George Williams' shock exit blasted | Hoops hits back | NRL 360

[@martynrobinson2628]

Kent refuses to hang out his mate Ricky...... Rubbish show... Lara and benny are the only ones that are professional

[@mickusachus]

Yeah for sure she adds class to the show. The 2 clowns are junk

[@imalwaysright]

He was batting hard for Ricky 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@shanehodges6980]

yeah lara is so professional "should the raiders just give up now is the season gone for them" she asks the most inane questions and has no grasp on football at all

[@davidsargent9359]

Hang on a mo. Let’s just leave the journos aside for a mo. Williams wants OUT. Can’t stop asking for an out. Would you wanna play NRL with that type of bloke?? Could you coach that type of petty personality?? $70,000 a MONTH and he wants out and more. You wanna win, you need competitors! He doesn’t want to compete anymore.... for the Raiders.

[@martynrobinson2628]

@@davidsargent9359 mate totally agree and I am happy with the raiders move on this. The point I guess I'm trying to make is, Lara and benny seem on the money when they say the problems run deeper than just a homesick halfback... Kent refuses to accept that as any possibility due to his mate coaching raiders... He should have a bit of backbone and state he's sticking up for Ricky instead of hiding it by jumping down Lara and Ben's throats when they mention it

[@Jp-do9ny]

Hooper talks about Rugby leauge news like hes solved a murder case. He's pure cringe.

[@shanehodges6980]

you saying hte word cringe pretty much sums you up, dont watch it if you dont like it, go support a person that can't honor a contract and expects to be paid 6 months to be homesick and not even bother training or playing. lmao.

[@arigold9448]

I love it

[@deaddropholiday]

@Vankruze You do know that real journalists don't consider sports journalists - journalists, don't you?

[@Nile15rush_fj]

@@deaddropholiday mate they are journos regardless. They are not supposed to be likeable people, they are supposed to find the truth whether people like it or not. Hoops and Kenty are straight shooters,they don't care about your feelings they will tell it how it is

[@deaddropholiday]

@@Nile15rush_fj No. They are not journalists. A journalist isn't financially dependent on the well-being of the thing he's investigating. They are co-dependant on the very sport they write for. Woodward & Bernstein weren't reliant on Richard Nixon's White House to continue writing about politics. If they were they would never have spoken about Watergate. That's because it's a CONFLICT OF INTEREST. Besides - if they even knew how to spell the word "journalist" they would have invited Williams to give his side of the story instead of delivering a hatchet job. That's the LEAST courtesy they should offer.

[@6wfacer]

1: Dr Hooper is in the house - apparently an expert in mental health as he knows what homesickness looks like.... 2: Going after George because his manager is ringing round clubs - er that’s what managers do! The only way they get paid is by players resigning or moving elsewhere! There’s a very good chance that George had no idea that these conversations were going on. 3: The majority of people going in on George for not finishing his contract are the same people that want QRL to register Folau - despite him being under contract with Catalans Dragons. Massive amounts of hypocrisy! 4: Out of the 3 “journalists/reporters” on the table, only Lara is level-headed. Both Hooper and Kent keep making false statements (in Kent’s example “Raiders were going to release him at the end of the season” which Lara had to correct and say they were giving him a 3 month break) and both clearly got offended when the subject of them discussing info clearly leaked to them by Raiders management and that the players were retorting on social media. 4: Honestly the best part of 360 is when they have the current / recently retired players on. Apart from that it’s just journos spouting utter bollocks

[@rychmckenzie7881]

Pretty sure Williams was unhappy the headline said he dumped the team by text.

[@imalwaysright]

Those other 2 dont understand Twitter. The headline was clearly sensationalist and provocative. He was responding to that. People can be annoyed at that even though the article is correct. The headline is intentionally trying to create drama

[@JohnnyDogs1978]

Most people don't read past the headline, a huge percentage don't. When it's wrong or a lie of course he's going to be upset.

[@H0tchips]

Lazy sensationalist rubbish clickbait headline that cannot be defended. "Well you have to read the whole story!" - Bullshit. Don't write completely rubbish headlines for clickbait!!!

[@thundercat7163]

Stop deleting my comments I screen shot them then upload to a Reddit group with over 100,000 members everyone is talking about how James Hooper is a coward. I've written emails to beyond blue and the black dog institution . James Hooper need to apologize and

[@dinosaucers6704]

James Hooper is now judging people's mental states from Twitter photos.

