Gower pays for night of shame

[The_Darkhorse]

I LOVE IT.

Gower pays for night of shame
By Ray Chesterton
January 5, 2006

PENRITH yesterday fined its errant star Craig Gower a record $100,000 and stripped him of the club captaincy.

Gower has also been ordered to have counselling about alcohol abuse.

It is the most severe financial penalty ever imposed in rugby league for anti-social behaviour caused by alcohol.

A distressed Gower pushed through a media throng at Penrith when the penalty was imposed, silently making his way to a Mercedes-Benz driven away by his solicitor.

The fine and losing the captaincy follow claims of Gower's rampant misbehaviour while drunk at a charity golf day on the Sunshine Coast last month.

Gower said alcoholic-amnesia prevented him remembering alleged offences such as groping the 18-year-old daughter of league legend Wayne Pearce in a bar, waving a beer bottle at her brother, being ejected from a dinner and harassing another woman.

Penrith chairman Barry Walsh, announcing the penalty, said $30,000 of the $100,000 would go to an already established NRL counselling program for responsible use of alcohol by league players.

"The other $70,000 has been suspended on condition Craig agrees to be of good behaviour and comply with further conditions for the next 12 months," Mr Walsh said.

"These conditions are that Craig participates in an intervention program for social responsibility. He will also have to seek counselling concerning the responsible use of alcohol and off-field behaviour."

"Craig will also have to comply with any intervention plan arising from the program."

The Penrith board met for more than three hours last night and heard evidence from Gower before announcing its groundbreaking decision.

The penalty will be welcomed by league supporters concerned about the erosion of the game's image because of alcohol abuse from players.

It is Gower's second public disgrace while drinking after he exposed himself to a female Irish tourist at a Coogee hotel in the 1990s. Gower was sacked from representative football over the incident.

Penrith said it had taken into account Gower's exemplary behaviour on the field with the club and his genuine commitment to the community over the years, but it felt his alcohol-fuelled shenanigans left the club no option but to impose an appropriate penalty.

"His actions on the Sunshine Coast caused distress to a number of people and damaged our club, our game and the National Rugby League," Mr Walsh said.

Gower, who is to be married in a week to NRL Footy Show star Amanda Flynn, was celebrating his bucks party at the golf day.

He was desperate to retain the Penrith captaincy after being named to lead Australia against France on last year's Kangaroos tour.

In Gower's absence Tony Puletua is expected to be Penrith's new captain.

The NRL has warned Gower that any repeat performance will bring even harsher penalties.

"It goes without saying that should Craig Gower find himself in this position again the penalties will increase," David Gallop, the NRL's chief executive, said.

[nq_gurl]

the suspended $70 000 I dont agree with. I'm sorry but that means he only has to pay for 30% of the fine. He should be paing at LEAST half. Good on them for taking the captaincy away from him.

[Thommo]

Another big Load of BULL**** !!..........A slap on the wrist !!!
$30 000 dollar fine to him is like $ 5.00 to us ! ....What ever happen to things like Assault, Drunk and Disorderley, Obscene launguage, Verbal Abuse...etc etc...If it was me, I would have been given 5 yrs........

I hope the Pearce family don't just sit back and take that as acceptable and follow the proper legal channels, it's about time these blokes were held accountable for there actions.

[Stido]

I hope the Pearce family don't just sit back and take that as acceptable and follow the proper legal channels, it's about time these blokes were held accountable for there actions.

From what I have heard Junior is the one who discouraged any legal action. If it was my daughter the prick would be facing a criminal & civil lawsuit. As well as a couple of busted knees & jaw! :angry4: :boxing:

How can anyone just grab a young girl on the mick & not face any charges? It's a bloody joke.

[leesee]

this is where the NRL is a joke...they have their lawyers when they face the judiciary, yet no legal punishment is handed down. if they were gonna be fair dinkum about it, they would've got him for sexual harrassment, assault, and public display of drunkeness (indecent exposure if allegations of him wandering around the golf course naked)

the bloke has a drinking problem. i'm not using that as an excuse, but he needs professional help

[Thommo]

How old is Juniors Daughter ?? 16 or 17 ?? Can you Imagine the consequences if one of us were to put one of our daughters accross our knee and give her a small smack on the backside, in public, and heaven forbid leave a small bruise ??

I have no Idea of the consequences or charges but you can bet we wouldn't be walking anywhere in public for along time. Not to mention loss of Jobs, Fines etc etc......and I think Family Services would probably have something to say about it !

