Andrew Webster of the SMH - Souths PR campaign to save Burgess

[Spirit of 66]

There's now a story on the Foxsports website that also suggests that Roosters fans are lobbying Nick Politis to intervene and that the woman in question has "outed herself as a Roosters fan". The article gives the Webster article as the source of this information. Fine journalism - no additional investigation is done. It just parrots Webster's PR spin.

[RoosterFanNZ]

There's now a story on the Foxsports website that also suggests that Roosters fans are lobbying Nick Politis to intervene and that the woman in question has "outed herself as a Roosters fan". The article gives the Webster article as the source of this information. Fine journalism - no additional investigation is done. It just parrots Webster's PR spin.

everybody knows that sexually harassing roosters fans is fine in the eyes of the law

[Johnny73]

Always remember, the NRL a confessed pack rapist in Matthew Johns a show after he did a mea culpa. The NRL is about as pro-woman as the Skaf brothers.

I've decided now, my interest in the NRL is solely and wholly connected to the Roosters. I will not be partaking of any of their product other than Roosters games. If they lose next week against Mitch Ross' stolen premiers then I'll be watching the MLB exclusively. And next year I'm a one game a week fan.

[roosterproud]

so the roosters woman started her conspiracy against souufs player bargass by sending a complaint on May the 10th. Bigger and better planning than the moon landing in sound studio 10 in LA

[Pass the Ball]

Personally I am not outraged about the South Sydney sexting scandal.
But, it is not about people's moral compass.
It is a simple question of, has the incident brought the game into disrepute? No one can deny that it has...
Bringing the game into disrepute has been the measuring stick for punishment.
Therefore Greenberg must act immediately otherwise he is both inconsistent and incompetent and should be moved on from the job.
If no action is taken Greenberg's job is no longer tenable.

PTB

[Jacks Fur Coat]

so the roosters woman started her conspiracy against souufs player bargass by sending a complaint on May the 10th. Bigger and better planning than the moon landing in sound studio 10 in LA

Thwack!

You just hit that outta the park RP.

[Easts75]

To be fair I think Webster is just offering a different voice and some new facts on the incident to the very lopsided reporting elsewhere. If the player is saying he is innocent of the accusations being directed at him then he should be allowed to defend that stance until the evidence proves otherwise.

What we do seem to know from one of the Burgess boys admitting that his brother has made a big mistake in one of the English papers is that unfortunately it seems like a family man with kids has done this all behind his wifes back.

I think this is where Webster has missed the point, its not about whether its a legal, moral or other kind of issue. When it comes to these kinds of incidents the game punishes based on whether the game has been brought into disrepute and to what level.

The question that should be asked is has the player not already brought the game into disrepute regardless of whether the pictures were requested or not?

And that is where you can start to draw parallels to the Pearce incident, see Pearce wasn't punished for his actions but rather the perceived damage his actions, given his high profile did to the game.

His high profile in the game being key, the NRL was not setting a precedent for players who pretend to hump a dog just like they wouldnt be setting a precedent for players who cheat (assuming reports are true) but what they have done in the Pearce case is set a precedent on high profile players who bring the game into disrepute. This is the question that needs to be asked when assessing whether the player should have already been stood down.

Dont agree with a lot of your posts but this is a good one

[theGman]

I find it hilarious the NRL don’t want to act as they can’t identify the players involved,yet it’s clear as day the identity of the players Facebook account which was used..

I find it even more hilarious that one of them "allegedly" decided to place the watch around his pecker and send the image. Totally embarrassing and foolish!
If true, how's that not bringing the image of the game they partake in damaging?

LOL, i guess the only way to catch the culprit is to line the up & pants 'em.

[Waerea-Beast!]

I've had it confirmed, by a well known league journalist, that Webster is very good mates with Shane Richardson. It is pretty clear where he is getting his information from.

This is the narrative Souths are trying to push. They're trying to blame our club and our fans. They're only interested in damage control so they don't lose a star player for the finals. They will throw mud in any which direction to deflect from the poor conduct of their own.

They will never take responsibility.

[milanja]

Always remember, the NRL a confessed pack rapist in Matthew Johns a show after he did a mea culpa. The NRL is about as pro-woman as the Skaf brothers.

I've decided now, my interest in the NRL is solely and wholly connected to the Roosters. I will not be partaking of any of their product other than Roosters games. If they lose next week against Mitch Ross' stolen premiers then I'll be watching the MLB exclusively. And next year I'm a one game a week fan.

I’m hoping the Red Sox don’t choke in the finals again.

[milanja]

A must read - employs every trick in the PR book to generate doubt about this incident and cast Burgess and Souths in the best possible light. This is corporate disaster PR management not journalism. Some excerpts:

- “NRL says it is impossible to draw comparisons between the Pearce incident and the claim ...from an anonymous woman” (I.e. anonymous equals not credible)
- “the woman involved in the sexting scandal has identified herself as a Roosters fan who hails from Sydney’s eastern suburbs. There is no suggestion she is trying to sabotage Souths’ run at the premiership.” (i.e. cast doubt on accuser’s motives)
- “The NRL...says it is too premature and the facts too blurred to decide if the Souths player should be stood down” (i.e. ignore the dick...this is actually not what you think
- “Is this harassment? Gross indecency? A honey trap from a scorned admirer? A legal issue or a moral one? It remains murky at best.” (i.e. again, cast doubt on accuser’s motives)
- “It is understood the Souths player has claimed that the explicit photos were consensually shared.” (i.e. she asked for it)

More broadly, who in the NRL is giving this PR man these insights (some might say judgements) before the investigation has finished? Greenburg? The Integrity Unit? The cleaner?

This is so carefully crafted I think there is zero chance now of any NRL action on this. It has been decided and Webster has been instructed to create a fog of innuendo to hide the double standards being applied.


https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/sou...16-p50448.html

Didn’t Webster just get into an argument with Tallis yesterday, saying this is worse than the Pearce incident?

or was that Kent?

[Waerea-Beast!]

Didn’t Webster just get into an argument with Tallis yesterday, saying this is worse than the Pearce incident?

or was that Kent?

That was Kent. Webster was on the Sunday footy show lauding the way Souths have handled this.

[Random Rooster]

What about the cool Nick Politis not being drawn into lobbying the NRL to take action. Got nothing to do with his club so best to stay neutral..... he’s 100% right.
Just wait till the next scandal ( and yes it happens to all clubs) involving a Rooster player- I reckon even if there was a serial murderer in the team the club won’t stand him down and draw it out as long as possible. No more Mitchell Pearce type situations and “ doing the right thing for the credibility of the game” scenarios.

As for Andrew Webster he has always been and will always be a lightweight rugby league reporter. His pro Souths anti Bulldogs article a week earlier has made him the laughing stock of his peers and rugby league fans. Now his follow up reporting on the Burgess scandal is akin to a man who is drowning and grabbing onto anything to survive- twigs, seaweed anything! He is best off doing what he does best- writing fairy floss rugby league stories.

[Johnny73]

I’m hoping the Red Sox don’t choke in the finals again.

One hopes they're not flat track bullies, to murder a phrase.

[Mickie Lane]

For what its worth I want Sammy boy to play.
Pearce was clearly identified with his dog humping indiscretion where as there is no video evidence only hear say on the S Burgess indiscretion so far.
And the bit I dont like is that this women is a Roosters fan & lives in the Eastern Suburbs. If the shoe was on the foot & this was say JWH having this said about him by a women who followed Souths & lived in the South Sydney area I would be filthy. Its to mercy for me.
A 3 minute video showing Pearcy carrying on like he did is worse than sending a dick pick to some women IMO.