Have you ever driven over the speed limit, and got caught.? Technically your an actual criminal too.
I know the offence occurred in the USA which obviously has a different legal system, but this probably isn't the right comparison to make, as the Australian legal system absolutely differentiates. It's called summary vs indictable offences.
Lodge's crimes very-much fit in the indictable side, while Westy's lead foot barely registers on the summary side.
As far as the argument of paying the price forever, for me at least, I take issue to a couple of things.
1) The Panthers are very much a community focussed club. We do lots of work with school aged kids, sick kids and those in lower socio-economic areas. Our players are role models, and should be held to a higher moral standard than the regular Australian.
If we were to sign Lodge, do you think the club would be sending him as an ambassador for these kind of events? I don't think it passes the pub test to be honest.
2) I think being involved in sports or any group-based activities is a great way to rehabilitate and/or reintegrate into society. All the usual reasons, it involves team work, communication, sacrifice, structure etc.
But, he doesn't need to be playing elite sport to get the same result.
By all means stay involved in sport, but go out to the country, work in a small community, and play park football. I guarantee he would learn a lot more, and become a better human as a result.
And if the argument becomes "but professional rugby league is all he's ever known" - well that's on him. He came through the system playing NYC, which required study or work to be eligible to play. If he didn't learn anything during those years he's just delaying the inevitable post-NRL career.
3) Society shouldn't be financially rewarding people who commit these types of crimes.
If you earn over $250,000 a year, you're in the Top 1% in the country according to the ATO. Lodge would be on double that.
To me, this reinforces the idea that you can do whatever you want, as long as you're good at sportsball. And unfortunately, in a results driven industry, there will always be a team willing to do anything, or sign anyone to increase their chance at victory.
Full-disclaimer, I hold similar views on Zane Tetevano, and hated that he played with us. Not a huge fan of the May boys either.
Full-disclaimer #2, I'm FAR from perfect, and have had some VERY loose nights on the drink, but I've never been close to chasing anyone home and assaulting them. Nor have I ever raised my hand to a woman. The bar for me to consider someone an alright fella is pretty f**king low. But Lodge is absolutely trash.
