Walker cleared to play.

[Bearfax]

I agree with a lot of what you have posted here, and certainly understand the complexity associated with these type of situations. However, I haven’t been screaming about anything, and my initial reaction was inspired by another poster’s flippant response to what is “alleged” to have occurred. I interpreted his post to be implying that it is not a big deal when compared to something like rape. I replied to @sean john question regarding compensation, with an opinion on what I assume will unfold, should Walker be found guilty, and receive a lengthy ban as a result.

Sorry KW, this was not specifically aimed at you, but rather a general statement. Look, my gut feeling says he done her wrong, but I wasn't there so I leave it to the courts and witnesses to produce the case. I recall so vividly how demonised Stewart was based on the testimonies of the alleged victim and her father. For a time it looked like he had done it, but that's the disadvantage of looking at things from a distance...its all conjecture.

There is the added issue of the DV issue in general becoming the political football at the moment, just as with the child sex offending matters in the Catholic Church. Prominent people accused of these matters have a lot of pressure groups and biased perspectives on such matters seeking someone 'big' to blame. Its a witch hunt at present. Doesn't mean the accused persons aren't guilty, but there is also a lot of pressure to view these matters through coloured glasses. The Stewart matter, Lindy Chamberlain even the reverse pressure to dismiss based on ethnic grounds such as O. J. Simpson. Difficult when the pressure is on to remain dispassionate and impartial.

 

[ManlyTragic]

I am prepared to go out on a limb here and say that having your hair pulled is not as serious as being raped .... call me flippant ... but I also think that a court of law will have the same opinion ....

OK your flippant!

 

[47MVEagle]

This is where the lack of consistency over the years is now coming back to bite the NRL on the arrse.

Gallop stood Snake down for 4 games after Manly said they intended to field him for round 1 after the allegations were made against him. Gallop later came out claiming it was for being drunk at the season launch, thereby bringing the game into disrepute but the fact he didn't stand Watmough down for apparently slapping a sponsor on the face at the same season launch made it pretty obvious he was using it as an excuse for his knee jerk reaction to stand Snake down.

The NRL banished Carney for the bubbler incident after a career full of dumb decisions - interestingly, he wasn't banished for the more serious things he did earlier in his career, like the police chase in Canberra.

Barba has been given a lifetime ban despite not yet being found guilty of assaulting his partner at the casino. I dont even know if the police have charged him for it yet?

Now there are multiple cases of domestic & sexual assault & the NRL ( Turdburger) finds itself having to make a decision in order to stay on the right side of the public & sponsors because money talks.

Can the catch all phrase of "bringing the game into disrepute" be used for every accusation leveled at players?

If so, why hasn't it been used consistently & more frequently?

Why are Brisbane allowed to administer inhouse punishment to Haas while Turdburger speaks about placing the onus on De Bellin to voluntarily stand down?

There are many other examples of these inconsistencies, as we all know.

I'm particularly interested in seeing what comes of the De Bellin situation as it will not only set a precedent for Walker but also (hopefully) will see the dictatorial Turdburger taken down a peg or 2.

 

[Kevinward777]

And every time you are put on the spot and asked to give facts to support your nonsense .... you fail ... then you respond with even more ridiculous accusations ... you can throw crap around but when put on the spot you resort to just making shiite up .....

Al I have done in the past hour is ask you to support your assertions with facts..... and you failed every time .....you are a dribbler ..

I look forward to you again being lost for facts and just accusing me of being the third shooter on the grassy knoll .....

Are you senile? Read the post again @Woodsie... the one where you shake your head and toss out a FMD, about a player being banned for pulling his partner’s hair... you even doubled down on the statement half an hour ago... if you cannot comprehend what I am banging on about by now... I doubt you ever will... call me a dribbler... call me whatever you like...

 

[Kevinward777]

Sorry KW, this was not specifically aimed at you, but rather a general statement. Look, my gut feeling says he done her wrong, but I wasn't there so I leave it to the courts and witnesses to produce the case. I recall so vividly how demonised Stewart was based on the testimonies of the alleged victim and her father. For a time it looked like he had done it, but that's the disadvantage of looking at things from a distance...its all conjecture.

There is the added issue of the DV issue in general becoming the political football at the moment, just as with the child sex offending matters in the Catholic Church. Prominent people accused of these matters have a lot of pressure groups and biased perspectives on such matters seeking someone 'big' to blame. Its a witch hunt at present. Doesn't mean the accused persons aren't guilty, but there is also a lot of pressure to view these matters through coloured glasses. The Stewart matter, Lindy Chamberlain even the reverse pressure to dismiss based on ethnic grounds such as O. J. Simpson. Difficult when the pressure is on to remain dispassionate and impartial.

