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Sydney Roosters hit back at 'hypocritical' Raiders over Josh Dugan
By Brent Read
April 22, 2010
Bad blood continues to flow between Sydney Roosters and Canberra raiders over Josh Dugan.
Less than a week after being accused of acting unethically in relation to the Raiders fullback, the Roosters returned fire by accusing Canberra of hypocrisy.
Roosters recruitment manager Peter O'Sullivan also claimed the Raiders' assault on his club undermined attempts to put pride back in the tri-colours jersey.
"We have worked really, really hard to get the respect and pride back in our jumper," O'Sullivan said.
"When people start bagging our club, calling us unethical . . . I am filthy because we have worked really hard.
"I am proud of this club in building up some credibility in the NRL. Our chairman, chief executive and coach have the highest possible morals and work ethics that I have seen in football clubs.
"A club like that? We're a foundation club that has been here from day dot and we are still here."
O'Sullivan was reacting to a story last week in which Canberra chief executive Don Furner accused the Roosters of attempting to sign Dugan when his contract expired at the end of next season.
Furner claimed Roosters insiders - the suggestion was that former Canberra star Todd Carney had been enlisted by the club to aid its cause - had been calling Dugan.
He also said nothing surprised him with a "club like them" and revealed he had written to Roosters chief executive Steve Noyce as well as the NRL to raise his concerns.
O'Sullivan was ropeable.
"We haven't done anything unethical in any department," he said.
"No official from this club has spoken to Dugan. I have been on record as saying I spoke to Dugan once in my life and that was at an AIS game when he was talking to his manager.
"We spoke for a few minutes and moved on. If he's talking about players (calling Dugan) - do you think Jason Ryles talks to St George Illawarra players?
"Do you think Stevie Turner talks to Melbourne players? The game is different. Players from every club talk to players from other clubs."
Furthermore, O'Sullivan suggested the Raiders themselves were not beyond reproach.
"When I was at Melbourne, Joel Thompson was contracted there on a five-year contract," O'Sullivan said.
"I know Canberra were talking to him. Michael Spinks, his dad, used to play at Canberra. They rang him and played that card. They got him. I wasn't happy about it but I didn't cry in my beer and jump up and down. That's business. I think it's hypocritical for them to say we're unethical when nobody has spoken to Josh Dugan, and they did it to Joel Thompson two years before that."
I don't knwo if this has already been posted but I am happy that O'Sullivan hit back
By Brent Read
April 22, 2010
Bad blood continues to flow between Sydney Roosters and Canberra raiders over Josh Dugan.
Less than a week after being accused of acting unethically in relation to the Raiders fullback, the Roosters returned fire by accusing Canberra of hypocrisy.
Roosters recruitment manager Peter O'Sullivan also claimed the Raiders' assault on his club undermined attempts to put pride back in the tri-colours jersey.
"We have worked really, really hard to get the respect and pride back in our jumper," O'Sullivan said.
"When people start bagging our club, calling us unethical . . . I am filthy because we have worked really hard.
"I am proud of this club in building up some credibility in the NRL. Our chairman, chief executive and coach have the highest possible morals and work ethics that I have seen in football clubs.
"A club like that? We're a foundation club that has been here from day dot and we are still here."
O'Sullivan was reacting to a story last week in which Canberra chief executive Don Furner accused the Roosters of attempting to sign Dugan when his contract expired at the end of next season.
Furner claimed Roosters insiders - the suggestion was that former Canberra star Todd Carney had been enlisted by the club to aid its cause - had been calling Dugan.
He also said nothing surprised him with a "club like them" and revealed he had written to Roosters chief executive Steve Noyce as well as the NRL to raise his concerns.
O'Sullivan was ropeable.
"We haven't done anything unethical in any department," he said.
"No official from this club has spoken to Dugan. I have been on record as saying I spoke to Dugan once in my life and that was at an AIS game when he was talking to his manager.
"We spoke for a few minutes and moved on. If he's talking about players (calling Dugan) - do you think Jason Ryles talks to St George Illawarra players?
"Do you think Stevie Turner talks to Melbourne players? The game is different. Players from every club talk to players from other clubs."
Furthermore, O'Sullivan suggested the Raiders themselves were not beyond reproach.
"When I was at Melbourne, Joel Thompson was contracted there on a five-year contract," O'Sullivan said.
"I know Canberra were talking to him. Michael Spinks, his dad, used to play at Canberra. They rang him and played that card. They got him. I wasn't happy about it but I didn't cry in my beer and jump up and down. That's business. I think it's hypocritical for them to say we're unethical when nobody has spoken to Josh Dugan, and they did it to Joel Thompson two years before that."
I don't knwo if this has already been posted but I am happy that O'Sullivan hit back