Bulldogs now must determine how to punish star Adam Elliott for alleged indiscretion

2144superman

Kennel Legend
Joined
Aug 28, 2010
Messages
10,353
Reaction score
15,427
Canterbury is tiptoeing through a legal minefield as it tries to determine an appropriate punishment for Adam Elliott.
With the NRL expected to hand over the findings of the Integrity Unit’s investigation to the Bulldogs on Friday, the club has also sought legal advice in relation to whether it would be overstepping its legal jurisdiction by dishing out a fine as part of the penalty.

While there have been suggestions Elliott is facing a fine of up to $20,000 for his alleged involvement with ex-teammate Michael Lichaa’s partner, the club’s obvious concern relates to the fact Elliott was not charged by police and the alleged incident occurred on private property.

It certainly creates a moral dilemma for the game to also deal with.


Adam Elliott faces hefty fine and removal from the Bulldogs’ leadership group.

Adam Elliott faces hefty fine and removal from the Bulldogs’ leadership group.

There is little doubt the Bulldogs and the NRL will be accused of sweeping it under the carpet if Elliott escapes a significant fine given the public fallout and the damage this has again done to the club and game’s image.

The Bulldogs are also mindful that they have a duty of care to Elliott’s mental welfare as he comes to terms with the damage these allegations have done to his own relationship.

Privately he is being encouraged to publicly own up to his actions and seek professional help.

In 2018 Elliott pleaded guilty to charges of wilful and obscene exposure that occurred during Mad Monday celebrations at The Rocks.

Elliott maintains strong support within the club and especially among the players, although he is expected to be stood down from the senior leadership group.

Elliott has great support within the Canterbury playing squad and supporter base.

Elliott has great support within the Canterbury playing squad and supporter base.

BULLDOGS WON’T BE RUSHED

Canterbury chairman John Koury said the club was still waiting for the NRL to complete its investigation before the Bulldogs can take the matter further.

Koury confirmed he had met with Elliott to offer some advice but at this stage was not in a position to offer any final judgment.

“We are still waiting for the NRL to come back to us,” Koury said in relation to what action the club might take.

“From there the club will go through its own internal review and we will respond when ready.

“That is really the truth of where we are up to.”

Where the big challenge is for the club relates to the fact the incident occurred in a private residence and Elliott has not been charged by police.

Depending on the outcome of the investigation the club would also be well within its rights to make Elliott accountable for the damage his alleged actions have done to the Bulldogs brand.

It’s a tough start to the season for new Bulldogs coach Trent Barrett.

It’s a tough start to the season for new Bulldogs coach Trent Barrett.

Elliott also has great support within the Canterbury playing squad as well as the supporter base with members and fans for the way he goes above and beyond his duties within the community and charity work.

But this is not the first time he’s also got himself and the club in strife for alcohol-related incidents following a previous drama when he was caught exposing himself at the 2018 Mad Monday celebrations.

Koury said the club would not rush its investigation although he was keen to get it completed as soon as possible, with a decision likely by Thursday.

The Elliott drama ensures Aaron Warburton will start as new Bulldogs CEO on Monday under difficult circumstances.

 
Last edited by a moderator:

bradyk

Kennel Immortal
Premium Member
2 x NF H2H Champ
NF Top Scorer
Joined
Mar 24, 2019
Messages
15,740
Reaction score
18,930
Either fine him (medium to high) and/or start him off the bench and make it sound like it's a big deal, but really he'll just play a big minute role off the bench and be back starting the following week. He should do an Instagram apology or something (but he'll be flamed) and he obviously needs to get some professional help.
 

red-dog

Kennel Participant
Joined
Sep 6, 2016
Messages
309
Reaction score
617
Either fine him (medium to high) and/or start him off the bench and make it sound like it's a big deal, but really he'll just play a big minute role off the bench and be back starting the following week. He should do an Instagram apology or something (but he'll be flamed) and he obviously needs to get some professional help.
What do you mean by professional help? There's nothing wrong with him, he's just a grub. I hate how these days people excuse their shitty behaviour with "I have mental health issues", it discounts those who actually have issues. We're humans, we fuck up and some of us fuck up more and worse than others.
 

TwinTurbo

Kennel Legend
Gilded
Joined
Oct 22, 2018
Messages
9,346
Reaction score
15,416
This has the CHN and Okubor situation written all over it. Same as Elliott they did nothing illegal, the NRL punished them based on media hysteria and then subsequently lost the court case and had to reinstate them. To me this sounds like a case for mandatory counselling and X number of hours of community service. Anything much more severe and the precedent has been set, the punishment has to have a strong relationship to the crime, and there was no crime, so the punishment has to have relevance to that. Not in response to media hysteria by the PC brigade, quite a lot on TK as it happens.

Go Dogs
 

bradyk

Kennel Immortal
Premium Member
2 x NF H2H Champ
NF Top Scorer
Joined
Mar 24, 2019
Messages
15,740
Reaction score
18,930
What do you mean by professional help? There's nothing wrong with him, he's just a grub. I hate how these days people excuse their shitty behaviour with "I have mental health issues", it discounts those who actually have issues. We're humans, we fuck up and some of us fuck up more and worse than others.
If he doesn't get professional help it's more than likely that he continues to make bad choices, especially when on the drink.
 