[@6wfacer]

What does “being homesick” look like? I know let’s ask that grub Hooper...

[@marcusgrimshaw692]

And he just ignores the caption clearly showing he’s missing home. He’s a 🤡

[@BassPanda]

Ah yeah, look at this say cheese Christmas picture that's he's in with someone elses family, looks happy there 🤣🤣🤣 the absolute rubbish they're talkin 🤦

[@martynrobinson2628]

Benny and Lara are way better than the other 2 clowns.... The way Kent and hopper speak down to Lara is unacceptable.... She made way more valid points but Kent was protecting Ricky

[@mickusachus]

Yeah how she can deal working with those clowns beats me.

[@Chadceeka]

She didn't make one valid point

[@martynrobinson2628]

@@Chadceeka that the problems are deeper than just the halfback.... That is a valid point but you have your opinion 👍

[@gripandhikekettlebells]

I agree.. Boys club sux

[@Nile15rush_fj]

@@martynrobinson2628 Lara knows her footy but she gotta stand up for herself. Kenty and the boys show no mercy. Kenty especially, I was cracking up when he was walking all over James Graham and Benji on the show lol. He's got no respect for reputations,

[@sammoore9020]

How Paul Kent and James Hooper treat Lara's presence on the show is appalling; constantly interjecting and dismissing her. At least she attempts to act like a credible journalist and give both perspectives on stories unlike the other two who are just puppets for clubs and managers.

[@bus5683]

Simp

[@nash3timemvp]

Simp

[@richardlavigne6382]

I felt that while watching she was irrelevant to them

[@azafry8990]

Kent does it with everyone, including ex legend players. He’s a joke but thinks he’s the greatest league mind around

[@mickusachus]

At least we can all see it.

[@JohnnyDogs1978]

When the headline is wrong people don't want to read the article because they feel like they've already been lied to.

[@internetcommenter6145]

Fox League laughing their way to the bank with their clickbait head lines.

[@macka9999]

Yeah hooper's a flog. Agree with the players on that one. Good luck to Williams, blokes a weapon.

[@davidsargent9359]

You can have him I’m SICK of the bulls*** some of these guys bring He’s earning $70,000 per MONTH but wants a beachside club, before his homesickness will go away. Bateman did this Williams can go home. It’s what HE WANTS. You wanna play NRL with someone who’s not, you go for it

[@clutch7548]

@@davidsargent9359 hes going back to england to have his baby champ...

[@mickojw]

@@davidsargent9359 mate I feel Williams pain, Canberra is a absolute dump.... would have to pay me a lot more than 70k a month to live and work in that shithole

[@Johhny_B]

Good luck to Williams in what? Ripping off Canberra for as much money as possible? Or for his plane flight home? lol

[@clutch7548]

@@Johhny_B who are you Johnny to act like a saint? Williams played his ass off every game he was there If you cant understand mental health battles in a foreign country with a pregnant wife you are a bell end!

[@domodoeslife4741]

So sensational headlines is part of the issue. These guys are clowns

[@waysb7450]

These guys are becoming the sports version of American Fox News haha

[@jamesbrennan7355]

Becoming? 😂

[@waysb7450]

@@jamesbrennan7355 hahaha

[@youareawesome5236]

You mean CNN

[@yungtaipan2693]

*CNN

[@liamhuxley9961]

They work for the same company that runs that channel.

[@sonnQ]

Hoops the fake news journo 👍

[@olivercraig8358]

Their actually tryna use players liking a post to get at them 😂😂

[@mauharley]

Hooper and Kent are gutter journalists. That's the real story.

[@ajayharry987]

A-fucking-men. These two aren’t journalists they are just paparazzi. These are the two who said Parra was interested in Katoni Staggs, look what happened then.

[@Nile15rush_fj]

@@ajayharry987 Parra were interested but Kotoni is a lifelong Broncos fan he was never going to sign for them

[@ajayharry987]

@@Nile15rush_fj fair point, would you agree that Kent and hoops are annoying

[@user-yn4sl2dd3l]

George offered to see out the year! He requested a release at the END of the year. We have had a global pandemic where he has been unable to see his family and his Mrs is now pregnant. I believe if we hadn't had the pandemic Williams (and possibly Bateman) would have seen out their contracts. This gossip rumour clickbait lazy reporting is awful. They also all talk over the lady presenting too.

