Titans and Hunt on drugs charges

[Hail Sezer]

NRL to take over Titans in wake of drug scandal to ensure long-term survival of club on the Gold Coast

EXCLUSIVE
GOLD COAST BULLETIN
FEBRUARY 24, 2015 5:00AM

THE NRL will own the Gold Coast Titans by close of business today to ensure the long-term survival of the club.

The Gold Coast Bulletin has been told senior NRL officials will fly to the Coast today for *crisis talks amid the cocaine scandal and cement their commitment to the city.

The drug scandal has rocked the club and questions have been raised about its financial future and therefore the long-term survival of an NRL club in the city.

Chief executive Graham Annesley and the Titans board will receive the full support of NRL powerbrokers, sources say.

When asked if the Titans would cease to exist as a brand, an NRL official replied: “They are not going to close down the club.

“The NRL could revoke their licence or they may surrender it.”

It is understood all existing Titans shareholders will lose everything they put into the club, including more than $5 million by the Gold Coast’s very own “white knight’’ Darryl Kelly.

Late last night Kelly said: “As shareholders we’ve invested for one reason and that was to keep the Titans on the Gold Coast — however it’s got bigger problems than we can manage.

“Like I’ve said previously I am not walking away. I will be working closely with the NRL to reinvest in the Titans.

“The support we’ve been given from the local community, now we’re on our knees, has been unbelievable.”

Yesterday NRL boss Dave Smith foreshadowed the takeover when he said: “I support the fans. This is about the fans and they deserve a team on the Gold Coast.

“They will have a team on the Gold Coast and it will be a strong team they can be proud of.’’

The NRL staged a similar intervention last year when it moved on the Newcastle Knights amid financial woes.

Chairwoman Rebecca Frizelle wouldn’t comment on the status of the club’s licence last nig
Chairwoman Rebecca Frizelle wouldn’t comment on the status of the club’s licence last night. Picture: Kit Wise
The move would also mirror the AFL’s ownership of the Gold Coast Suns.

Last night chairwoman Rebecca Frizelle wouldn’t comment on the status of the club’s licence however said Smith and his team had been exceptional in their support.

“The personal support of Dave Smith and the NRL during these very difficult times has been exceptional and has given us the fortitude to move forward, along with the support of the Gold Coast community,” she said.

“Now, in our darkest hour, we realise the overwhelming ground support that’s behind the club. We are determined to rebuild this club.

“While it is not our preference, should we come last on the ladder while we’re going through our rebuild phase, then so be it but we will deliver a club that every single Gold Coaster can be proud of and that is here for the long term.”

The scandal has been the biggest controversy to rock the Gold Coast in its eight-year history.

Smith has been relatively quiet since the scandal broke last Friday. The Titans’ State of Origin stars Greg Bird and Dave Taylor along with Beau Falloon, Jamie Dowling and Kalifa Faifai Loa will face court next month on charges of allegedly supplying cocaine.

But yesterday Smith talked tough on misbehaving NRL players and said any that brought the game into disrepute could be banned from the code for ever.

“I don’t think the fact anybody’s been charged is enough to end anything,” Smith told Foxsports News when asked if their NRL careers were over.

“We’ve got to make sure we deal with the facts.

“Everybody gets the presumption of innocence but anybody who does the wrong thing and brings this game into disrepute can expect very serious consequences.

“If you’re found to bring this game into disrepute, hopefully people will see that there are consequences and those consequences could include you not playing in the game any more.

“We don’t want anybody, a small minority, to bring the game into disrepute for the vast quantities of good people in this game.”

http://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/...medium=twitter

[Toads]

Hopefully a similar case to how the NRL handled the Newcastle Knights affair.

I dont want to see Daryl Kelly lose out though. I want to see the Titans brand endure and that is how I believe it will play out.

I welcome long overdue NRL intervention.

Likewise, but I hope it means the end of Searle so the slate can in fact actually be wiped clean once 'n for all. Even if it means the NRL paying him out to take a walk. Do that, and they won't need a marketing strategy to bring a good chunk of the old members back..

With the NRL stepping in surely increases our chances of securing DCE's services..

[JunctionBlock]

Well that sucks.

Ohh and why doesn't the NRL and Titans launch a counter suit against these five pecker heads. Times 2 for Bird.

[Toads]

No argument from me ... no matter what the collective opinions of the performance of our CEO recently may be, if you were to mark him against any reasonable set of KPI's for his position then you have a massive fail, no matter what he inherited EIGHTEEN months ago. The first 6 months were spent politely keeping the focus on the previous administration, the following 6 months was full of promises (many now unfulfilled) and the last 6 months crying the difficulty of the job ... not impressed at all.

