Playing professional sport for a living should be a privilege, not a right. Why let him back in the game at all? Same with someone like Russell Packer. Why should the NRL have any responsibility to these idiots? If they're convicted of a serious crime and do the time, good for them, hopefully they're rehabilitated and go on to live a happy, fulfilled life. But why give them an opportunity that thousands would give their left nut for? Off to live in the real world and get a job they're otherwise qualified for, like 99.9% of the population.
You touched on why. Because rehabilitation and forgiveness for those that prove themselves are one of the cornerstones of Western civilisation. Sport is part of this.
I was appalled at the players behaviour and to be honest his attitude since then (lying to the court, refusing to do the courses required etc) has been just as bad, but everyone deserves the chance to turn their lives around.
Football players lead a very priviledged existance and sometimes that can cause the people involved to have a very high opinion of themselves.
Look at Blake Ferguson for example. A dead set drop kick who was ordered to undergo counselling and refused. The result? No contract. Good descision by the NRL. I hope that more than a year out of the game has convinced him of what a priviledge he has and he comes back and plays and behaves decently towards other humans.
The same goes for Auva. He has behaved like a grade A dickwad, but he deserves the opportunity to turn his life around. By banning him for 9 months the NRL has done exactly that.
In the past players would get a slap on the wrist and everyone inside the club would forgive them their transgressions as long as they played well. We all knew it was bullshit, but their abilities often outweighed the clubs desire to punish them. Look at the way Souths treated him when he actually bashed the woman as a classic example of how clubs let themselves be blinded to the obvious.
The NRL has said NO MORE and I applaud them for it
The lad will have to undergo counselling and take courses in behaviour and alcohol use.
I hope during his year off he isn't allowed to train with the first grade team and he spends his time really understanding the gravitas of his actions.
