Sonny Bill

[Alanslegal]

Is it just me? Or is SBW's excuse for abandoning the NRL and breaking his contract just a big load of BS!?!??!


Sonny Bill blames Folkes - leaguehq.com.au

 

[simongr]

This was a shock to me last night - having been overseas for four weeks I heard nothing about this until I saw the news last night - all very strange...

 

[Kendall Roy]

The Bulldogs & NRL have taken him to court.

Will be an interesting test case for the vailidity of player contracts.

 

[timh]

Hi, been lurking here for a while. Great site.

It doubt it will be a test case for player contracts. The NRL (& Bulldogs) will struggle to get anything. They will probably get damages but it wont be much. Would probably only amount to any salary he received after leaving (if any) and part of any 'sign on' payments he received. This is because contracts for personal services (employment contracts) are not subject to specific performance (Making the employee finish the contract). The only remedy for breach of contract (in this case) is damages.

There will be a non compete clause in his contract, however, the court considers these clauses unconscionable and will only be enforced in to a limited degree (probably playing for another NRL club). It almost certainly would not be enforced to the extent of playing a different sport in a different country.

Hope that shines some light on this. I seriously doubt the courts will treat a rugby league players contract as different from any other employee's contract.

 

[JohnK]

Sonny Bill should never have signed a 5 year contract. Whilst I think walking on the Bulldogs was not right I can see it from his point of view as well. He was not happy and maybe he will never be happy. Why would the Bulldogs want to keep a player than is not happy anyway? Obviously his personal state of mind is going to affect his performance and there would be no point hanging on to someone who is not committed to the club the full 100%....

 

[straitman]

Sonny who :?:

 

[oz_mark]

Sonny who :?:

My thought exactly.

 

[straitman]

My thought exactly.

Can't be anyone important as it's all gone quiet :!:

 

[serfty]

No real fuss for me;I'd be much more concerned if Greg Inglis shot through in the same manner ...:shock:

 

[simongr]

Hmm "jail time" for Sonny Bill. Since when did breach of contract lead in itself to potential jail time? Seems like someone in the NSW Judicial system, the Bulldogs and the NRL are getting puffed up with their own importance.

 

[UP4014]

Hmm "jail time" for Sonny Bill. Since when did breach of contract lead in itself to potential jail time? Seems like someone in the NSW Judicial system, the Bulldogs and the NRL are getting puffed up with their own importance.

I think they are pushing that as contempt, for not turning up at the court the first time.

However, as he isn't Australian and doesn't need to return (yes had a house, but it was mortgaged) what would the NRL do, Interpol ! haha they don't like having done to them what they do to others.

 

[vitaminp]

And now Toulon are looking to reach some financial deal with the Bulldogs to put it to bed.

Once the contempt of court comes into play the NRL become irrelevant - its up to the DPP. Having said that, I don't imagine the NSW DPP would be interested in pursuing a NZ citizen, in France.

 

[Alanslegal]

Hmm "jail time" for Sonny Bill. Since when did breach of contract lead in itself to potential jail time?

SBW playing any games outside of the NRL would be breaching a court order ie the injunction and for not obeying those orders (by him playing) would be a contempt of Court.

A quick motion would be heard in Courtand is very likely that a warrant issued for his arrest. (that's why the NRL/Bulldogs waited for the 2nd game to pass first so they would argue he really did not adhere to the Courts Orders by playing two games)

It then follows....

Once the contempt of court comes into play the NRL become irrelevant - its up to the DPP. Having said that, I don't imagine the NSW DPP would be interested in pursuing a NZ citizen, in France.

It's not up to the DPP anymore once the Court makes and Order and issues an arrest warrant.

The likelihood of chasing SBW half way around the world to arrest him and extradite him is extremely unlikely but what this means is if SBW returns to AUS he would be arrested the moment he reaches immigration.

You say it doesn't matter to not return to AUS because he only has a mortgaged house here ... well it would matter because what happens if there was a Rugby Tri-Series between Australia, New Zealand and England one day in AUS?

He won't be daring to venture to Australia .... and thus this is why SBW has now negotiated a financial settlement so he can come to AUS and play rugby one day. From what I read, SBW was directly involved in the negotiations as well, with Toulon.

So of course SBW took this very seriously despite making numerous threats at the NRL re:salary capping, restraint of trade,racism, poor workplace