We Need the Truth!!!

[Art Vandelay]

Why was Luke Ball dropped in the first place?

Why didn't he sign the 3 year deal?

Why did he nominate only Collingwood as his prefferred destination?

Something happened.....I WANT the truth!!!

This is so unlike Luke Ball.

[saintbrat]

I don't need to know that
I just need to know his teammates are aware, and supportive of his decision what ever it may be.

and that he still loves the Saints and believes he has a future with them..

[Milan Faletic]

Why was Luke Ball dropped in the first place?

Why didn't he sign the 3 year deal?

Why did he nominate only Collingwood as his prefferred destination?

Something happened.....I WANT the truth!!!

This is so unlike Luke Ball.

Are you Daniel Caffee or Art Vandelay

You're a shocking latex salesman.

[BakesFan]

"You can't HANDLE the TRUTH!!"

[Milan Faletic]

"You can't HANDLE the TRUTH!!"

Was Art Vandelay in that movie?

Anyway I'll have to ask you nicely for those transfer orders

[PJ]

As supporters we will never know the full truth only parts that don't add up. Personally I've never thought Ball has looked happy since Ross has been there but now he has his chance to redeem himself or go to the Demons and convince them he is a man of strong moral fibre and worthy of their trust.

[fingers]

This is so unlike Luke Ball.

Do you know him?

[markp]

This is so unlike Luke Ball.

How would you know?

The answer to 9 out of 10 questions in this world is money.

[Eastern]

Why was Luke Ball dropped in the first place?

Why didn't he sign the 3 year deal?

Why did he nominate only Collingwood as his prefferred destination?

Something happened.....I WANT the truth!!!

This is so unlike Luke Ball.

We, the members elect a Board to run the club. The Board employs executives, coaches, list managers etc to look after the running of the club. I am confident that our people are on top of the situation. If they thought we should know all the details they would have told us. There are some things that NEED to be kept CONFIDENTIAL !!

[Milan Faletic]

Why was Luke Ball dropped in the first place?

Why didn't he sign the 3 year deal?

Why did he nominate only Collingwood as his prefferred destination?

Something happened.....I WANT the truth!!!

This is so unlike Luke Ball.

We, the members elect a Board to run the club. The Board employs executives, coaches, list managers etc to look after the running of the club. I am confident that our people are on top of the situation. If they thought we should know all the details they would have told us. There are some things that NEED to be kept CONFIDENTIAL !!

Well said Eastern. Hush, hush and on the qt. I watch too many movies.

[Moccha]

This is so unlike Luke Ball.

How would you know?

The answer to 9 out of 10 questions in this world is money.

What's the other answer?

[HSVKing]

This is so unlike Luke Ball.

How would you know?

The answer to 9 out of 10 questions in this world is money.

What's the other answer?

Blank cheque?

[markp]

This is so unlike Luke Ball.

How would you know?

The answer to 9 out of 10 questions in this world is money.

What's the other answer?

Beer.

[Moccha]

I thought it would have been sex!

[mbogo]

We could vote on it:
A Sex
B Beer
C Money
D Depends
E Something else

[skeptic]

Why was Luke Ball dropped in the first place?

Nothing too sinister. He had areas of his game that he needed to improve on, and was sent back to the 2s to improve those areas. Once he showed enough, he was back on

Why didn't he sign the 3 year deal?

Its clear that there was some sort of catch that wasn't good for him. It may have been the pay, it may have been the term, RL might have told him to expect reduced game time or less games. Whatever it was, it made Luke doubt future with the saints

Why did he nominate only Collingwood as his prefferred destination?

hmmm... the logical answer is that they offered everything that he wanted. A decent contract, decent finals prospects, decent playing prospects.

Something happened.....I WANT the truth!!!

I don't think there's much too it, I would suspect that in all of this, RL isn't the darling that he's being made out to be.
That being said, I'm not suggesting that he did the wrong thing. I was quite happy to trade Ball for the right deal

[Milan Faletic]

This is so unlike Luke Ball.

How would you know?

The answer to 9 out of 10 questions in this world is money.

What's the other answer?

Beer.

I'm with Moccha. Sex for me.

[markp]

the 10th answer is on constant rotation, and on a friday night such as this changes from beer to sex some time after midnight.

[Thinline]

Why did he nominate only Collingwood as his prefferred destination?

hmmm... the logical answer is that they offered everything that he wanted. A decent contract, decent finals prospects, decent playing prospects.

Something happened.....I WANT the truth!!!

I don't think there's much too it, I would suspect that in all of this, RL isn't the darling that he's being made out to be.
That being said, I'm not suggesting that he did the wrong thing. I was quite happy to trade Ball for the right deal

It's a given that LB is a smart and capable individual.

So, with that assumption locked away...

I still can't reconcile how a player can think it unreasonable that a coach expect certain standards. Conversely, I can't comprehend in the slightest how a player could comprehend it reasonable to expect some sort f guarantee that he'll be first 22 regardless of anything that may occur.

As for RL not being a darling...I'm sure he's hard as freakin' nails...all the good ones are...but I'm not sure what else he could say publicly to endear himself to Ball. 'Luke is a required player', 'he was a starting player in the GF and played well', 'he went to Sandy and did what was asked' etc etc.

There simply has to be more at play here. Something smells and it ain't my toe jam...Well maybe it is... I can never tell...

[markp]

I'm with Moccha. Sex for me.

Now, when you say 'with'....

[Milton66]

No, RL isn't a darling. He's paid to do a job. And part of that job is to keep team harmony by treating people equally. Never once has he looked comfortable singling out players on an individual basis.

He has done, and IMO, will do what's best for the team... whther it's Howard or Roo.

[saint patrick]

We could vote on it:
A Sex
B Beer
C Money
D Depends
E Something else

"ABC just talking about you a me...." note I am not wearing any black stuff in the inrterests of political correctness

[Milton66]

Fcuk the turth... we need a flag!

[PJ]

It may not be the truth but here's my take on it

1/ Luke was very close to GT and one of the inner circle that adheared to and endorsed GT's mantra on player work ethic. GT was more of a motivational speaker type coach than a structure guy, when the players were being beaten or coming under pressure he would assert that they the players as individuals had to dig deeper rather than look to team structures to elevate the group

2/ Luke dug deep on many occasions, we all remember the footage of him struggling to stand in the rooms after the game - he went to the well too many times and as a result the OP has ruined many aspects of his play

3/ Lukes great mentor in GT gets sacked - he is guted.

4/ When we changed regimes to Ross all were asked to follow team structures and game plan. The will of the heroic individual was no longer a valued attribute, or rather less valued than that of "team contribution".

5/ Luke has never looked happy under Lyon - it is visible

6/ Luke relies on his guts and determination under the packs to keep his spot but knows he is struggling in other areas (kicking, running). Lyon wants him to work on other areas that involved some of his difficiencies and he gets sent back to the 2's. Demeaning for a club captain and champion but he keeps working on it. At this point it is starting to turn ugly for him and he is feeling unvalued

7/ Luke gets selected for the finals and gives it his all - with limited time. He is devestated at the loss and feels again undervalued as he is not used as the team goes under.

8/ Lyon, in press conference, admits to perhaps under using Luke - it's the last straw. Talks to ppl to get advice and the rest shall we say is history.

Anyway just a stab in the dark from an outside observation

[Milton66]

Didn't Luke give up the Captaincy so he could focus on getting his form up IIRC?