Current and former National Rugby League side Cronulla players have "been urged to reject any offer of reduced suspensions" from the NRL ahead of a meeting Wednesday morning where the parties are "expected to discuss bringing an end to the long-running saga," according to Brent Read of THE AUSTRALIAN. Law lecturer Martin Hardie, who spent last week attending the Australian Football League side Essendon hearing in the Federal Court, "called on Cronulla players to resist any compromise deal until the outcome of the AFL case had been determined." Hardie believes the Essendon case "could have ramifications for the Sharks and therefore many of the players" at the center of the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority investigation into use of supplements in the NRL (THE AUSTRALIAN, 8/19). In Sydney, Andrew Webster wrote Cronulla players past and present will meet ASADA and NRL suits in Sydney on Wednesday. Unfortunately, "it is not" the end. The "first reaction is: how bloody convenient." It all seems "grossly manufactured." Much like the "AFL's handling of Essendon, as three days of testimony in the Federal Court last week spectacularly illuminated" (SMH, 8/18). In Canberra, Chris Barrett reported former NRL Canberra winger Sandor Earl "is set to finally know his fate this week." A four-day hearing starting at Sydney's Administrative Appeals Tribunal on Tuesday "shapes as crucial to the future of the former Penrith and Canberra winger." After "almost a year in exile," Earl and his lawyer Tim Unsworth are "endeavouring to have overturned the player's entering into ASADA's register of findings by the agency's independent review body, the Anti-Doping Rule Violation Panel" (CANBERRA TIMES, 8/18).
TOUGH CROWD: In Melbourne, Brad Walter wrote if the upcoming NRL "clash" between Canterbury and South Sydney was played on a Sunday afternoon, officials believe it "could draw a crowd of about 50,000 at ANZ Stadium." Instead, the game has been scheduled for a Thursday night and "will be lucky to attract 25,000 fans" -- costing the Bulldogs about A$300,000 ($280,000). Most clubs have "similar complaints as Sunday afternoon is their preferred timeslot for home games but any match played then is the fifth choice or lower of Channel Nine and Fox Sports." A sub-committee of club representatives was formed at the last CEOs meeting to "open discussions with the NRL and the broadcasters about scheduling for next season" (THE AGE, 8/18).