[@MotivatedMan]

The fact that they are openly talking about the headline and the article being completely different is what’s wrong with Journalism. “He’s reacted to the headline but hasn’t read the article” If your headline has no relevance to the actual article, how is he the one whose in the wrong?

[@Johhny_B]

It has relevance, because it was a text message that started it all.

[@emanx2600]

Hooper = Steven A Smith Kenty = Skip Bayless Ikin = Max Kellerman

[@JohnnyDogs1978]

Haha, perfect.

[@jamieanderson2345]

Not many Aussies will get this, but I definitely did.

[@jimmybaird8850]

Haha so true

[@adzk7239]

youre wrong max kellerman and heres why

[@thundercat7163]

There have been plenty of negative headlines for NRL players in recent weeks and it seems that poor behaviour on the drink isn’t limited to the players. Fox Sports chief league reporter James Hooper will appear in Downing Centre court on October 4 on charges related to destroying and damaging property. It was the result of big night gone wrong. He is accused of damaging a car and was found in a bad way on the car bonnet by the owner. He was not arrested at the time and taken by ambulance to hospital. He was later served with a court attendance notice. Those who have talked to Hooper say that he has no recollection of the matter and he knows he has done the wrong thing. He is doing something about it. He told his employers about the incident. I have been made aware of the incident and the charges by a host of players, who clearly think there is a double standard in these matters - that the media are quick to rip into players, but they protect their own. Since the incident, Hooper has sensibly stayed out of the firing line when it comes to matters involving bad player behaviour. He has kept his strong opinions to football and has not been judging players’ private lives.

[@MartyMcFly3]

Can I just give a shout out to the underrated but highly appreciated Englishman Elliot Whitehead. A true professional & has always given his all for the Raiders in multiple positions for many years now. I hope he stays at the club until his retirement cos that's one Englishman others should aspire to. #BLEEDGREEN 💚

[@codyk3284]

Well said,,sadly there ain,t many like him,,,Williams is a leech

[@phattylicious83]

Mr worldwide too hung up on his agenda to present "the facts" and couldn't keep up with what Benny was trying to say at the end 😂

[@josephsharp5678]

2 million over 3 years was a waste of money for George Williams to be honest.

[@bevanhohns3498]

Surely the producers can see the bias on both Kent and Hooper. Cringe worthy.. Lara Pitt 100 percent on the money and was treated poorly everytime she dared to suggest Canberra have issues.

[@CaptainPeter22]

To be fair to George though, who the hell wants to live in Canberra

[@flimflama9333]

He doesn't look home sick there 😂 what does he expect him to stay at home crying or not even be able to fake a smile, not to mention, he even captioned the post with a specific mention of it being hard not to be with his Family 😂 I agree his in the wrong by being bitter now but that Gary Belcher story being portrayed that the expectations on not just the players but also their families is to sacrifice seeing Ur loved ones in the last month's of there lives so a guy can come and throw a footy around, I dunno, it just seems like a pretty weird things to insinuate, these days Id hope most of them are making enough money they aren't put in that situation cause I certainly wouldn't expect another person to not see there dying mum so I could play a game of footy .... Unless it's a origin decider or gf. JK's.

[@JoeVike]

The biggest thing for us fanatical raiders fans is that it’s de ja vu. Bateman wanted an upgrade during the week of our first grand final in 25 years. Wtf. That broke our hearts. It took away so much focus from something a lot of us have never experienced. Then made 2020 a debacle by constantly being in the media and also wanting more money whilst injured after deciding to have late, late offseason shoulder surgery. The entitlement is astounding. Where is the perspective and the love for the club for getting you to Australia, letting you test yourself in the nrl, taking a risk on you in a new competition and paying you handsomely for it. Bateman signed a 3 year deal, was unproven and played 34 games in two years. George Williams has played 31 games in 18 months and we thought having a great childhood mate in Ryan Sutton would help him settle. Plus trying to get his dad from Perth to visit during border restrictions. apparently not. We found Josh Hodgson at Hull KR and as he freely admits he was only a running Hooker that lacked any finesse or skill. He came to us and we made him the 2nd most dominant Hooker in the game. Despite his recent troubles with his captaincy and form where is the gratitude for allowing him to become an Australian citizen (us sponsoring him as his employer) and paying him top dollar despite having two years out of the game with two ACL tears. Ryan Sutton was a bench prop at Wigan and Whitehead was found playing at Catalans. I would possibly say the only players that are the most grateful are whitehead and Sutton. And say Whitehead is the glue in the team too. These guys from nrl 360 can be idiots but if they focused on these points plus the existing story at play it can be seen Canberra support their players until they break their hearts and show disloyalty or no gratitude.

