: Wed Feb 18, 2009 12:40 pm  

efcrhino wrote:

Shame the Aussie teams haven't beaten '2nd tier' teams in 6 years.

OK, no doubting that the top few teams would finnish mid table to top 8 over there but are you saying Catalan would even be able to compete over there? Cas would not win a game. Hull KR who I am expecting to be a top 5 team this year would win maybe 3 or 4 if the luck goes there way.

Yes, Leeds and Saints would make the play offs (5th-8th) but the rest are nowhere near the standard making the comp as a whole, a 2nd tier comp.

: Wed Feb 18, 2009 12:41 pm  

King Monkey wrote:

Not defamatory either as it was proven m'lud.

At the risk of being a pedant, and being too lazy to go back and seek out the full judgement...

Wasn't what was proven simply that Leeds as his employer did not sufficiently investigate Sterling's initial complaint, rather than the nature of the complaint itself?

: Wed Feb 18, 2009 12:49 pm  

cymraegrhino wrote:

If they really believed that it was a second tier competition they wouldn't be saying anything. Aussies only start slating when they are worried

Nor would they bother to come over here to compete in it.

: Wed Feb 18, 2009 12:51 pm  

Andy Gilder wrote:

At the risk of being a pedant, and being too lazy to go back and seek out the full judgement...

Wasn't what was proven simply that Leeds as his employer did not sufficiently investigate Sterling's initial complaint, rather than the nature of the complaint itself?

Unconscious racism based on Leeds inability to act on complaints made against the coach.

: Wed Feb 18, 2009 12:53 pm  

King Monkey wrote:

Unconscious racism based on Leeds inability to act on complaints made against the coach.

So it didn't prove that Dean Lance was racially prejudiced then, just that Leeds had failed to investigate such claims against him?

: Wed Feb 18, 2009 12:54 pm  

rhinoholic wrote:

Nor would they bother to come over here to compete in it.

Nonsense.

The chance to go spend a few weeks in a diferent place is a great oportunity to build team spirit and bond well. It is good prep for the NRL season too as they can get out of the heat (although the last couple of days have only ben around 20 in Sydney) and try somthing different.

: Wed Feb 18, 2009 12:56 pm  

rhinoms wrote:

It was.
I must admit i missed sterling when he first got dropped i'll never forget that try in the old world club challenge or him getting cumberland thrown onto his shoulder by tommy martyn iirc.

That try was mid 1997 though and Sterling was dropped after a series of lack lustre efforts in pre season friendlies prior to the start of the 2000 season. Pretty standard stuff especially at 35 years of age.

The years had finally caught up and Lance was looking at alternatives on the wing with Cummins, Senior, Walker, St Hilaire, Rivett and Pratt taking the roles. Sterling buckled down, got his fitness up and forced his way back in to the side mid season.

: Wed Feb 18, 2009 12:57 pm  

Good aerobic exercise that basketball you know...

: Wed Feb 18, 2009 12:58 pm  

Alas I was never one of them boys.

: Wed Feb 18, 2009 12:59 pm  

Andy Gilder wrote:

So it didn't prove that Dean Lance was racially prejudiced then, just that Leeds had failed to investigate such claims against him?

It depends if you call unconscious racism racial prejudice.

Whether intentional or not you still wouldn't want someone giving presentations on racial equality if they'd been at the centre of such a case.