personally i think the RFL needs to make a rule which overules all the clubs. stating that anyone bringing the game into disrepute off the field of play will be dealt with by them thus making sure that there is no bias

I find it amazing that you pies seem to have forgotten about Ellery Hanleys less than angelic past.

Didnt see any pies coming out with a moral argument against Wigan signing him back in the 1980's.

Quite a few seem to be wanting him as your next coach.

What Pryce has done is wrong, and if he gets sent to prison so be it.

"What he does in his private life has nothing to do with us" was the mantra.

Maybe I've missed it, but I've still not seen a single Saints post on this thread address the domestic violence aspect of the offence.

Whether or not Pryce should or should not continue to be a Saints player it would be right for the Saints club (and its fans) to publicly acknowledge the total unacceptability of domestic violence.

At the moment both Saints as a club and the posters on this thread are strangely silent on this issue.

It doesn't reflect well on any of you, to be honest.

Compare the reaction of the Hull fans to the signing of Reardon:-

[urlhttp://viewtopic.php?t=404530&start=75&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=[/url

Most of them are far from impressed.

The Saints posters on this thread need to take a long hard look at themselves.

maybe, but these players are in the lime light and role models for thousands of kids. it isn't an everyday job, they are in a very privileged position and should behave as such. what sort of message does it send if a club does not take positive action. and before anything is said about feka, i would not have argued if he had been sacked despite drastically different situations

a good post, well said, and something that cannot be disagreed with by anyone with an ounce of moral fibre in their bodies

It goes for granted that domestic violence is unacceptable.
However from what i understand leon pryce was never accused of this, he was charged and pleaded guilty to assault on a man with the mitigation, that has not been denied, that the victim was brandishing a weapon.
Saints club and player have not been accused of this so why issue a statement? Its like saying Wigan should issue a statement condeming the war in Darfur.

Disgraceful.

Don't try and split hairs on something like this. Why was Pryce there? He had gone to the home of his co-defendant's ex-wife. Read the report again.

[urlhttp://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/mar/26/stuart-reardon-leon-pryce-assault[/url

This is what the judge said:

"Mr Pryce and Mr Reardon, I do take a very serious view of this offence. I've heard that Mr Reardon only wanted to go round to know the truth about the relationship of Mrs Reardon and Mr O'Brien and that Mr Pryce went there as a peacemaker. I'm afraid I don't accept that. It is clear Mrs Reardon and Mr O'Brien were terrified."

Your reference to the Darfur situation is irrelevant and offensive, as is your reference to Mr O'Brien defending himself. He isn't, as far as I am aware, facing any charges for "brandishing a weapon". The police obviously took the view that he shouldn't be charged.

If I were you I would delete your post.

Maybe if one of the Wigan players was party to the war in Darfur I would expect them to do this...but they arn't, so I don't see your point

Deano G

you seem to have an agenda here or should i say Witch-hunt on the Stains fans

Domestic violence is abhorrent and whatever sentence is deemed appropriate by the judge will be well deserved. Saints will then issue a statement.

What's your view on, say, vulnerable women being trapped in the sex trade?

But the law DOES split hairs you see. That's the nature of the law. That's why this is a common assault charge (to which both have pleaded guilty) and not any other charge at all. They didn't break in the house. Reardon pled guilty to grabbing the arm of his (now) ex-wife, causing her to have three bruises (I presume finger marks) and Pryce pled guilty to pushing O'Brien so he fell and hit his head on the peddle bin (though we don't know how hard). I don't think either offence warrants a jail sentence or indeed the hysterical reactions of so many people on these boards.

What I would have expected is a Saints fan to have the honesty to say yes this is really serious and the domestic violence implications are particularly bad but that they think he should still play for us because.... and then attempt to justify it.

I still haven't seen this.

On the Hull board many of their fans are reacting very differently. Even the ones that aren't against signing him tend to acknowledge there is a really serious issue. I haven't seen this from the Saints fans on this board.

More hair splitting. There is no offence of "domestic violence", so I'm not sure what charge you would expect to see.