[@theforestofembarassment3300]

Gratitude for being an Australian citizen!!!! Gee thanks, I get to associate with the dregs of the anglosphere

[@imalwaysright]

Imagine how much money and resources they have wasted

[@thurboturbo6456]

Chris .....You are CORRECT !! Well said .....👍

[@thurboturbo6456]

@@theforestofembarassment3300 🤡

[@theforestofembarassment3300]

@@thurboturbo6456 Wow, how verbose. You really told me

[@mrfishmon5517]

Aussie clubs and pundits don’t care when Aussie players use Super League as a filler until they get a gig back in the NRL. Not nice is it? 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@Mikeallen0283]

😂 England players don't use the Nrl as a filler fella they use it to test if they are good enough Nrl is a 1000 times more elite then that super league rubbish Hence why players who have trouble cracking first grade in the Nrl can win the man of steel in England, there Secomd grade worthiness in the nrl is top tier in England 😂

[@jasonm1288]

@@Mikeallen0283 I watched a Super League game and Jake Mamo is carving it up..says it all

[@Mikeallen0283]

@@jasonm1288 exactly my point 😂 Jake mamo Now that says everything you need to know He wasn't even good enough for a club that was 3 time wooden spooners in the nrl 😂 😂

[@ryanmcguinness7898]

@@Mikeallen0283 he wasn't comparing bro to super league he was just getting a point across that bro players come over here untill a nrl club gets interested in them then they leave early, and I agree with you they do go to the nrl to test themselves and I don't blame them and yes nrl is alot off a higher standard but wigan have had there day and beat bronco's in there own back yard many years ago lol

[@jamesduncan5017]

If the Raiders were in the top 4 I bet he would of stayed cause there not going to play finals he doesn't want to stick around.

[@thatgnaralooguy]

Exactly. He wants the week off, while his 'mates' play.

[@danzigvssartre]

No one bothers to mention the Greg Williams is really not that much of a talent. Massive waste of money.

[@davidsargent9359]

Just go George! You don’t wanna be here , that means you’re NOT ALL IN. If you’re not all in, we don’t want ya. Homesick?? Ask the Manly and the Roosters how homesick you are 😆 As a Raider since inception, allow me to inform you that you are NOT BIGGER THAN THE CLUB! You leave. We get another half. It’s THAT EASY to replace you. Think about that on the plane ride home. Adios

[@danzigvssartre]

The guy really has zero talent anyway. I miss the days when the likes of Meninga, Belcher, Steve Walters made Canberra their home and won Grand Finals for us.

[@ASideChannel]

Just watching this back, Hoops pretty much admits that George says his mental state wasn’t good, and the same day Ricky and Furner decided to let him go. I am a raiders fan however that was how it looked from the outside

[@Wawasjohn]

I’m a raiders fan I’m fine. The media push up so much rubbish. Raiders are fine watch them go on the run

[@jaynedavis3655]

Let's hope so mate , starting with a must Win v broncos

[@MrRobfaint]

I would like to see Paul Kent stop talking over people

[@cp2342]

And James Hopper everytime Lara tried speaking he spoke over her

[@nash3timemvp]

Spare a thought for the average person who has to work away from home for a lot less, a overly precious, so called " Professional " athlete earning a six figure salary getting home sick like a toddler on their first sleep over. Get the worlds smallest violin for George Williams somebody.

[@mrfrisky2997]

Yet when Leeds granted Trent Merrin a realise for similar reasons they handled it way better and made sure Merrin was ok and they helped him sort out everything he needed to go home early - despite making him captain and Leeds struggling they still let him go home due to home sickness- the fans treated him with respect and the club acted professionally and even though Merrin left them high and dry mid season it didn't depend into a farce like this.

[@marcusgrimshaw692]

@@mrfrisky2997 it’s never a problem when a player from Aus wants to go home, only the other way

[@mrfrisky2997]

@@marcusgrimshaw692 Ho yes, seems that way...