Sorry Guys but this topic really riles me,...the bloke is a loser and I have lost all respect for him.

Imagine these headlines......" Sports people Imigrate to Australia to play Rugby League because they can sexually offend, Assault and abuse anyone they dam well like and not get charged for it "

[greenant]

I know everyone is entitled to a drink however there are some people that just should not drink. He is obviously one of those people that turn into rude, crude, disgusting pigs (I am sure everyone knows the type).

It should have been a condition that he totally abstains from alcohol if he wants to keep playing for the club. As for only having to pay 30% of the fine....I agree, absolute crock!

Lady Luck must be feeling rather humiliated about now. Hope she ditches him.

[Granty]

I hope the Pearce family don't just sit back and take that as acceptable and follow the proper legal channels, it's about time these blokes were held accountable for there actions.

From what I have heard Junior is the one who discouraged any legal action. If it was my daughter the prick would be facing a criminal & civil lawsuit. As well as a couple of busted knees & jaw! :angry4: :boxing:

How can anyone just grab a young girl on the mick & not face any charges? It's a bloody joke.

Look at all the media circus that is happening now. Remember that taking things like this through the legal system can be very distressing for the one assaulted.

Do you really think Tatum Pearce wants to become part of that? :scratch:


Yes, Gower is getting less punishment from the legal system, but what he has received is lots and lots and lots of negative publicity.

He's lost the honor of captaining his team, a fine ($30,000) which, despite his income, is still significent and has a further fine of $70,000 hanging over him like a sword of Damocles.

I suspect that we won't see Gower in the Australian or NSW colours any more either.

For current and potential sponsors he would now be 'damaged goods'.


So, it's "only" a $30,000 fine but his actions are going to cost him much more than that.

Gower might not be being punished by the legal system like a 'normal' person would but he is being punished in ways a 'normal' person would not.

[Thommo]

What a load of BS Granty !

How much has this bloke earn't in his career ?? If he retires from football right now he is still set up comfortably for his life from here on in....and he gets away scott free with charges that would put a " Normal " person probably behind bars, and why ? because he is a high profile football player ?? In his case what he did was in PUBLIC and therefore it should have been dealt with by the PUBLIC law system................

I'm sure Miss Pearce would not like to be dragged through court but I'll bet that deep in her heart she is wishing for that piece of filth to be punished for its actions.

The bulldogs players were investigated by the authorities, and I think Dale Shearer was dealt with by the legal system for his drunkeness & attempted rape charges so why not Gower ?? I'll bet there are other
" High profile" players out there that have done time for their actions as well.
The League club should take action only after correct legal investigations have taken place.

and as for " Public Negativity " so F#*ken what, he did it...he should be shamed just like " Normal " people.......

And Granty if it was ur Daughter would you just sit back and accept a slap on the wrist as punishment because he is " Not Normal " ???

[nq_gurl]

well put thommo

[Stido]

What a load of BS Granty !

How much has this bloke earn't in his career ?? If he retires from football right now he is still set up comfortably for his life from here on in....and he gets away scott free with charges that would put a " Normal " person probably behind bars, and why ? because he is a high profile football player ?? In his case what he did was in PUBLIC and therefore it should have been dealt with by the PUBLIC law system................

I'm sure Miss Pearce would not like to be dragged through court but I'll bet that deep in her heart she is wishing for that piece of filth to be punished for its actions.

The bulldogs players were investigated by the authorities, and I think Dale Shearer was dealt with by the legal system for his drunkeness & attempted rape charges so why not Gower ?? I'll bet there are other
" High profile" players out there that have done time for their actions as well.
The League club should take action only after correct legal investigations have taken place.

and as for " Public Negativity " so F#*ken what, he did it...he should be shamed just like " Normal " people.......

And Granty if it was ur Daughter would you just sit back and accept a slap on the wrist as punishment because he is " Not Normal " ???

I agree with everything you said Thommo. Granty, I respect your opinion but in this case I have to totally disagree with you.

Gower has got off light & should be sitting back laughing his f@#*ing arse off!

& if you seriously think this will affect his chances of representing again when either NSW or Australia is in a pinch you are smoking some pretty good stuff.

[Granty]

And Granty if it was ur Daughter would you just sit back and accept a slap on the wrist as punishment because he is " Not Normal " ???

If i had a daughter - if it happened in front of me i'd go balistic (and there are stories that Pearce went 'looking' for Gower that night but couldn't get him).