Mate... absolutely no need to apologise... I absolutely love reading you’re posts, and the way that you express yourself in fair mindedness.

 

[bazeagle]

Are you senile? Read the post again @Woodsie... the one where you shake your head and toss out a FMD, about a player being banned for pulling his partner’s hair... you even doubled down on the statement half an hour ago... if you cannot comprehend what I am banging on about by now... I doubt you ever will... call me a dribbler... call me whatever you like...

Hey Kevinward777 - you're wasting your efforts. I've been drawn into Woodsie's rants before. I came to the conclusion that life is too short and best to leave Mr Woodsie to keep on trying to be lamely controversial. All of which ultimately comes to nothing.

 

[MuzztheEagle]

Sorry KW, this was not specifically aimed at you, but rather a general statement. Look, my gut feeling says he done her wrong, but I wasn't there so I leave it to the courts and witnesses to produce the case. I recall so vividly how demonised Stewart was based on the testimonies of the alleged victim and her father. For a time it looked like he had done it, but that's the disadvantage of looking at things from a distance...its all conjecture.

There is the added issue of the DV issue in general becoming the political football at the moment, just as with the child sex offending matters in the Catholic Church. Prominent people accused of these matters have a lot of pressure groups and biased perspectives on such matters seeking someone 'big' to blame. Its a witch hunt at present. Doesn't mean the accused persons aren't guilty, but there is also a lot of pressure to view these matters through coloured glasses. The Stewart matter, Lindy Chamberlain even the reverse pressure to dismiss based on ethnic grounds such as O. J. Simpson. Difficult when the pressure is on to remain dispassionate and impartial.

By all means compare the De Belin and Hayne cases to the Stewart case. But to do the same with Walker's it is ridiculous!
The Walker case is not "just conjecture". His partner called the police, there are recordings of that phone call, footage of the police interview on the scene and there were witnesses. These facts have not been disputed, including the fact that the cause of the argument was around a f**king video game.
I agree, Walker is not yet convicted of domestic violence and should not be branded as such unless he does receive that conviction. However the undisputed details that have come to light do allowed a level of judgment to be passed on Walker's character. Even without conviction he should be required to carry out a behavioral change program and, in my opinion, deserves some level of disciplinary action for his involvement in the details that have been released. To do nothing sends a message that it's perfectly okay to have an aggressive argument with your partner (or anyone) and to the extent that they flee the house and call triple 0 and over a f**ing video game.

 

[Woodsie]

Hey Kevinward777 - you're wasting your efforts. I've been drawn into Woodsie's rants before. I came to the conclusion that life is too short and best to leave Mr Woodsie to keep on trying to be lamely controversial. All of which ultimately comes to nothing.

Mate, you don't have the brain power to come to a conclusion ..... your brain probably just stopped working .... what is it ... a dribbler convention ...

Line up boys ...

 

[Woodsie]

Even without conviction he should be required to carry out a behavioral change program and, in my opinion, deserves some level of disciplinary action for his involvement in the details that have been released

This I agree with ...

 

[Woodsie]

Mate, you don't have the brain power to come to a conclusion ..... your brain probably just stopped working .... what is it ... a dribbler convention ...

Line up boys ...

@MuzztheEagle this is the 2nd time in a couple of days this pathetic fool has jumped in to have a go ..... you may well give me a dummy spit ..... but such is life ..

 

[mave]

Woodsie isnt wrong imo.
Pulling your partners hair is at the lower end of the scale, especially when compared to allegations against Barba, Debelin, Hayne, etc. Definately abhorrent, completely unacceptable, but at the lower end nonetheless.

That said, if Walker is found guilty of this DV, he needs to be sacked, simple as that.

 

[Kevinward777]

Yes. and if you get your head out of the old testament (see, I didn't say arrse like I wanted to) ... and stop breathing fire and Brimstone, waving your virtue around like a tallisman ....... in what Universe is pulling your partners hair an offense that would be considered at the higher end of crimes ..

If you cannot comprehend that all I am saying is that pulling your partners hair is at the low end of the crime spectrum ... then to qoute your holier than holy retort ... I doubt you ever will ....

And thank you for the invitation to calll you whatever I like ... I think I will call you ... two dicks .

Woodsie tell the Youngblood’s... say whatever Youngblood.

 

[MuzztheEagle]

@MuzztheEagle this is the 2nd time in a couple of days this pathetic fool has jumped in to have a go ..... you may well give me a dummy spit ..... but such is life ..