[@nash3timemvp]

@@mrfrisky2997 Applies to Trent Merrin as well, I don't have sympathy for highly paid, precious ,entitled athletes moaning about their lot in life when compared to the people below them. Like I said , get the worlds smallest violin for these narcissistic clowns, you're a "professional" athlete start fucking acting like it.

[@mrfrisky2997]

@@nash3timemvp Agreed

[@pagiaparker1046]

James hooper trying to cover his story cause he lied , then gets salty when Williams calls him out online .. Kent and hooper organised their points before the show to bully Williams. Those guys look stupid trying to cover up .. Kent is hoopers daddy

[@Johhny_B]

What did he lie about, stupid? The only thing that was slightly incorrect was that he said that Williams had been given an immediate release, which he had been, it was just that Williams hadn't signed it yet.

[@pagiaparker1046]

@@Johhny_B he lied about knowing the full story stupid . Obviously he didn’t .. then his trying to add facts to make his lie sound not as bad ..

[@pagiaparker1046]

Look how defensive he is towards the chick , she can’t even get her response before hooper and his daddy cut her off . Hooper and Kent shouldn’t cover media because of their biased opinions towards the game and certain teams in the nrl

[@Johhny_B]

@@pagiaparker1046 The only thing he didn't know was that Williams hadn't signed the release yet? Everything else was pretty accurate.

[@Wawasjohn]

Season isn’t over wtf. Sammy is a great halfback he will link with wighton well.

[@jimmybill1963]

Yeah nah

[@epicbeardface2981]

Williams bluffed and got called out rightly by the raiders.

[@jaimiller7679]

How good is Kenty. Respectful. Unreal insight. Great debater. Open minded. Listens to others. Good bloke

[@spinmyhead1667]

He’s a puppet

[@ghi34]

Lara the only one making sense

[@blueboy1788]

Oh look, Ricky's best mates are on TV again, wonder who they're going to side with this time....

[@PlzLikMe]

Any other time Kent will rip into the club....

[@callums3172]

Paul kents reply to the players who clearly know the truth is hilarious hahaha

[@AHD4020]

Ricky needs to stop buying UK players

[@randy6850]

Elliot Whitehead best English import.

[@daveoliver8308]

As an Englishman I'm a bit embarrassed. I support St Helens but I support any pommie in the nrl, even the Wiganers. But I think George has let the Raiders down to be honest. I remember Matt King signing for Warrington and admitting that him and his partner didn't like living there (I don't blame them) but he said he would do the right thing and honour his contract which he did. George should have honoured his contract but I feel a bit bad for him with these 'journalists' dragging his name through the mud.

[@jameslonsdale6113]

He offered to honour his contract till the end of the year, this was agreed last summer. You cannot believe a word Kent and Cooper say. They are compulsive liars and they are a disgrace to their profession and the NRL. They need accusing or they need to face the people they slam face to face

[@daveoliver8308]

@@jameslonsdale6113 to be fair I believe you. I didn't know who they were but I watched them talking about George Williams and they were clearly biased from the start.

[@ragingbull5430]

Hooper calling social media a sewer, that's rich coming from a legacy media employee

[@imalwaysright]

Especially Fox, who are peak sewer

[@nickxegas780]

hoops the flog

[@thebpulse6477]

Everyone rags on kenty and hoops and calls them flogs and all that but continue to watch the show every week 🤔

[@tonysimon6312]

First time Ive watched Kent or Hoop's and they are indeed both flog's. Iken made dome vey good points, so did the girl but the 2 so call journalists made it like a school playground argument.

[@adzk7239]

hate watchers is a real thing

[@moograce10]

In this current day and age, toilet paper has more worth than player contracts.

[@coreystrong636]

Raiders fan here.. Goodbye George nice to know ya!

[@jaynedavis3655]

Yeah you sound like a typical Canberran , probably never set foot out of Belconnen

[@coreystrong636]

@@jaynedavis3655 um yeah ok guess your right how could you possibly be wrong hey lol

[@MattyGalvin]

So many snitches at these footy clubs. They all got hoops kenty and buzz on speed dial. I remember josh Maguire got set up with a fake story by team mates to catch him out leaking to a journo. There all snitches

[@imalwaysright]

Tell us more about this story 👀

[@greybush5361]

Baldy Kent and buzz are Australia's biggest blow arses surely you've worked that out

[@MattyGalvin]

@@imalwaysright back at the Broncos a few players got together(from memory ben hunt and matt gillet were 2) suspecting a player was the one leaking stories to the media. They made up fake stories to tell to different players they suspected and waited to see which one made the news and good old Josh Maguire was the rat

[@imalwaysright]

@@MattyGalvin you know what’s funny? He does look like a grub.