But, after that moment, punching someone's head in wouldn't help my daughter, and despite making me feel a heck of a lot better, it would probably make things worse - especially if I was able to do as much damage as I would want to = me up on charges with the possibility of going to jail out of my need for vengance.

Out of curiosity, *if* it went to court (and after months of high media interest in both Gower and Tatum Pearce) what would be the likely penalty handed down to Gower? My guess is not a lot :(. [devils advocate time :pale:: when was the last time a "grope" on a 18 year old ended in jail time? Combine it with everything else and he still would be unlikley to get jail time].


Craig Gower is a IDIOT and I do not buy his "I don't remember" story. (his first story was "nothing happened" and when that wasn't working it changed.

I think he is lucky to still be playing for the Panthers and the $30,000 (+$70,000 suspended) fine from them is lighter than it could/should be, but while I do believe he could of been delt with more harshly, I do not think Gower has got out of this scott free.

[leesee]

AN granty, AN.
also, if she were to be 18, nothing would come of it, as you said. come on, that means i would have grounds to get carl webb in trouble.

what's the difference between dane tilse and gower?. tilse got sacked because of what happened at bathurst. the same should happen to gower

that was an absolute crock of **** what i just wrote...it makes no sense whatsoever, so i apologise in advance

[Granty]

what's the difference between dane tilse and gower?. tilse got sacked because of what happened at bathurst. the same should happen to gower

From memory, Tilse was on his last warning with the Knights, something he achieved in a relatively short time. The fact that his sacking "showed the Knights taking action" and keep the spotlight off other knights players didn't help him either.

[leesee]

gower should be on his last warning too. come on...

[Drunk & Listening To]

AN granty, AN.
also, if she were to be 18, nothing would come of it, as you said. come on, that means i would have grounds to get carl webb in trouble.

what's the difference between dane tilse and gower?. tilse got sacked because of what happened at bathurst. the same should happen to gower

that was an absolute crock of **** what i just wrote...it makes no sense whatsoever, so i apologise in advance

Leeesee you have already written your statements so how can you apologize in advance afterwards???....In my opinion you should be on your last warning for being a pullthrough.

You would probably like the attention of someone like Gower or Webb just so you could stir some **** , even if you encouraged it.

[Thommo]

Granty I respect your opinion but nothing you have said negates the fact that this issue was wrongly dealt with. It should always be dealt with by the relevant authorities first and then secondly by the club.
A single " GROPE " on it's own may not warrant a jail term but combined with verbal abuse, assault and willfull damage ( aka golf Cart ) he should have atleast gone through court and had a criminal conviction registered against his name, and been placed on a probation.
Now that he has basically got away with it this time he will only do it again and maybe next time someones daughter will get raped.
For mine, being a High Profile sports person in the public spotlight should mean a harsher penalty not a smaller one...........
It is up to those in responsible positions such as Parents, Police, Detectives and Magistrates to ensure the safety of our kids. If things were left to the victims then the jails would most likely be empty.....

[leesee]

nicely put thommo

[Yayarg]

Totally agree with you Thommo.

[nq_gurl]

Tilse refusing to cry foul at Gower's star treatment
By Will Swanton
January 8, 2006


DANE Tilse was a no-name; Craig Gower was a big name.

Tilse was sacked by the Newcastle Knights and deregistered by the NRL after an alcohol-fuelled incident involving a woman at Bathurst last February. Gower was fined $30,000 and sacked as Penrith captain after groping Wayne Pearce's daughter Tatum at a charity golf day, but his career can continue unabated.

Tilse has reason to feel robbed. He could justifiably accuse the NRL of treating its stars more leniently than it does expendable youngsters such as him.

One member of Tilse's family yesterday said the differences in the punishments were "wrong, totally wrong", but the 21-year-old preferred to praise the NRL and Penrith for launching a proper inquiry.

"It looked as if Penrith did a full and thorough investigation and took their time," he said. "That's the good thing to come out of it - that's the change since I had my drama.

"It was all rushed through with me, it was over before I knew it. The Knights were probably under a bit of pressure from the NRL, I don't know.

"I didn't want to see Craig sacked or anything like that. I just think the NRL needs guidelines to deal with things like this and if the procedures are better now, there might have been some good to come out of what happened last year."

Tilse has since signed with the Canberra Raiders. He would like to show the Knights how wrong they were to turn their back on him. He was kicked out of the club, and the NRL, less than 48 hours after he behaved badly at a Bathurst university.