As you pretty much asked for it here's why:
There is probably a middle ground that you would both agree on. What you said (more recently, I can't remember the original post) is (in my opinion at least) correct - No-one should be banned for pulling their partners hair. What you might have included in your original post was; that if this is ongoing behavior rather than a one of instance and a symptom of an abusive relationship. Also what I think you failed to take note of was the fact that Walker's partner fled their apartment to get away from him and then called the police in fear of continued attacks - this makes the whole scenario far more serious.
Also, the name calling doesn't help anyone come to a clearer and more respectful understanding of each others views - hence the dummy spit.

 

[Kevinward777]

Woodsie isnt wrong imo.
Pulling your partners hair is at the lower end of the scale, especially when compared to allegations against Barba, Debelin, Hayne, etc. Definately abhorrent, completely unacceptable, but at the lower end nonetheless.

That said, if Walker is found guilty of this DV, he needs to be sacked, simple as that.

Absolutely correct... there is no denying that pulling a woman’s hair with enough force that she falls to the ground whilst holding a four month baby (all allegedly of course) causing the neighbors to intervene (neighbours who are prepared to give evidence in a court of law no less)The above is definitely a lesser offence than rape... that has never been disputed... not by me... nor by anyone else on here as far as I can tell.

 

[Clint]

Man bring on the footy!! @brad and @Ryan just made up now @Woodsie and @Kevinward777 are at it... sheesh...

So I have come to the conclusion that @Dan has flung these guys a free Premium membership upgrade to keep us entertained during the off season

 

[Harvies elbow]

Its a real problem cancelling the contract of any form of employment because you have to ask who suffers the most...the family. This is the problem with this nature of reaction that seems never well thought through by those screaming for such punishment. Its one of the reasons many women, and sometimes men, in wealthier suburbs especially are reluctant to continue to prosecute their spouses after things have cooled down and they are thinking more clearly. The loss of income means the wife and children suffer further because the money they have been reliant on isn't coming through. A real problem if you have debts, such as mortgages. Some will cut their losses and divorce with at least getting a decent proportion of the assets. But that doesn't solve the longer term monetary issues. I can well understand Walker's partner's panic, because now she is likely to lose out big time for something that was not her fault. I wonder how the NRL would react if such women banded together through the media and complained that the admin had taken away their livelihood, and potentially impoverished them.

There needs to be a clear and logically thought through process in place, whereby the club is not damaged, the family is not damaged and the offender pays a penalty based on a punishment that is hard on him but not others and is hopefully a learning process at the same time. Denying employment damages the family everyone claims they are trying to protect. The penalty should be directed at the offender in a manner whereby he bears the consequences alone and maybe learns something.

Love your thoughts on this subject Bearfax.
Unfortunately trying to get a clear and logically thought through process on anything, let alone such an important issue, from the NRL is just too much to hope for.
They are just not up to it.

 

[maxta]

Personally don't accept any abuse, I tend to feel there are very different scales so the argument has 2 sides.
I don't take it Woodsie claims its ok to pull someones hair or flick them on the nose, simply has the opinion that there are some crimes greater than others.
Also recall back answering as a kid and getting the odd backhander....then if I flushed a goldfish down the toilet, the hit was far harder and x 5....so even as
an 8 year old could comprehend there is a difference.
It's a true statement, or you would get as long in the can for stealing a cookie, compared to robbing 50 million dollars.
A simple example are these dumb a** media clowns, that have the De Bellin rape charge level pegged with Walkers scenario....chalk and Cheese.
To show I stick solid on zero tolerance to abuse, IF Walker is found guilty, he deserves to be sent packing so not out to support this in any way.
.

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

Can the NRL stand Walker down with a court case pending ? If he is found not guilty , can't he sue them ? They wouldn't dare would they after Stewart.

Exactly!!

 

[manlyfan76]

Walker forced a toddler to fall to the ground whilst being held in her mother's arms.
Yes he pulled the mother by the hair. But he has endangered a child and if you think that is on the low end of a scale then how about we do a test where I do it to your kids. Luckily the mother was (unlike walker) able to keep the child safe.

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

Guys this issue tears at the heart and soul of what each of us feels is right , wrong or in between.

We are NEVER all going to agree on the subject.

Which is why we have a forum , your view , my view , their view , his view or her view they are all just views on a topic.

I never attack someone for their view even if it’s different to mine.

I also never take heed of ANYTHING I read or hear in the media , they’ve all got agendas.

There’s only one view that’s 100% conclusive , a magistrate, judge or jury.

Until then everything is 100% conjecture only.