[@gripandhikekettlebells]

Stop cutting Lara off. Let her finish her sentences

[@thurboturbo6456]

Well she didn't have a clue what she was talking about !!!!

[@bigsmoke76]

Days of our lives

[@odessaallones304]

If fox league said to James Hooper or Paul Kent if they called in sick having mental health issues we are sacking you (realising them from their contracts ) they would quite rightly face litigation, from both of them, I am not sure how moral an organisation Fox League are but they seem to have a vendetta against George, and what does agitating for a release look like .? He has been playing well his team mates say he rips in at training to suggest otherwise appears vindictive, Paul and James seem happy George won’t be paid anymore, if players get banned they don’t loose their pay and how does that help the players mental health . Good work Fox shows the type of set up you are .

[@Wawasjohn]

Ikin u can’t blame raiders for George wanting to take his pregnant wife home

[@billf9621]

Some of the absolute nonsense being spouted here. Comparing moving to Canberra to Brisbane to being in the middle of a global pandemic where travel especially between UK and Australia is so difficult and then sticking up a picture of him on Christmas Day and saying he doesn't look too homesick here - what do you expect, him crying and sulking in the corner on every picture taken. Bunch of oaths with 0 understanding to mental health and well-being. Its a no wonder men don't speak out because this is what happens

[@jareddiamond6607]

Soyboy

[@billf9621]

@@jareddiamond6607 from a man named Jared

[@Jedsinclair]

Spot on mate, and its almost like peoples state of mind can change over time anyway. The fact these fuckin leeches get air time calling blokes out for their mental health is wrong.

[@Johhny_B]

@@Jedsinclair They're calling him out for crying about being home sick, yet still wanting to stay the year and collect his pay, without having to play or train. You really are a dumbo.

[@Jedsinclair]

@@Johhny_B Williams clearly said himself that he was happy to stay for the rest of the year, he just needed this coming training/game off (kinda like how papalii had a week to refresh earlier in the year). Hooper and Kent only spun the story that way once Williams called them out for the clickbait headline.

[@RK-ml2ns]

Off field issues aside, the Raiders have fallen hard and fast. Imo, the club, players and coach have never recovered from losing the GF to the Roosters. They were in the box seat to win that match and were the better side for most of the game. I remember thinking after full time, will the club recover from this GF defeat? Obviously not...

[@tomasbidois7857]

Ive had foxtel for the last 10 years and am a die hard rugby league fan, But this style of tabloid journalism is beyond me. I cancelled foxtel unsubcribed from all there social media content pages. It has to stop they have no relationships with any players anymore and it appears more and more than between Kenty, hooper and buzz (whoever they are) are in this solely too scratch there own egos. Sack the 3 of them and i swear people will come back. Watching freddy and joey sit on a couch and chat footy is such a pleasure.

[@justinmorton7201]

My first ever team I barracked for has fallen apart. Needs a clean out.

[@Saints_Mariner]

Another comment to say these two are chatting rubbish. Hooper who was certain Reynolds was going to the sharks and Kent who's Ricky Stuart's 'friend'.

[@ellecee7974]

We want equality in media and sport... so we put a credible woman and journalist on the panel... and we also crush and interrupt her every attempt at being said credible panellist

[@samohanian9339]

On that note_ watch out the Roosters-The green machine are coming after you tonight

[@greedyrooster3337]

LMAO. 40 odd from the Roosters 3rd grade. 😅

[@yorkshirepad]

Have Trent Merrin, Ben Barba, Israel Folou, Chris Sandow or James Segeyaro commented on this story?

[@TK-cx3ls]

There’s only 1 common denominator at that club right now in the middle of all the beef. And it doesn’t seem the players to be beefing with other players. 🤔 Players with coach tho

[@norfolkinchance]

James Hooper needs to keep in favour with contacts at clubs so he can get future stories, players will come and go. When you look at Facebook groups, there are tens of thousands of people in Australia who are unable to get their parents into Australia for a visit (they are not Citizens or Perm Residents with the Covid restrictions). There are strict conditions on getting an exemption to leave Australia. If they manage to get an exemption (usually for long periods of leave) getting a return flight, without being bumped, is almost impossible. Any new mother, wants her mum to be around her. Look at it from the player's view... can't get home and back in 3 months, can't get the parents into Australia, new baby on the way and new mum doesn't have her mum around, doesn't know when parents can visit... no wonder the kids head isn't in the best place.