Further investigations suggested he was treated too harshly while others got off virtually scot-free.

But Tilse, whose father Mick played with the Raiders in their formative years, wants to put the controversy behind him and capitalise on his second chance.

"It's been a pretty hard year, but I'm back into training and I'm enjoying it," he said. "I'm a bit nervous about playing again but I should be all right.

"I didn't play any local footy, nothing like that, I just worked all year, had a groin operation.

"I want to prove to myself that I can make it in the NRL after a setback like that. I've only played three games off the bench, so I haven't done anything yet.

"I try not to think about it too much, but now I've got this big name. I was disappointed about the way it all happened but I try not to dwell on it.

"I'm only 21 this month, and I'm hoping I'll get some good opportunities to play a lot of footy."

On the severity of Gower's punishment compared with his, Tilse said: "I sort of knew what he was going through, but it had nothing to do with me. I had my drama, but it's over and done with.

"I'm not going to make any big statements - but I think the way Penrith and the NRL handled the investigations was good."

[nq_gurl]

Gower a classic case of league clubs playing favourites
By Jacquelin Magnay
January 7, 2006


IN THE end, Craig Gower's unrestrained drunken romp at a charity golf event/bucks' week cost him $30,000 and the Penrith captaincy - and it is the loss of status, of no longer having (c) next to his name, that has hurt the most. Well, maybe not if we can visualise the piercing questioning from his about-to-be bride Amanda Flynn. No word yet that the wedding next week has been cancelled, so we must assume she has the patience and understanding of a former cheerleader.

Gower, 27, stormed out of the Penrith board meeting on Wednesday night and refused to talk about his punishment for intimately and invasively groping Wayne Pearce's daughter Tatum and menacing Pearce's son Mitchell with a beer bottle in the week before Christmas.

It was left, curiously, to board member and former teammate Greg Alexander to comment before the penalty was handed down on just how how "distraught" Gower has been. What about? The fact he was caught drunk and assaulting people? That his $450,000-a-year job was too onerous in its requirement that he be publicly responsible? That he had his bucks' celebrations at a charity fund-raising event? It would be nice to think Gower was actually concerned about his victims - even though he says he has amnesia - but his strictly worded apology is no evidence of this.

There has been some debate about whether being a highly paid, high-profile footballer helped or hindered Gower. His name and misdemeanours were in the spotlight, but on the other hand his name and misdemeanours were not on the list of a district court. Wayne Pearce could have many reasons why his family did not make a police complaint but he has probably seen worse behaviour during his years in the game. If it had been a no-name boor carrying on, the result may well have been different.

But in many respects, that league culture is changing and the unprecedented penalties imposed by the Penrith board shows that.

NRL chief executive David Gallop has made it clear that inappropriate behaviour, especially towards women, is no longer tolerated, covered up, or excused. Some on the Penrith board were a bit slow to pick up on the attitudinal shift, for they were readying to accept Gower's apology and keep him as captain, but words from up top on the eve of the meeting quickly changed that.

Gower may not know this, but the NRL bosses were even pushing for a far greater financial penalty. The player may still be subject to further sanctions when the league casts its eye over a Penrith report into the whole affair later this month.

The NRL has distinguished the Gower case from that of little-known Newcastle prop Dane Tilse, who had his contract ripped up for entering a university dormitory and sitting on the bed of a sleeping woman at the beginning of last season. Tilse was on an official NRL pre-season trip, and he had made immediate admissions to club officials.

Gower's claim of not remembering, during an out-of-season private trip, most probably saved him from a similar contract suspension. But why was Gower's immediate fine of $30,000 directed to an NRL alcohol program of which he will probably attend? What about a nice donation to a women's program or to the diabetes group for which the charity golf event was raising money?

It's becoming increasingly clear the NRL should have a separate investigative unit, well distanced from club influences, so wayward footballers are scrutinised independently, consistently and transparently. It's too easy for clubs, with their self-interest apparent, to play favourites with particular players.

Interestingly, Gower swore off the grog on the last Kangaroos tour and he was one of the few who impressed league officials with his dogged attitude. How quickly things change.

[The_Darkhorse]

IMO some of the blame for his bull**** punishment has to be put on the victims here also. I haven't read about any complaint made to police by pearce's daugther or any other person whom he supposedly threw knives at either. Not much can be done by authorities without complaints being lodged first.