I'm not sure it has been blown out of proportion. Joel has acted like a complete dick, most people can go out and get drunk without acting and speaking in such a manner. Total arrogance and entitlement.

Yes we have probably all done foolish things at times, but we aren't all representing the town team out in Wigan. Made me absolutely cringe watching the video.

Disgraceful behaviour but i would be even more concerned if they were behaving like that whilst not so drunk. Joel had clearly had far too much to drink.

I can't comprehend how much the wheels have come off since the Magic weekend. Backroom staff left, coach leaving, top players leaving, a crap performance in the cup and now this video. This is the most deflated I have felt in 50+ years watching Wigan. We either need an explanation as to what to what the hell is going on or a big reaction to put things right.

Seems to me that the only sense being spoken here is from the bar owner. JT in particular looks like a complete tool from this video and should know better but does anyone actually know what sparked this incident? You certainly can't tell from the video. What if, for example, he was calling the girl a 'disgusting creature' in response to her being racially offensive? Would everyone be condemning him quite so vociferously or would the same people be saying well done for making a stand? I'm not saying that's what happened but that's exactly the point.. we don't know.

Given that the bar owner said it had been dealt with to everyone's satisfaction and that the girl said she was paid to keep it quiet but released it anyway aren't we all jumping the gun a bit here. It's quite possible there's more to this than is immediately apparent from a video clearly started half way through an incident.

That said, there's nothing more obnoxious than a drunken bell end if that's all that's going on here.

The police were called.

Perfectly put. Exactly the point I have been trying to get across, albeit not as well.

There are few worse things in modern society than trial by social media. It's the current equivalent of pitch forks and burning torches. I'm not defending Joel here. If he's out if line he should be adequately dealt with. From the bar owner's comments it appears he already has. If it turns out more needs to be done, so be it. However, there's a right and a wrong way to go about that. Trial by social media is most definitely the wrong way. I would like to think any rationally minded person would agree. Sadly, it seems not to be the case.

Why not just state what you know about the incident instead of dropping the odd cryptic comment in here and there?

Some of the comments on here make me laugh. Not because they are inaccurate, on the contrary I agree, the drunken behaviour of both brothers is shocking. I laugh because some people seem genuinely shocked. It's clear posters on here are totally sheltered and in the dark about how most of the lads are.
This video is the norm for how they behave, not just Joel and Sam, but most of the lads. There's still a 'don't you know who I am' or 'I can do what I like cos I play for Wigan' mentality at the club. Mix this will some drink, and possibly some devils dandruff and you get what you see.

This behaviour is all so common. You call for them to be sacked or suspended? Then you'd be asking for most of the team to go.

Do you think Waney or IL will see this as shocking? No. They'll be more annoyed that they were caught on camera, forcing them to react. As a previous poster said, this has already been, or they've at least tried to sweep it under the carpet.

Just like Zak was the one who got caught (when a high percentage of lads are on the beak socially) Joel and Sam are no different, they just got caught. Their guard was down to being so smashed. Sam woke up when he realised the camera was on (he'd have been just as bad as Joel otherwise) Joel was just too smashed.

Wake up people!

All the information is in this thread. I do think this has been blown out of proportion, though can agree they both come across like complete balloons

LOL,

Are you really suggesting that, purely down to his McDonalds adventure, Kelly got a new contract? Muppet!

let this be a harsh wake up call for all the clean cut wigan fans who lambasted the wigan move for ZH saying they didn't want him at our club because he isn't a role model. half the bloody games players act like this all the time and the sooner everyone realises it the better.

The club have stepped Joel down for 4 weeks pending an investigations and fined him £10,000. Sam has been fined £5000.

Presumably if there is a Pubwatch in Wigan they will both have been banned from all licensed premises.

Yes, and discussion to be made about Joel's long-term future at the club, hopefully, this means after the investigation they will get shut of him.

Think that is spot on from the club. It sounds like they hadn’t seen the video when the bar owner contacted the club but like everyone they are disgusted at the actual evidence.

At 29/31 years of age it seems they both still have a lot of growing up to do, especially Joel who seems to have a very high opinion of himself despite him being a failed RU convert and average back-rower in SL.

Just saw Joel in WH Smiths buying an English to French translation book, and a 'how to speak French asap' tape.

What's the French for rectum?

Well done to the club. Shocking it’s too of the senior players, guys with wives and kids.

On second watch Sam didn’t do too much wrong fine is probably about right and he’ll be gone at the end of the year anyway.

Joel however was horrendous and I hope he will never represent the club again. Shouldn’t get the honour of playing in that shirt.

A good strong response from the club.
All credit to them.

and this is in general with most other clubs as well too,
surly your not condoning what as happened as it sounds like it.
the reaction from the club might seem severe with fines and few games absence but at least our directors had the balls to sack Smith, Locke and Owen for drink related incidents

Is that timescale credible, though? If the bar-owner contacted the club at the time, weeks ago, and (presumably) said there was a video, surely the first thing the club would have said is, "Let's see it, then"? I find it very hard to believe that the club has only found out about the video in the last couple of days.



Absolutely. And whilst I don't kid myself that other players are all Goody-Two-Shoes, you'd hope at least they are not all that obnoxious.

The bar staff deserve some credit for dealing pretty well with a very unpleasant situation.

I’m puzzled at the clubs response TBH. It states that Rads saw the video last night yet Tony Callaghan says on Wigan Today he had already contacted the club some weeks ago.

Two conflicting reports there.

The irony Kris Radlinski is "disgusted" this is the player who played for no wages to fiddle the salary cap. Thus saving Wigan from relegation this club is rotten to the core.

The video did not belong to Tony Callaghan, it belonged to the girl. Did she release (show) it at the time to Wigan?

Read the first sentence again. Clearly not condoning anything. I literally made a point of that.