[@nickalan5539]

I can't stand this Hooper gronk

[@TimothyWinnard]

All I’m bothered about is Warrington sign him up and not Wigan

[@stoneagepig3768]

Nearly every season a southern hemisphere player in super league gets homesick and are granted release as soon as they want if it's instantly or end of season they get released without bitterness and are wished all the best. He made it perfectly clear he wanted to go at the end of the season and Canberra throw a tantrum it's pathetic. Gonna enjoy not watching you're touch rugby competition in the future, well done Australia you took the greatest game of all time and made it exceptional, and now you're breaking it piece by piece. If it ain't broke don't fix it. This is what you get for selling out to greed and allowing media too much power and you all Sat on your hands and ignored what was developing in plain sight now it's all coming back and biting you all on the arse. Don't think for one second I'm taking any joy in this it's as heart breaking for English rugby league too.

[@sykoticvl]

Wait so headlines don't need to be truthful?

[@whitebuffulo]

Stay strong Raiders we will get through this. Lara saying to herself "stay strong Lara you will get through this".

[@deaddropholiday]

We've all been here though, guys. Head full of plans and ideas and then that special lady in your life wags her finger from side to side and says "Nope. That aint happening!!!". Do you side with your job - or do you side with She Who Must Be Obeyed?? Silly question, really. I'd rather take on JWH and Victor Radley at the same time than the Missus.

[@neilkruse835]

Unfortunately the term "mental health" is now being used as a blank cheque by players and managers to get out of trouble or contractual situations that they don't like. As soon as someone drops the "my mental heath is suffering" line there is an expectation that they can do what they want. People allow these players to get away with their faux mental struggles because no one wants to be accused of not caring about mental health. In 2021 that allegation is almost as bad as being accused of racism. Just look at what happens whenever a footy player commits an off-field atrocity. Like clockwork the player's manager will drop the "he is experiencing mental struggles and has checked himself into a mental health facility" line and INSTANTLY that player goes from moron to victim. It's not just a cheap tactic deployed to deflect blame and to guilt others into doing what you want, but it's also an insult to the many people that suffer from real mental health issues. I'm sorry, but whenever I hear a player speak of their "mental health struggles" when they are 1) in trouble or 2) trying to get out of a contract, I become extraordinarily cynical.

[@allanhamilton2178]

He been offered better money from a another club for next year. I would have let him go from the start and only pay him the last game he played and not give him a release until he's contract is over for him. And when the club is ask for he's release from another club with in the year of he's contract they should ask for the full amount they offered him from the start to retain their money back.

[@ianchuter3696]

It's the Ricky Stuart effect... Amazed the so called reporters ignore history... Players, as a group can only take him for so long... He ha mellowed, because he knew he had to... He has only survived so long because it's Canberra... Other coaches could have achieved more with the team they've had since 2017...

[@jamesbrennan7355]

I’m an Aussie stuck overseas for over a year and stranded like thousands of others are. Hearing this story makes me sickened and I guess you can gather why

[@retroray58warby98]

Hooper thinks he’s Detective Colombo, lol.

[@jamesmorton1977]

Wouldn't waste my breath on Hooper !! (Wigan fan)

[@Nile15rush_fj]

Glad you English are now acquainted with the brilliant rugby league journalism of the great James Hooper

[@jamesmorton1977]

@@Nile15rush_fj true mate to be honest just been watching some fletch and Hindy .... they talk more sense than some of these aussie journos!!🤣👍

[@jameslonsdale6113]

The only thing worse than the new rules are kenty and coops.

[@Holliday-ji1sk]

Baldy and that fella who played 1 NRL game talk absolute shite, clueless. Love to live near the beach hahaha I think that hoops needs to start thinking people are telling him bollocks to make him look daft 😂

[@jimjohnston4181]

I love sam Williams but he isn't gonna work at the raiders. He ain't quick enough, drop him back to the stallions.

[@Wawasjohn]

His fine, wighton will do the running and flash Sammy will control the game and kick winning field goals.

