OT - NRL deregisters Okunbor, Harawira-Naera over Port Macquarie incidents

[TruSaint]

Bulldogs pair Jayden Okunbor and Corey Harawira-Naera have had their contracts deregistered by the NRL over their off-field behaviour during the club's pre-season game in Port Macquarie.

Okunbor and Harawira-Naera were issued show-cause notices last month after Canterbury reported concern over alleged sexual misconduct involving high school girls during the club's pre-season trip.

A statement from Bulldogs chair Lynn Anderson, CEO Andrew Hill and coach Dean Pay said the club fully supported the duo's deregistration.

NRL CEO Todd Greenberg said the NRL’s decision to tear up their contracts sent a clear message on the game’s expectations of its players.

"The behaviour of both players was inexcusable and a very serious breach of the code of conduct," he said.

"The game will not tolerate such conduct and as such both players have had their registrations cancelled.

The behaviour of both players was inexcusable.

Todd Greenberg
"This decision should send a very clear message to all players of our stance on such behaviour."

News of Okunbor and Harawira-Naera's indiscretions rocked the Bulldogs in the week of their season-opening game against Parramatta, costing them a lucrative front-of-jersey sponsorship with the Rashays restaurant chain, with another backer in MPA also withdrawing its support on game day.



The families of the girls involved will continue to receive support from the Bulldogs and NRL.

Neither Okunbor or Harawira-Naera were the subject of any police investigation.

Canterbury's statement described the players' conduct - after they had been to a school visit with the club - as demonstrating "an unacceptable lack of respect for their teammates, their coach and club officials, our hosts in Port Macquarie and fans of the game everywhere".

"An important part of the role of being a professional rugby league player is to promote the game and act as an ambassador for your club and the code," according to the club statement.

https://www.nrl.com/news/2020/04/01...harawira-naera-over-port-macquarie-incidents/

 

[SBD82]

Bulldogs pair Jayden Okunbor and Corey Harawira-Naera have had their contracts deregistered by the NRL over their off-field behaviour during the club's pre-season game in Port Macquarie.

Okunbor and Harawira-Naera were issued show-cause notices last month after Canterbury reported concern over alleged sexual misconduct involving high school girls during the club's pre-season trip.

A statement from Bulldogs chair Lynn Anderson, CEO Andrew Hill and coach Dean Pay said the club fully supported the duo's deregistration.

NRL CEO Todd Greenberg said the NRL’s decision to tear up their contracts sent a clear message on the game’s expectations of its players.

"The behaviour of both players was inexcusable and a very serious breach of the code of conduct," he said.

"The game will not tolerate such conduct and as such both players have had their registrations cancelled.

The behaviour of both players was inexcusable.

Todd Greenberg
"This decision should send a very clear message to all players of our stance on such behaviour."

News of Okunbor and Harawira-Naera's indiscretions rocked the Bulldogs in the week of their season-opening game against Parramatta, costing them a lucrative front-of-jersey sponsorship with the Rashays restaurant chain, with another backer in MPA also withdrawing its support on game day.



The families of the girls involved will continue to receive support from the Bulldogs and NRL.

Neither Okunbor or Harawira-Naera were the subject of any police investigation.

Canterbury's statement described the players' conduct - after they had been to a school visit with the club - as demonstrating "an unacceptable lack of respect for their teammates, their coach and club officials, our hosts in Port Macquarie and fans of the game everywhere".

"An important part of the role of being a professional rugby league player is to promote the game and act as an ambassador for your club and the code," according to the club statement.

https://www.nrl.com/news/2020/04/01...harawira-naera-over-port-macquarie-incidents/

I can’t muster much sympathy for them.

f**king morons.

 

[blue bags]

all involved needs counseling, help

 

[Old Timer]

OK the NRL finally moving this along to a closure which is a good thing.
I note they say their contracts are deregistered so does this equate to a life time ban from all forms of the code or are they going to be able to play at a lesser level other than NRL & CC?
Will the NRL allow them to apply for a contract at a later date?
Has the NRL negotiated with the ARU to ensure they can't just skip codes?
A bit more precise detail would be handy to asses exactly what punishment has been handed out.