You appear to think that assault on a woman and her partner by her ex-husband and a friend of her ex husband does not constitute domestic violence. I don't think there will be many people that would share that view.

Thankfully the judge doesn't appear to share your view of the seriousness of the offence either.

Well, bully for you but your expectations have just been popped haven't they?

Since you know so much about the marriage (or now ex-marriage) of Mr and Mrs Reardon and since you obviously think Mr Pryce also had some kind of input into this marriage (given that you've linked him in with domestic violence issues), perhaps you could share your inner knowledge with us? Because, dammit, I have no idea what went on in that marriage. All I know is that two young and stupid men pled guilty to a common assault charge each. That is all I am concerned with. For all I know, Mrs Reardon may now be exacting her revenge for Mr Reardon divorcing her. How do I know? I don't know them or their marriage or what Mr Pryce gets up to when he goes home.

And nor do you, surprisingly enough! So I would suggest you get off your high horse. You look quite ridiculous up there. No really, you do.

First of all, I'm a woman and I know all about being assaulted. I also know that Reardon and his wife were splitting up - he was divorcing her. That makes this complicated and messy and I for one am not going to comment on their marriage or anything else. Because, like you, I know nothing about it.

Yet you're quite happy to defend him/them...funny that.

Where did I comment on their marriage?

The domestic issue may be less important than the 'forcing entry' issue.

You force entry to someone's home and assault them, trust me - it's a different playing field from the routine type of assault offences.

This is much more serious than many fans seem to realise.

It's a Section 39 assault. That's fairly routine, yes?

The violent entry charge - no evidence provided from the prosecution. That tells me there was no violent entry. Mrs Reardon opened the door and Mr Reardon pushed his way past her. Mr & Mrs heading towards divorce. Very tricky one to sort out I would say.


The way you are talking about the 'domestic violence issue' suggests you must know something about their marriage that we don't? All we know is that he grabbed his then wife's arm, causing three bruises, having pushed past her into the house. That's all we know about the 'domestic violence'. So what is it that you know about Reardon's marriage which we don't?


Because I don't jump on bandwagons, I'm not one of the lynch mob, I am capable of thinking independently from the baying crowd and I have a strong sense of fair play and justice. Some of the things that have been said about Reardon and Pryce on these boards are sick and I hope the people who say that crap find themselves on the end of a smear campaign and mob rule, just to see what it feels like.

I'm sorry but this is now getting absolutely ridiculous. I don't know who you are accusing of being sick but what is sick is the failure of Saints fans to face up to reality.

READ THE REPORTS. See what the judge said about the seriousness of the offences.

Note which court they have been bailed to appear before for sentencing - THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COURT.

[urlhttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyleague/5056758/Stuart-Reardon-and-Leon-Pryce-face-prison-over-assaults.html[/url

[urlhttp://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/mar/26/stuart-reardon-leon-pryce-assault[/url

if entry had been forced to the premises the charge would have been burglary. the defination in law states that if a person enters a building or part of a building as a trespasser with the intention of commiting theft , damage or assault then the offence is complete. i dont believe this was the case with pryce and reardon. however the premeditated side of it all to me is an aggravating factor and should be punished appropriately

The fact that they weren't charged with burglary is certainly beneficial to their position. Though to commit burglary, when it's an assault rather than a theft, rape or damage, you need to enter with [uthe intent[/u to commit assault (maybe even [uGBH[/u, though I'm a little hazy on that). It's very difficult in this situation (i.e. a domestic dispute) to prove that the miscreants entered with [uthe intent[/u to assault. And knowing how gutless the CPS are these days, it's very unlikely that those charges would ever have been pressed.

However, be under no illusion - the circumstances of this incident will still colour the judge's view. This will not be treated like some street brawl in which the accused could claim that he was the victim of provocation.

A lot of stains fans have been bringing up about Feka at what he did the facts are:-

Feka has got a brilliant conduct record on the field, he punched a guy ONCE

Pryce is a cheap shot mercheant who has done other things in the past that makes him a embarrassement to rugby league ( including grabbing players bits TWICE), what was his excuse this time?????


I REST MY CASE MY LORD !!!!!!!!!!!