http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/lhqnews/slaphappy-taylors-on-the-line/2009/09/08/1252201224147.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1


Slap-happy Taylor's future on the line

JASON TAYLOR'S future as South Sydney coach hangs in the balance after he slapped David Fa'alogo on two separate occasions before being felled by the Kiwi second-rower during the Rabbitohs ''Sad Sunday'' festivities in Surry Hills.

Taylor jokingly slapped the majority of his playing squad in the face during the Rabbitohs' end of season drinks at the Forresters Hotel on Sunday. But while most of the players accepted his actions in jest, Fa'alogo took offence and punched Taylor in the head, according to independent witnesses.

He was put in a taxi by players, many of who were in fancy dress for the occasion.

Hotel staff noted that Taylor was ''approaching intoxication'' at one point and suggested he drink water before ordering his next alcoholic beverage. Taylor complied with the request. However, witnesses claimed that the former halfback continued ''mucking around and slapping everyone in the face''.

A wrestle ensued after the first occasion he slapped Fa'alogo and the pair had to be separated. A short time afterwards, Taylor slapped Fa'alogo again and the former New Zealand international retaliated with a punch to the jaw that left Taylor ''groggy''.

It's understood that the witness accounts are corroborated by the CCTV footage and clearly shows Taylor slapping Fa'alogo and the retaliatory punch.

The Herald has also learned that utility Shaune Corrigan passed out after locking himself in an upstairs toilet, while prop Garret Crossman was reprimanded for attempting to climb out a hotel window.

Test back-rower Michael Crocker was roundly praised for defusing several of the potentially volatile situations.

However, the main focus of the club's investigation will centre on the incident involving Fa'alogo and Taylor.

The Rabbitohs coach, under contract until the end of next season, is thought to be in serious danger of losing his job, while the club may refuse to pay England-bound Fa'alogo for the final two months of his contract.

It is the first time that an NRL coach has been reported to have slapped a player since then-Dragons coach Nathan Brown struck Trent Barrett on the sideline at WIN Stadium in 2003. Coincidentally, Brown now coaches Huddersfield - the Super League club Fa'alogo plans to join next year after being granted an early release from the final year of his Rabbitohs' contract.

Souths boss Shane Richardson and chairman Nicholas Pappas yesterday visited Forresters Hotel to view the CCTV footage.

The Daily Telegraph: No room for any sympathy, by Russell Crowe - (ed note on Russell's letter - Dear friend - You must know that, as said by LP Hartley in the novel, The Go Between: - "The past is a foreign country, they do things differently there." You have more that left all that behind, and have grown in wisdom and kindness. I am very proud of you, and of the words you have written to the Bunny fans. )

* EXCLUSIVE by Russell Crowe
* From: The Daily Telegraph
* September 16, 2009 12:00AM

I WOULD like to apologise to all South Sydney members, sponsors, staff and the wider community of Souths fans that this situation has arisen, and has added the extra burden of embarrassment and ridicule to what was ultimately a season of under-achievement.

I know the depth to which Souths fans will be feeling that grief of under-achievement and this kind of puerile, childish behaviour adds insult to injury.

I would also like to apologise to the teams that are in the finals race for taking away from them the attention that their achievements and standards deserve, and to the NRL for further burdening them in a year when the organisation has been under great pressure.

It is my responsibility as one of the custodians of our great club to make sure that the message embedded in our code of conduct is understood by all and to ensure that it is adhered to.

When Shane Richardson let me know of the conversation he had enjoined in with Jason Taylor on the subject of a potential "Mad Monday'' function, a conversation where Shane put his views firmly to Jason and told him clearly that the club does not condone, encourage or fund public celebrations of this type, I should have let my opinion be known.

I blame myself for not acting on my instinct and calling Jason to remind him of the pressures surrounding the game and the importance of being a sobering influence on the players.

I blame myself that no matter the examples we have put in front of Jason and the many functions we have had as a group that no incident has arisen from, the lessons did not hit home with him and he has not adhered to the methods and standards set by example.

As I write this, [chairman] Nick Pappas and [CEO] Shane Richardson are deliberating over what Jason has submitted to them in response to the breach notice that was handed to him last week at the instruction of the South Sydney Football Club Board.

I will point out that although I do not sit on the board, I appoint two of the seven board members.

Peter sits on the board and has two board votes.

The member company vote in two board members and the Juniors have a seat as well.

The question before the chairman and the chief executive is: Did Jason Taylor break the code of conduct that he is contractually bound by? And also, did he breach his actual employment contract?

I'm not sure that there is much room for interpretation - sympathies aside, it is a yes or no question.

I'm very sorry that Jason Taylor got hurt in this incident; whatever the shenanigans and antagonism that was going on, it is unfortunate that anyone got hurt.

No doubt the kernel of this incident may seem relatively minor to many, but the fallout is where the damage lies.

It is my responsibility also to make good this public embarrassment with our major corporate sponsors, corporations that are negatively affected by any change in perception of our brand.

I feel empathy for Jason, I truly know what it is to have an incident blow up in your face and cause shockwaves through your life.

In the past I have put my parents and my wife and my extended family through some terrible times and I'm sorry for every moment of those public floggings that they have received the residual fallout from.

I'm embarrassed just to type that sentence; some things just don't go away easily.

I have learned that regrets are a good source of knowledge.

I have learned to own and take responsibility for those times when I haven't been at my best.

There has been many an opportunity that has left my professional life because of people's perceptions that I am rough around the edges and perhaps unreliable.

I work hard on trying to let people know that I am better than the worst of me, it's the only thing I can do.

I think Jason has great potential as a coach. I don't for a moment think that if there is a negative outcome for him in this, it will be the end of his coaching career.

Jason has it within him to rise above this current situation and learn from it.

I also empathise with our current squad of players, they are a great bunch of guys and I know that they want this situation put to rest so they can all start focusing on next season.

Thanks for the opportunity to respond. RC