 

[TruSaint]

OK the NRL finally moving this along to a closure which is a good thing.
I note they say their contracts are deregistered so does this equate to a life time ban from all forms of the code or are they going to be able to play at a lesser level other than NRL & CC?
Will the NRL allow them to apply for a contract at a later date?
Has the NRL negotiated with the ARU to ensure they can't just skip codes?
A bit more precise detail would be handy to asses exactly what punishment has been handed out.

Time will tell.
Its a good start and I applaud the NRL.
Having said that, Im sure they will appeal this.

 

[Gareth67]

Truly it makes one wonder about their morals , apparently none whatsoever . Forget about them being footballers , what in the hell are they doing walking around in public when Long Bay has spare cells .

 

[Coffs dragon]

Good riddance & fortunately done and dusted prior to School Holidays.

 

[blue bags]

Good riddance & fortunately done and dusted prior to School Holidays.

where are they to go ? another league, another team ?serve a timeout, back soon

 

[Brutalitops]

Good.

One could say CHN would feel uneasy with his name being alongside Okunbor during this whole process, and that probably contributed to his deregistering. Okunbor did far far worse

But still deserving nonetheless.

 

[BLM01]

OK the NRL finally moving this along to a closure which is a good thing.
I note they say their contracts are deregistered so does this equate to a life time ban from all forms of the code or are they going to be able to play at a lesser level other than NRL & CC?
Will the NRL allow them to apply for a contract at a later date?
Has the NRL negotiated with the ARU to ensure they can't just skip codes?
A bit more precise detail would be handy to asses exactly what punishment has been handed out.

No & No...most levels of rugby league out there filter up to the NRL in this country. But it does not stop them playing abroad as no police charges..when they can travel!.

Yes. They can apply to register another contract next year at another club likely. Does not mean it will get registered...and probably wont...thats all. They would have to show and prove to NRL what measures etc they have undertaken to right the wrong to likely get re-registered,

No they cant re ARU as no police chrages. ARU will make their own mind up

You will never receive that unless a NRL journo has the info or player manager offers that info
and as @TruSaint said they can appeal...later

 

[Anon]

NRL is in lock down with Covid - 19
Corey is in lock down with Rebecca - 18
Jayden is in lock down with Jess - 17

 

[blacksafake]

I'm waiting for a thread to be created about signing them.

 

[Walpole]

I'm waiting for a thread to be created about signing them.

You just know that's coming. Should be a great opportunity for the usual suspects to bring up all the other grubs they think should be playing for us.

 

[Coffs dragon]

Dogs have replaced their old theme song: Who Let the Dogs Out
New song.....

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

The bulldogs and the nrl have delivered the harshest penalty available to them.

These players have brought the game into serious disrepute.

This was a community visit to a high school to promote the game. They had a duty of care to the students (regardless of age), the school, the club and the nrl.

And they decided to abuse this trust placed on them. There is a big age and influence difference.

The 17 year old isn’t even allowed in a pub and is still immature and naive in the ways of the world.

The bulldogs failed big time in getting their message across. I’m afraid they have to shoulder some blame. They can throw their players under a bus, but they should know their players a lot better and they should never have been sent.

Pay and co should resign. Happened under their watch. Unforgivable.

 

[blue bags]

hot for teacher baby

 

[TruSaint]

The bulldogs and the nrl have delivered the harshest penalty available to them.

These players have brought the game into serious disrepute.

This was a community visit to a high school to promote the game. They had a duty of care to the students (regardless of age), the school, the club and the nrl.

And they decided to abuse this trust placed on them. There is a big age and influence difference.

The 17 year old isn’t even allowed in a pub and is still immature and naive in the ways of the world.

The bulldogs failed big time in getting their message across. I’m afraid they have to shoulder some blame. They can throw their players under a bus, but they should know their players a lot better and they should never have been sent.

Pay and co should resign. Happened under their watch. Unforgivable.