[@jimjohnston4181]

Wawasjohn I hope little willy is the next JT. He has the brain and heart, just think he needs more speed. Sprint training.

[@utaichoro]

Hoops hits back🤦‍♂️🤦‍♀️🤦 get George williams on to discuss it...wouldn't be surprised if he hit you 🤣🤣🤣

[@kevinwaters5872]

Ricky Stuart burns his players out. He always has. Canberra needs a player clean out , so Stuart has some one “new” to demoralise.

[@ronaldwhite5670]

Gary ......you’re 100% right mate.

[@mauharley]

Belcher's story is totally irrelevant. Belcher's wife wasn't pregnant and 10,000 miles away from home during a global pandemic. Big fkn difference. Something's clearly rotten at the Raiders, and the fish rots at the head. Ricky Stuart is getting his lapdog Kent to make the players out to be the bad guys, when clearly the players have had a gutful of Stuart.

[@Jp-do9ny]

@@mauharley Agreed. Garys situation is nowhere near the same

[@markthompson3936]

Demand the money well earn it. Sticky's oven burns hotter than most because he knows if you're getting paid you effing earn it.

[@samohanian9339]

If someone wants to go just let him go. I think Canberra management have done the good thing for him and the club. Move on.

[@jaynedavis3655]

Oh Canberra the most un Australian of places, freezing bollock cold , and the people are like heroin addicts ,addicted to boredom, I think I may soon throw in my lot as well , Love the Raiders thou

[@gordonfairbrother8421]

Simple stop signing super league player when NRL players are superior..but at least they are humble 🤣😂

[@MikeUK]

grubbly relionships between senior Canberra officials to journalists, get that fixed then maybe canberra players will have more trust in the officials

[@philipwalker1243]

To be fair as a Pome import to Aus and having lived in Canberra I can fully understand

[@danzigvssartre]

Lol. Because the best way to escape the Canberra cold and its lack of beaches is to go live in Wigan.

[@nickrad6966]

@@danzigvssartre you can go for a swim off Wigan Pier, you don’t know what you’re talking about.

[@danzigvssartre]

@@nickrad6966 Wigan Pier? Just like Bondi, except no sun, no sand and plenty of mud in the water.😂

[@freemankenyoane2883]

Don't sign this England players... they are headaches

[@Camularity]

Defamation can still be an issue based on the title of an article regardless of the content of the article. The title was false. I would have reacted the same. Journalist integrity card!!! Click bait titles causing issues is the responsibility of the editor and news outlet not the reader to ignore it and read the article.

[@gripandhikekettlebells]

Mocking ones mental situation is wrong

[@bc0150]

I used to live far away from home.. I was extremely homesick and I was alone. But I woke up every day, put on my uniform, and went to work. Now I know it's not about money but I did that for $800 a week. I ended up finishing my job and handing my two weeks notice in and moved home. I understand the pain. Playing games but doesn't help your situation. I held my head up high at work and never missed a day. I get some people are more mentally tough than others. But yer sad to see what happened but by the sounds of it he needs to go home anyway. Some people just can't hack it and that's ok.

[@amsterdamoriginalsaustralia]

i feel sorry for the raiders fans and players and the clubs situation

[@peterleasi5905]

Hoops forgot to mention thst Ricky Stewart rang him and drop George Williams in it! And George Williams is upset that the clickbait title suggesting that he dumped Canberra Raiders by text which is false!

[@bluespig1]

This is why few pommies cut it in the NRL.

[@mrfishmon5517]

Just shows how good Williams is. If he was trash the aussie pundits wouldn’t care that he’s leaving lol. Lets see how they get on with one trick pony sidestep Wighton 😂

[@RealRen3977]

I just want to slap Lex Luthor oh I mean Hooper everytime he talks coz he's just a hater 😂

[@deaddropholiday]

To lose one pommie is luck, to lose THREE as well as Cotric, the best prop in the comp under performing, wives in twitter revolts. Yep that's all Williams fault

[@kennethbarrington5773]

Self entitlement at its best

[@valhallasf628]

Like watching the fucking bbc news with these two. Take away your personal relationships

[@jimjohnston4181]

Williams leaves due to realisation of match fixing and rigging.

[@greddy2JZ]

Lol this shot is laughable bagging him out while playing all his stuff ups in the background.. bunch of dogs