Sharks NRL star Brett Seymour admits he has a drinking problem
Exclusive by Dean Ritchie | March 20, 2009 12:00am
CRONULLA officials and teammates have vowed to stand by halfback Brett Seymour after his latest incident in a career marred by alcohol-related issues.
Seymour told teammates two weeks ago he needed help for a drinking problem, but a 10-hour bender last Sunday resulted in him being fined $20,000 and suspended for two matches by his club.
Despite their strong action, Cronulla officials yesterday maintained they will support Seymour through any rehabilitation program.
Seymour, who was sacked in 2006 by the Broncos for off-field problems, will miss matches against Newcastle this Monday night and the local derby against St George Illawarra at Kogarah.
"Brett said today he had stuffed up and not only let down his team-mates but also the club," said Sharks chief executive Tony Zappia.
"He is embarrassed and remorseful. He knows he has some issues to deal with and Brett is working through them. The club will support him all the way."
The NRL board also suspended Roosters hooker Jake Friend for two games for high-range drink-driving. Friend had been fined $10,000 by the Roosters.
The latest transgressions prompted NRL chief executive David Gallop to say "enough is enough".
Seymour's punishment came after a woman recorded the drunken player staggering through Cronulla Mall on her mobile phone. He knocked down a woman and crashed out on the concrete.
Seymour was not answering calls last night. "At this stage we are yet to be issued with the breach notice," said Seymour's manager George Mimis. "Once we receive it, we will review it and respond accordingly."
In another bad week for the code, Friend registered a blood-alcohol reading of 0.16 and has been replaced by Ben Jones for the Roosters' game against Canberra this Sunday.
Roosters coach Brad Fittler originally selected Friend in his line-up before the NRL intervened.
"We're very disappointed from a club's point of view," Fittler said of Friend's ban. "We believe in our discipline procedure. He will now be penalised by his teammates, the NRL, the club and the law. The kid is shattered, but we have to move on."
Friend's manager Steve Gillis was shocked at the suspension.
"The NRL has been hard but unfair. What's next? Sit a player out for a week if he goes through a stop sign or red light," Gillis said.
"We accept he's made a big mistake but there's got to be some consistency. But where we are at? Where are the guidelines? The sooner we get an independent commission the better.
"It will get to the stage where players will no longer be able to interact with the public. That would be a shame.
"I'm not saying what he did was right, he made a very poor choice, but the punishment is excessive. Effectively, with lost match payments, Jake will lose $16,000. From time to time, everyone in life makes mistakes."