These idiots were undertaking a part of their obligations to engage the community. What they did is on THEM.

To blame Dean Pay is ridiculous. As much as I hate the Dogs as a footy club, we have had grubs on our books, and the onus was on the players. Example, AFB.

WE currently have a player, charged with sexual assault. Should the coach and board step down ?

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

Not sure what their contracts were but aside from the moral, legal and formal concerns, they were very expensive liaisons!

I don’t think they would win an appeal. They entered into contracts that would have been heavy with clauses about good behaviour and obeying the rules. Especially the bulldogs with their lamentable and some say, sickening record.

Even so, the incident reflects extremely poorly on the bulldogs and how they failed to identify that they had two time bombs ticking away. The players natures and characters were not well known to them.

There’s not a lot that can be hidden with a squad these days, they spend a lot of time with each other (used to).

That they missed very stupid and disrespectful young men in their ranks is unacceptable.

They will find it very difficult to attract sponsors, players and other good people for many years. They lost a $2m sponsor the following day.

They might be able to sue the players for the damage done financially. Put the boot right in. Even if they don’t recover much, it would be a symbolic act and put other players on notice.

A sad, sorry and sordid chapter comes to its inevitable conclusion.

Now the two players will have to live in the real world like the rest of us, although impeccable timing with the virus etc. I’d give them that.

The dogs management should accept responsibility and stand down. It’s their job to know their players.

jdb is another matter entirely and remains innocent until he pleads his guilt or is found to be guilty by process.

 

[Old Timer]

That incredibly well behaved 100% of the time immortal Joey Johns already talking about the reentry of CHN and offering an opinion that JO will also get back at some stage as well.
The ban has barely begun and instead of leaving it at that they have to talk about a return for both of them, FMD the NRL is full of absolute morons with no concept of community expectation.

 

[BLM01]

Not sure what their contracts were but aside from the moral, legal and formal concerns, they were very expensive liaisons!

I don’t think they would win an appeal. They entered into contracts that would have been heavy with clauses about good behaviour and obeying the rules. Especially the bulldogs with their lamentable and some say, sickening record.

Even so, the incident reflects extremely poorly on the bulldogs and how they failed to identify that they had two time bombs ticking away. The players natures and characters were not well known to them.

There’s not a lot that can be hidden with a squad these days, they spend a lot of time with each other (used to).

That they missed very stupid and disrespectful young men in their ranks is unacceptable.

They will find it very difficult to attract sponsors, players and other good people for many years. They lost a $2m sponsor the following day.

They might be able to sue the players for the damage done financially. Put the boot right in. Even if they don’t recover much, it would be a symbolic act and put other players on notice.

A sad, sorry and sordid chapter comes to its inevitable conclusion.

Now the two players will have to live in the real world like the rest of us, although impeccable timing with the virus etc. I’d give them that.

The dogs management should accept responsibility and stand down. It’s their job to know their players.

jdb is another matter entirely and remains innocent until he pleads his guilt or is found to be guilty by process.

Disagree entirely re the Dogs and they should of known and the board should be held accountable. They are young men and young men and girls do what they do and have done forever when it is in agreeance.
Had they gone to another hotel..that did not include the team hotel...then.... they did not break club protocol.
We can all get on the soap box and preach what is morally right in certain situations with experience, hindsight and time on our side..but these are young blokes and girls who as far as I can remember including myself dont always uphold the moral high ground of life at all times.

For goodness sake they did not even break the law but understand when you are representing something and paid well for it..you need to uphold some standards and morals.
But we treat these prople like they all mature people with much life experience similar to most on here...fact is they are not. Should of made better decisions based on their position...absolutely and are paying for that
Not the first and wont be the last. They got their puinsihment by the club in regards to contracts torn up....fine with that as in breach...but it ends there in regards to the knive throwing IMO.
Do they deserve another chance...why not!...but in time

In regards to JDB and if found to have transgressed are you going to say the Dragons board should be sacked as should of known better?.
I know they should be on how they run the club but not on the prior point alone.