SEMI Radradra’s statement of denial was released by the Parramatta Eels on Parramatta Eels letterhead, complete with the Parramatta Eels sponsor high and visible.
It led: “Dyldam Parramatta Eels winger Semi Radradra says he’s not considering leaving the club ...” and went on to say everything we have heard from Parramatta before.
Whenever relations break down between player and club and the news leaks to us pesky rascals in the press, the denial statement is the first on the road to reconciliation talks behind closed doors.
By dressing up their statement as more corporate advertising the Eels actually undermined the strength of their statement.
But what if it was actually true?
It began Thursday night when I reported on NRL360 that Channel Seven was breaking news that Radradra wanted out of the club at the end of the season. He was frustrated at not being able to play State of Origin like other players of Fijian heritage like Lote Tuqiri and Petero Civoniceva, I said.
By the time I got home the narrative had changed. It wasn’t Origin at all, I was told by someone else at the club, but a failure from the Eels to fulfil third party payments.
It’s why Radradra was late coming home from Fiji over Christmas, when he refused to leave until the Eels came good on their deal.That information was volunteered, not chased.
Then the Eels put out yesterday’s statement. I called Radradra’s manager George Christodolou and he was frustrated, saying Radradra was always a rugby player and still harboured dreams of returning to rugby BUT THERE WAS NO THREAT TO LEAVE, no failed third party payment, if maybe a little frustration at not being able to play Origin. He was given an extra two weeks to remain in Fiji by coach Brad Arthur after a relationship breakup, he said.
No journalism anywhere in the world contains the absolute truth. It’s as much truth as you can discover in one day and then, the next day, you try to discover more. It is why trust is compulsory. And so tough to establish in the NRL.
3 things I took out of this
1) So his manager never said any of what was reported but 'someone from the club'
2) It wasn't true, BUT, if it had been, - WHY ARE 3RD PARTY PAYMENTS THE CLUB'S RESPONSIBILTY!!?? Fair dinkum. Time and again. It's meant to be at ARMS LENGTH. So sort it out yourself player managers and stop making clubs responsible for something which they are NOT, and could break the rules if they do get involved in payments!
3) LOL @ Paul Kent's 'investigative journalism' crap at the end there. He has NO IDEA.
Replies
This guy is full of you know what. He has this personal vendetta against our club trying to smear it into the ground as well as rub dirt into it. This guy has to be held accountable for something, at some point in time someone has to be held liable for what they say. I am all up for free speech but when it gets to this it becomes defamation more so than journalism. Paul Kunt start reporting the truth and stop these harassment articles.
I'm just fuming at how journo's would use 'club not paying TPA agreements' as a story maker, then go full 360 and bag clubs for not following the TPA rules like they have recently. Anything to say a negative about Parra, even when us NOT paying a TPA is EXACTLY what we should do. If managers can't get that organised, the player shouldn't be paying them a handsome amount of money.
They usually write but these dead beat stories with a hidden message within.
"but a failure from the Eels to fulfil third party payments."
"no failed third party payment,"
One line he says they didn't fulfil the third party agreement but then later goes on to say there was no failed third party payment. However we all know the gullible people will only hear what they want and only focus on the first part, putting pressure on the NRL to come down hard on us with these salary cap "breaches"
Pauls anus is jealous of the shit dribbling out of his mouth.
Now he's bagging us saying a player wouldn't return to the club due to not getting paid his third party money - WHICH THE CLUB ISNT ALLOWED TO BE INVOLVED IN SO THEREFORE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CLUB!
Absolute F**knuckle
Not just league Fong, the standard of Journalism country wide has hit an all time low.
Like Betamax,VHS,Vinyl and cassettes,journalism for the print media is on it's last legs,gasping away on life support.The standard of journalism is low because,social media and rumour have replaced actual investigation.It is reflected in the people who now call themselves journalists,Anyone who believes in a "Code of Ethics" and impartial reporting with no hidden agendas,may as well say they believe in a flat Earth,Ancient Aliens and leprechauns.
-
1
-
2
-
3
-
4
-
5
of 5 Next