If there is to be a minute's silence before the GF, why not make it for all the members of the rugby league family who have been lost over the last 12 months - the likes of John Holmes and Gary Purdham for example as well as Newton?

Andy, I totally agree with your sentiments. Our showpiece occasion should remember those players who have died with perhaps a small video tribute on the big screen prior to the players coming out onto the field.

It will remind people of how those players contributed to the game and will allow fans of all clubs who attend this to pay respects to players from their own clubs and beyond.

This is a tough game and players put themselves on the line often for little financial gain (especially in the lower leagues), but respect to anyone who will take 40 drives and be pummelled into the ground more often than not.

I really hope that this silence is observed, for the memories Terry newton gave us all, were sometimes good sometimes bad, but always Terry Newton.

I hope that for 1 minute people could just respect the fact he is no longer with us and honour his memory with a fitting tribute to a great rugby player.

I was going to get angry with you, then I read your name.

This is RL, the silence will be treated with respect by everyone. There's no need to worry, I have faith in the RL Fans.

A silence is the only way to go. Yes, he was a bad boy and he fooked up good & proper with HGH, but he gave us all years of entertainment, thrills, spills and rollercoasters of emotion - whether that's love or hate.

Like Jonny Leyther says, we can only have faith in the RL public - 99% will observe the silence impeccably regardless of their personal opinions, but 1% of 76,000 can make a lot of noise. Hopefully those sitting around the idiots will shut them up. It's down to all of us to play our part.

Surely this is about showing respect to someone who played the game at the highest levels and whilst the HGH was of his own doing surely the depression wasn't and we are talking about someone who gave his all to the game. As someone mentioned earlier there's a heck of a lot of ex players lining up to pay credit and show their respects to Terry, so whatever he did on or off the field they are still showing their respect for a person they knew better than us then surely a minutes silence is more than appropriate.

Any people who are disrespectful of the minutes silence are sheer idiots or wrapped up in their own self importance and can't see beyond their own nose.

That often makes the problem worse though because the ones telling them to shut up are also breaking the silence.

I'd say stay quiet and then report the offenders to a steward. Is breaking a one minute silence an offence warranting ejection from the stadium? I don't know the answer but it should be.

The Wigan fans have a part to play in all this as well. Goading Saints fans with Terry newton chants isn't going to get a nice response.

Its a bad idea, and im not all that certain he is worthy to be honest with you.

he was a good player, nothing special and at the end he was a drug cheat. He committed suicide while having nothing to do with the game anymore. Why have a minutes silence for him?

I understand 99% of people here will disagree with me, but i honestly dont feel he is worth that level of respect.

How could Wigan fans singing about Terry Newton be seen as goading the Saints fans? What has Terry Newton ever done to St. Helens fans which could send them into a fit of rage at the mere mention of his name?

Exactly. Silly post IMO!

As inevitable as it is - and not just in this case - I feel sorry for anyone that doesn't have the decency to honour a dead man with a minutes silence, just the same as I do those few who come on here spouting off about what a thug Terry was on the day he took his own life. They're a sorry excuse for human beings and don't belong in Rugby League or any other sport.

The tribute the RFL have announced is most definitely welcomed by all true fans of the game and is absolutely the right thing to do.

Why is it so difficult for people to not realise this?

Lack of respect from some people it seems. Sad, very sad.

Obviously, I'm one of those people who would disagree. But what level of respect does he deserve exactly? Is there some kind of sliding scale of respect for a dead man?

I'm not religious in any way. But I can't quite get my head around the notion that because someone once did something bad, or was a bit of wrongun, that they don't deserve respect or that those left behind shouldn't take a few moments to reflect on their life when they die. You don't have to forgive anyone - just acknowledge that they were a person, with passion, problems, and insecurities just like you.

From what I'm hearing, there won't be that many to goad to be honest.

Its really simple for those who do not agree with the minutes silence tribute and who will be at the game on Saturday - stay seated when everyone else stands up and keep your mouth shut for sixty seconds, your protest will be made and no-one will think of you as scum.

I would say he deserves the respect of his loved ones, Friends and Family. thats what Funerals are for.

A minutes silence should be held for people who have gone above and beyond and touched a great many people in a good way, Mainly this would be club related but from time to time a true legend passes that is worthy of everyones respect and through their actions the whole game feels a loss. Terry Newton was not one of these people.

I respect everyones opinion and will respect the minutes silence on the night. But that does not mean i have to agree with it.

That’s the best solution I’ve heard yet.

The announcement should be that the minutes silence is in remembrance of Gary Purdham, John Holmes, Chris Percival and Terry Newton. I don’t see how there can be any issues with that, and the yobs may stay quiet out of respect for the others, if not for Terry Newton himself.

Good call.

Just a pedantic point, but John Holmes died at the end of September 09 and the Leeds team dedicated their Grand Final 09 win to him.

How about showing respect for TN with a minutes silence for those fans that wish to and the rest can show respect for TN's wife and kids for the loss of a father and husband, or is that too much to ask.

Think Andy Gilder is bang on. As sad as it is that Terry decided to take his own life he was hardly a saint. He, of course, is fondly remembered by fans of the clubs he played for but less so by opposition. Bringing all the deaths together is also respectful to others who have passed away throughout the season and ensures there is no booing by any fans. IMO Terry's passing is no more sadder than Garry Purdhams and both should be acknowledged on the biggest night of the season equally.

Well said. I truly hope that the minute's silence is not marred by "supporters" who are jollied by booze.

Explain the disrespect to his kids!

I think he died a few years before that but he was certainly a legend and definately worthy of having a Grand Final win dedicated to his memory.

"Saturday Night Beaver" was a masterpiece