne was targeted by a drive-by gunman during a terrifying 4am incident at Kings Cross.
"It has become obvious that we need to adopt a more hardline approach," Fitzgerald said. "This was a dangerous situation that could have been life and death.
"I've spoken with Jarryd. He is certainly shaken."
The drama has again tarnished rugby league just two days before the launch of its 100th season. After a number of off-field indiscretions, Fitzgerald told The Daily Telegraph he was angry and tired of his players being involved in late-night drama.
            The Eels will consider banning players from all well-known Sydney nightspots including the Sapphire Suite, Vegas Lounge, Northies, The Bourbon, Coogee Bay Hotel and even Scruffy Murphys.
No time has been set for the curfew but it is thought to be midnight.
St George Illawarra centre Mark Gasnier was drinking with Hayne in Kings Cross but left before the shooting drama erupted.
"We will have a Parramatta management meeting with the coaching staff after the police investigate the incident," Fitzgerald said. "We will then take it to our player leadership group.
"We will be discussing a curfew for players during the season and banning them from renowned Sydney nightspots. The club is concerned our players were in the vicinity of such places.
"Kings Cross will be among them, as will others like Northies and the Coogee Bay Hotel - anywhere renowned for drinking and drama."
The Eels would not comment on penalties for breaking a curfew but players could face fines or even suspension.
NRL chief operating officer Graham Annesley, when told of Fitzgerald's plan, said: "The response from Denis reflects just how important it is that clubs take whatever action is required to ensure our players do not place themselves in a position where their actions can be called into question."
Hayne was on a night out with Eels teammates Junior Paulo and Weller Hauraki when it is believed they were shot at when leaving the Vegas Hotel at 4.20am. Eels winger Eric Grothe had also been with the group but left by about 2am.
Gasnier, Hayne, Hauraki and Paulo were in a fight with others at McDonald's before a man involved in the punch-up fired at Hayne.
George Mimis, Gasnier's manager, said his client was innocent of any wrongdoing. "Mark had left before any of the alleged incidents took place," he said.
Asked was he involved in a fight, Mimis said: "Not to my knowledge. He wasn't there, he wasn't involved."
Hayne's manager, Wayne Beavis, was in Queensland yesterday. Hayne appeared at Kings Cross police station with lawyer Keith Bagley.
Annesley said: "We have to be careful about making any public statements at this stage as we have no information the players have committed any offence and we are still awaiting further details from both the police and the club.
"Obviously the NRL is concerned any time a player is involved in a public incident, but until we know all the facts it would not be appropriate to jump to any conclusions."
The Dragons released a statement yesterday attempting to clear Gasnier.
"Arising from reported events overnight in the city, St George Illawarra - upon investigation of the facts - advise that Mark Gasnier was not involved in any incidents," it said.
"Mark Gasnier was in the city along with other NRL players from other clubs, but was not in the city or the vicinity at the time of any alleged incidents.
"The club and Mark Gasnier are very disappointed and concerned about how Mark has been sensationally linked by inaccurate reports."
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               By Dean Ritchie | March 04, 2008
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/sport/nrl/news/
FURIOUS Parramatta chief executive Denis Fitzgerald will push for his club to introduce tough new guidelines under which players will be issued with late-night curfews and be banned from drinking at Sydney's most notorious nightspots.                    Fitzgerald revealed the radical policy last night after a dramatic day in which his star player Jarryd Hayne was targeted by a drive-by gunman during a terrifying 4am incident at Kings Cross.
"It has become obvious that we need to adopt a more hardline approach," Fitzgerald said. "This was a dangerous situation that could have been life and death.
"I've spoken with Jarryd. He is certainly shaken."
The drama has again tarnished rugby league just two days before the launch of its 100th season. After a number of off-field indiscretions, Fitzgerald told The Daily Telegraph he was angry and tired of his players being involved in late-night drama.
            The Eels will consider banning players from all well-known Sydney nightspots including the Sapphire Suite, Vegas Lounge, Northies, The Bourbon, Coogee Bay Hotel and even Scruffy Murphys.
No time has been set for the curfew but it is thought to be midnight.
St George Illawarra centre Mark Gasnier was drinking with Hayne in Kings Cross but left before the shooting drama erupted.
"We will have a Parramatta management meeting with the coaching staff after the police investigate the incident," Fitzgerald said. "We will then take it to our player leadership group.
"We will be discussing a curfew for players during the season and banning them from renowned Sydney nightspots. The club is concerned our players were in the vicinity of such places.
"Kings Cross will be among them, as will others like Northies and the Coogee Bay Hotel - anywhere renowned for drinking and drama."
The Eels would not comment on penalties for breaking a curfew but players could face fines or even suspension.
NRL chief operating officer Graham Annesley, when told of Fitzgerald's plan, said: "The response from Denis reflects just how important it is that clubs take whatever action is required to ensure our players do not place themselves in a position where their actions can be called into question."
Hayne was on a night out with Eels teammates Junior Paulo and Weller Hauraki when it is believed they were shot at when leaving the Vegas Hotel at 4.20am. Eels winger Eric Grothe had also been with the group but left by about 2am.
Gasnier, Hayne, Hauraki and Paulo were in a fight with others at McDonald's before a man involved in the punch-up fired at Hayne.
George Mimis, Gasnier's manager, said his client was innocent of any wrongdoing. "Mark had left before any of the alleged incidents took place," he said.
Asked was he involved in a fight, Mimis said: "Not to my knowledge. He wasn't there, he wasn't involved."
Hayne's manager, Wayne Beavis, was in Queensland yesterday. Hayne appeared at Kings Cross police station with lawyer Keith Bagley.
Annesley said: "We have to be careful about making any public statements at this stage as we have no information the players have committed any offence and we are still awaiting further details from both the police and the club.
"Obviously the NRL is concerned any time a player is involved in a public incident, but until we know all the facts it would not be appropriate to jump to any conclusions."
The Dragons released a statement yesterday attempting to clear Gasnier.
"Arising from reported events overnight in the city, St George Illawarra - upon investigation of the facts - advise that Mark Gasnier was not involved in any incidents," it said.
"Mark Gasnier was in the city along with other NRL players from other clubs, but was not in the city or the vicinity at the time of any alleged incidents.
"The club and Mark Gasnier are very disappointed and concerned about how Mark has been sensationally linked by inaccurate reports."
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