Spoonman84

Kennel Immortal
Premium Member
Joined
Oct 1, 2013
Messages
17,736
Reaction score
31,795
What do you mean by professional help? There's nothing wrong with him, he's just a grub. I hate how these days people excuse their shitty behaviour with "I have mental health issues", it discounts those who actually have issues. We're humans, we fuck up and some of us fuck up more and worse than others.
I think that's a tad insensitive to his situation he did say he went to a dark place after the Mad Monday thing and now he is dealing with another shit storm and the possible break up of a relationship with his partner. The club would be negligent not to offer him some type of professional help.
 

GrogDog

bad attitude
Joined
Jun 28, 2009
Messages
9,398
Reaction score
10,139
There's no point saying sorry unless you actually are! Something the football inner sanctum seems to not understand.

Where about's are the offices for a "professional" that specialises in a fukwit that has no integrity?

Seems this grub is set to get off this so I hope atleast the dogs give him a "final warning" letter so next time, and there will be.... he finally gets turfed!

I think they asumed a little bit with the fanbase liking him, I know I have no time for c*nts like this.
 

Como Dog

Kennel Enthusiast
Joined
Apr 21, 2017
Messages
3,233
Reaction score
3,781
We don't need to appease the media and the NRL can't fuck us over this time like they did with JO and CHN.

I think a private apology to the coach and playing group, and then he starts off the bench for the first 3 rounds with minutes dependant on how well he plays.

Also warned if he does the wrong thing again (where they can punish him) then they will come down very hard.
 

wendog33

Kennel Immortal
Premium Member
Ladder Champion
Joined
Aug 6, 2016
Messages
24,741
Reaction score
27,950
The only case the Bulldogs can be sitting in judgement of is ...how it affects the Bulldogs.

That's all that the Bulldogs club and fans need to be concerned with in relation to consequences of his actions.

We can all have an opinion on his morals, how his actions, (in conjunction with the other woman), affects his wife and child, how it affects Lichaa's wife and children and both their wider families eg his wife's family will be unimpressed you'd think.

There was no illegality on his part we are led to believe...only Lichaa has been charged.

But it shows a lack of self discipline and self management to let his pp rule his brain and putting into jeopardy his family, career and future. He has court appearances to suggest he has a problem with alcohol but yet again the most recent public shaming he went through, has not been enough to see him be responsible enough to enjoy a party, have his fun and then go home with his wife and child.

Whatever the club decide I am confident it will be what they deem as the most appropriate with all the facts to hand.

It had better be a deterrent for Adam and all the rest of the playing group bc our club can not keep being in the headlines for all the wrong reasons with inappropriate player behaviour.

All of us would cut off a leg to be chosen to play for the club, so let the players realise what an honour it is and not that hard to keep yourself out of trouble.

There should be a clear line in the sand about dragging the club into disrepute going forward with players letting us all down.

He has had chances and there's a whole range of opinion, and punishment sought by fans, so it will be difficult for the club to set the right deterrent.

It would have been so much better if we were all just talking about the footy rather than Adam Elliott.
 
Last edited:

DirtyDog72

Waterboy
Joined
Sep 21, 2020
Messages
65
Reaction score
132
$10k fine and a 2 match suspension, for letting his team mates down, for not setting an example as part of the senior leadership group, and for bringing the clubs name into the spotlight for the wrong reasons. Signs an agreement with the club to stay off the alcohol, with a clause in the agreement stating if breached the club has the right to terminate his contract effective immediately, and he can't join another club till the end of the season.
 

KLil

Kennel Legend
Joined
Aug 5, 2011
Messages
14,530
Reaction score
14,705
$10k fine and a 2 match suspension, for letting his team mates down, for not setting an example as part of the senior leadership group, and for bringing the clubs name into the spotlight for the wrong reasons. Signs an agreement with the club to stay off the alcohol, with a clause in the agreement stating if breached the club has the right to terminate his contract effective immediately, and he can't join another club till the end of the season.
Why should his team mates suffer though... And the fans, we are already light on forwards, cant afford to lose another one so play the dog ***** just slap him around a little bit off field.
 

Stinger

Kennel Established
Joined
Oct 11, 2020
Messages
988
Reaction score
1,114
This has the CHN and Okubor situation written all over it. Same as Elliott they did nothing illegal, the NRL punished them based on media hysteria and then subsequently lost the court case and had to reinstate them. To me this sounds like a case for mandatory counselling and X number of hours of community service. Anything much more severe and the precedent has been set, the punishment has to have a strong relationship to the crime, and there was no crime, so the punishment has to have relevance to that. Not in response to media hysteria by the PC brigade, quite a lot on TK as it happens.

Go Dogs
A player can commit no crime but still engage in actions and behaviour that brings the club and game into disrepute. Up to the club to decide if that’s the case here.
 

Bob dog

Hectik defence
Premium Member
Joined
Feb 26, 2005
Messages
19,324
Reaction score
3,564
This has really snowballed into something out of a drinks night.
What code of conduct has he breached?
 
Top