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David Gallop offers Brett Stewart a chance
Article from: The Australian
ON the verge of his return to the NRL, Manly fullback Brett Stewart has again been offered an olive branch by league boss David Gallop in an attempt to resolve their differences.
The latest offer to meet at NRL headquarters to clear the air was made yesterday, with Stewart scheduled to appear in Manly Local Court today to answer a charge of sexual assault against a teenage girl.
The former Test fullback has not played a game this season, after the NRL stood him down for breaching its code of conduct guidelines regarding alcohol consumption in public places.
With Gallop having said he won't stand in the way of his return once the ban was over, Stewart will be named in the team today to face Wests Tigers at Brookvale Oval on Sunday.
His return could not come at a better time for the premier, which remains winless after four rounds this season.
Gallop was disappointed at Stewart's behaviour which came a week before the start of the season, with the league forced to dump him as the face of its $1.5million advertising campaign.
The league boss has already attempted to make peace with Stewart and his family but it is understood they are disappointed at the way the matter was handled, believing he was made a scapegoat.
"At this stage we expect him to be playing on the weekend," Gallop said.
"I did offer a few weeks ago to meet him if he wished to hear a first-hand explanation of how we viewed things.
"He hasn't taken that up and that is really his call."
Manly chief executive Grant Mayer said he was aware of Gallop's offer to ease any simmering tension.
"It's all about timing and obviously the family don't believe the timing is right just yet," Mayer said.
Stewart's four-week ban has set the tone for other players' bad behaviour this season.
Sydney Roosters' Jake Friend, Willie Mason and Nate Myles, Cronulla's Brett Seymour, and the Bulldogs' Jamal Idris, Ben Barba and Lee Te Maari have been banned by their clubs or the league for alcohol-related incidents.
Stewart's case is only down for mention today and his legal team is expected to make orders requiring police to serve a brief of evidence. The legal proceedings are only expected to last a matter of minutes.
Beleaguered Sea Eagles players said yesterday Stewart's return could have a positive impact on the team.
"Everyone has been backing up for the last month or so and we're really keen to have him back. It's certainly going to give a bit of a buzz to the team to have him back out there," prop Jason King said.
Fellow front-rower Josh Perry said he was also looking forward to the return of last year's leading tryscorer.
"He's been looked after really well by the club that way and I've got no doubt that he'll come out and perform well," Perry said.
Stewart isn't the only former international edging towards a return to the field.
After initially being refused a visa to play with Super League club Hull, Michael Crocker had some good news this week when the British Sports Minister said he would intervene on behalf of the former Melbourne, Queensland and Australia forward.
Although no explanation was given, it is believed Crocker's initial application was rejected because of a previous conviction for affray.
The British Government's clamp-down on visas also resulted in former Cronulla forward Greg Bird being denied an opportunity to play for Bradford. Bird is now with French club Catalans.
While Bird was forced to look elsewhere, Crocker has refused to countenance anything other than playing for Hull despite interest from several NRL clubs.
His determination looks likely to be rewarded thanks to British Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe.
"I am happy for the club if they want to get in touch with me to do so and I will speak to the relevant minister," Sutcliffe told the Hull Daily Mail.
Article from: The Australian
ON the verge of his return to the NRL, Manly fullback Brett Stewart has again been offered an olive branch by league boss David Gallop in an attempt to resolve their differences.
The latest offer to meet at NRL headquarters to clear the air was made yesterday, with Stewart scheduled to appear in Manly Local Court today to answer a charge of sexual assault against a teenage girl.
The former Test fullback has not played a game this season, after the NRL stood him down for breaching its code of conduct guidelines regarding alcohol consumption in public places.
With Gallop having said he won't stand in the way of his return once the ban was over, Stewart will be named in the team today to face Wests Tigers at Brookvale Oval on Sunday.
His return could not come at a better time for the premier, which remains winless after four rounds this season.
Gallop was disappointed at Stewart's behaviour which came a week before the start of the season, with the league forced to dump him as the face of its $1.5million advertising campaign.
The league boss has already attempted to make peace with Stewart and his family but it is understood they are disappointed at the way the matter was handled, believing he was made a scapegoat.
"At this stage we expect him to be playing on the weekend," Gallop said.
"I did offer a few weeks ago to meet him if he wished to hear a first-hand explanation of how we viewed things.
"He hasn't taken that up and that is really his call."
Manly chief executive Grant Mayer said he was aware of Gallop's offer to ease any simmering tension.
"It's all about timing and obviously the family don't believe the timing is right just yet," Mayer said.
Stewart's four-week ban has set the tone for other players' bad behaviour this season.
Sydney Roosters' Jake Friend, Willie Mason and Nate Myles, Cronulla's Brett Seymour, and the Bulldogs' Jamal Idris, Ben Barba and Lee Te Maari have been banned by their clubs or the league for alcohol-related incidents.
Stewart's case is only down for mention today and his legal team is expected to make orders requiring police to serve a brief of evidence. The legal proceedings are only expected to last a matter of minutes.
Beleaguered Sea Eagles players said yesterday Stewart's return could have a positive impact on the team.
"Everyone has been backing up for the last month or so and we're really keen to have him back. It's certainly going to give a bit of a buzz to the team to have him back out there," prop Jason King said.
Fellow front-rower Josh Perry said he was also looking forward to the return of last year's leading tryscorer.
"He's been looked after really well by the club that way and I've got no doubt that he'll come out and perform well," Perry said.
Stewart isn't the only former international edging towards a return to the field.
After initially being refused a visa to play with Super League club Hull, Michael Crocker had some good news this week when the British Sports Minister said he would intervene on behalf of the former Melbourne, Queensland and Australia forward.
Although no explanation was given, it is believed Crocker's initial application was rejected because of a previous conviction for affray.
The British Government's clamp-down on visas also resulted in former Cronulla forward Greg Bird being denied an opportunity to play for Bradford. Bird is now with French club Catalans.
While Bird was forced to look elsewhere, Crocker has refused to countenance anything other than playing for Hull despite interest from several NRL clubs.
His determination looks likely to be rewarded thanks to British Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe.
"I am happy for the club if they want to get in touch with me to do so and I will speak to the relevant minister," Sutcliffe told the Hull Daily Mail.