Fair call, mate. But I wouldn't envy any bugga that has/had to be the mouthpiece of the previous management. How David May was treated 'n kept in the dark at times is enough evidence in itself. It's why Searle needs to be gone with this NRL intervention once and for all..

- - - Updated - - -

Well that sucks.

Ohh and why doesn't the NRL and Titans launch a counter suit against these five pecker heads. Times 2 for Bird.

I see it as their solicitor getting his 15 minutes off the back of this controversy. Because if the players did go ahead with it, no club would ever pick them up again, if they're allowed back into the game..

[DavidBouveng]

as far as i can tell, this is a good thing? NRL will come in and right the ship, Kelly can re invest if he wants to once its settled. Can someone smarter than me explain NRL ownership? Todd Balym seems to thinks its great. we arent folding no matter what happens, its just a matter of which is a better way forward....i hope Smith is on DCE phone all day... the game NEEEEEDS you up here mate.

as for the players suing... the lawyer never quite said suing, but it looks so good on a headline. for me, regardless of if they are found guilty of supply or just possession, or if those charges get dropped. they need to stand before whatever board and answer the question "Were you players using recreational drugs?"

if yes, sacked. its illegal, against NRL and Club rules, and an activity that will knowingly bring negative attention to both if caught. bye bye, dont come back.

[TITAN PETE]

The NRL taking control is exactly what is needed to take the pressure off everyone at the club & to help ensure our teams survival

[Smakked]

Well we all have been calling for the NRL to step in for a few years and finally it is happening. I see it as a good thing, they done a good job of the knights so i i expect it to be a good thing here.

[rj62]

No argument from me ... no matter what the collective opinions of the performance of our CEO recently may be, if you were to mark him against any reasonable set of KPI's for his position then you have a massive fail, no matter what he inherited EIGHTEEN months ago. The first 6 months were spent politely keeping the focus on the previous administration, the following 6 months was full of promises (many now unfulfilled) and the last 6 months crying the difficulty of the job ... not impressed at all.

Sorry I don't agree. Would you have preferred David May still be in charge?
I personally think Graham Annersley has been thrown into the mire more than once and has handled himself with utmost professionalism at every step.
Some (most) of the issues that have surfaced are not an overnight fix so to lay blame at him for that, or anyone is unfair.
He's considered an excellent administrator by many levels in and outside the game and I for one sincerely hope he manages to retain his role to help steer us out of this mess.

[matti]

lol call fairwork ; ha ha ; i am still excited by the up coming year though! i think this may free up some $$$. Be nice to know what figures these players are on.

[Boonarga]

DCE should now jump at the chance to come here because the club would then be re-built around him. It's win/win for him. Just think what legacy he could be leaving in 10 years time.

[shamus]

"Kelly can re invest if he wants to once its settled"

How deep are his pockets? After all he has done for RL (by holding up the Titans) I would hope he would not be dismissed by Smith and the NRL.

[JunctionBlock]

lol call fairwork ; ha ha ; i am still excited by the up coming year though! i think this may free up some $$$. Be nice to know what figures these players are on.

According to Zerotackle

Bird $500k contracted till 2017
Taylor $400K contracted till 2016
Dowling $90k 2015
Not sure on the other two but to give you a gauge Srama is on $200k (reportedly)

[Show and Go]

I am afraid Greg Bird is nothing but trouble. Every since we signed him the club and culture has spiraled out of control. Regardless of the outcome of this investigation he will be gone. It will be a very good moment when that happens. So embarrassing that he was the captain at one stage. Heck even Nate Myles isn't the greatest of choices.

[JunctionBlock]

You have got to be kidding, have you never heard of PRESUMPTION OF INNOCENCE, so what times 2? God in every facet of our society everyone and I mean everyone is INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY & they are all pleading NOT GUILTY. They have not been charged but summonsed under CAN notice to appear at a mention matter.

Times two for Bird because he urinated in public on a marked police car in full view of his new wife, family and in-laws the day after his wedding and it was at a time when the Titans were confident of announcing a major sponsor. So yeah, X2. Never said they were guilty, but these actions and the subsequent media coverage has brought our club and the game of rugby league into disrepute. If their lawyer is acting on their instructions to sue the club because they have been stood down then the club should hit back at them too. No ones pleaded Not Guilty yet as it hasn't gone to court.

[nimud]

The NRL taking control is exactly what is needed to take the pressure off everyone at the club & to help ensure our teams survival

It's still very early days with the takeover. We as fans, don't even know if we will be supporting the "Titans" come next week. I have supported GC teams since 1988, but chopping and changing brands and colours, and having all these former jerseys in my wardrobe is getting a bit of a joke!

On a serious note, in Newcastle the takeover from Tinkler may be a sign of things to come. Tinkler was bought out. The licence transferred to the NRL, and the brand and colours remained. Hopefully the Titans hand-over draws the same conclusion.