Russell Packer - OFFICIAL..

He's reminding me a lot of Michael Vick in regards to how he's rehabilitated himself. Can't wait to see him in our jersey next year.
 
Lets not put him on a too large of a pedestal. Hes done scumbag things.
As a football side, we need a filthy mongrel to scare opposition teams…but lets be careful with the role model talk.
 
@ said:
Lets not put him on a too large of a pedestal. Hes done scumbag things.
As a football side, we need a filthy mongrel to scare opposition teams…but lets be careful with the role model talk.
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Yes. A lot can be learned from Packers experience but lets leave it at that.
 
@ said:
@ said:
Lets not put him on a too large of a pedestal. Hes done scumbag things.
As a football side, we need a filthy mongrel to scare opposition teams…but lets be careful with the role model talk.

Yes. A lot can be learned from Packers experience but lets leave it at that.
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We have Reynold's as well.
 
@ said:
@ said:
Lets not put him on a too large of a pedestal. Hes done scumbag things.
As a football side, we need a filthy mongrel to scare opposition teams…but lets be careful with the role model talk.

Yes. A lot can be learned from Packers experience but lets leave it at that.
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Agree with both of you. I can cop that the bloke did his time and therefore should have the right to go back to work as any of us would, but it doesn't erase his past. Hopefully he leaves the mongrel for the footy field.
 
I don't see what is wrong with giving the guy credit for turning his life around. Many don't. What he did was a dog act, i'm sure he'd admit that himself, but i think if he continues on the road he's on contributing to the community, then i don't think he deserves to be defined by it. He could have ended up another Anthony Watts or gone down the same road Ryan Tandy did. He was smart enough to learn from what he did and better himself, which is the point of rehabilitation. Good on him.
 
The more that I have learnt about the guy since his outrageous attack, the more accepting I have been of him, whether at WT or not. He has had a wake up call and acted upon it, and continues to do so.
 
@ said:
The more that I have learnt about the guy since his outrageous attack, the more accepting I have been of him, whether at WT or not. He has had a wake up call and acted upon it, and continues to do so.
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100% agree
 
Was he the guy that took a pee while standing on the footy field? What a shocker! Now doing a uni course and helping disadvantaged kids? The turnaround of turnarounds
 
@ said:
Was he the guy that took a pee while standing on the footy field? What a shocker! Now doing a uni course and helping disadvantaged kids? The turnaround of turnarounds
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Have a look at the avatar of Masterton on here.
 
Russell Packer cashes in on his life transformation, receives Dean’s Award for studies
The Daily Telegraph
July 28, 2017 11:03am
“HE’S a completely different man to the one I first met.”

And with those words, Wests Tigers coach Ivan Cleary has anointed Russell Packer his new forward leader.

Indeed, Cleary was willing to pay $200,000 a season more than rival club St George Illawarra for the services of Packer.

It’s a monster deal that seemed near-impossible when Packer started drinking on the streets of New Zealand at the age of 12, and even more unlikely when he served a 12-month prison stint for stomping the head of a man in a brutal, alcohol-fuelled assault in 2013.

Fittingly though, it was in prison where Packer decided to turn his life around, quitting the drink and vowing to get educated.

Fast forward to 2017 and Packer is studying a commerce degree at the University of Wollongong. He recently received a Dean’s Award for his outstanding results.

Packer also spends time working with children with disabilities in the Wollongong area, has given up alcohol and taken self-improvement courses since being released from jail.

This transformation is why Cleary was so eager to get Packer to the Tigers as his forward leader.

“He’s got a great story, a story of hard knocks and coming out the other side, and that will resonate with lots of the boys here,” the Wests Tigers coach said.

“… It’s well documented, he’s had his setbacks. But I think he’s a completely different man to the one I first met and even the one I left at the Warriors.

“He’s really changed. He’d be the first to admit that he had to make some mistakes to get where he is now.

“He can actually be a real mentor for some of the young guys here. He knows what it’s like to be on the wrong side of things and he’s making up for it now.”

Packer credits much of his transformation to education, which was made possible by the Graduates of League program.

“I’ve been studying at the University of Wollongong since 2015 and utilising the Graduates of League program, which has been of huge benefit to me and my studies,” Packer told the Illawarra Mercury.

“Studying while you’re playing, even though it’s hard to juggle, is good because of programs like Graduates of League that are available to you.

“It’s great opportunity for [players] who want to go to university, the resources there are unbelievable and if you don’t utilise them it’s kind of on you.

“Just having help, someone to talk to, it’s a great resource and hopefully all the boys that use the Graduates of League program fully take on board everything available to them.”
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I can't wait for this bloke to get on board. As already mentioned, his earlier indiscretions were terrible but he obviously had a hard life growing up and has transformed his life 180 degrees. A massive credit to the bloke and what he is going to bring to the Tigers next year along with Matulino :sign:
 
Just touching on the above, it seems Cleary has got the Telegraph onside now. Another article appeared saying that Des should give Cleary a phone call asking him for advice on how to turn a football team around…it's a far cry from 2 months ago where we were moving to Perth.
 
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Just touching on the above, it seems Cleary has got the Telegraph onside now. Another article appeared saying that Des should give Cleary a phone call asking him for advice on how to turn a football team around…it's a far cry from 2 months ago where we were moving to Perth.
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Really? I'd love to put a few questions to those journo's on NRL 360 who were trashing us…

Idiots!! :laughing:
 
@ said:
Just touching on the above, it seems Cleary has got the Telegraph onside now. Another article appeared saying that Des should give Cleary a phone call asking him for advice on how to turn a football team around…it's a far cry from 2 months ago where we were moving to Perth.
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I think that journo may be a tigers fan and agree the majority on side now Kent had some positive words too but sure rothfield and Co still ready to strike.
 
We seamed to have turned a corner with the press. Ivan may be doing the right things but it's no coincidence that it is on the back of improved on field performance.

If we start next year poorly or get smashed last 3 rounds then they will turn again.
 
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