Seu Seu poised for dismissal
By BRETT KEEBLE
NEWCASTLE Knights chief executive Steve Burraston said the club would continue to support controversial hooker Terence Seu Seu even if they sacked him.
The 20-year-old former New Zealand A representative was charged with mid-range drink-driving in the early hours of Monday morning.
He will almost certainly have his contract terminated today when he fronts a Knights board meeting.
The Knights' disciplinary committee met yesterday and suspended Seu Seu from all duties, effective immediately, and recommended he face the board to explain his latest breach of the club's code of conduct.
The drink-driving charge is his third serious indiscretion within the past 12 months.
He has pleaded not guilty to an assault charge, which is still before the courts, and was fined and suspended by the Knights for an alcohol-related incident last Easter.
"This morning we had a disciplinary committee meeting which consisted of the board executive, myself and our football manager [Warren Smiles], and the outcome of that meeting was that we believe Terence does have a case to answer and he does need to front the full board," Burraston said yesterday.
"We want to make sure he is correctly represented in that meeting because it is a serious matter and we'd like to deal with it as soon as possible.
"Our articles [of association] say that we need to do that within five days, but hopefully it will be [today].
"We've suspended Terence immediately, pending the outcome of the full board meeting.
"Unfortunately, it's a repeat offence, and that's never nice, and it is a serious matter so we do have to deal with that swiftly and in a serious manner."
The board must decide whether to cut Seu Seu loose, knowing he would almost certainly be picked up by another NRL team or a Super 14 rugby union club, or allow him to stay and include a heavy fine, suspension and counselling as part of any disciplinary action.
Burraston said Seu Seu's welfare was important, but the Knights had gone to great lengths to improve their off-field image. The player's latest offence was contrary to that.
"We certainly have to consider the player's welfare, the opportunity to rehabilitate, whether or not we've given him enough chances and enough support, and then make a decision on his immediate future," he said.
"We've had a great build-up to 2008, we've trialled well in both the top grade and the NYC [national youth competition], we know from our testing we're bigger, we're stronger, we're faster, and there's a little air of confidence about us leading into the season, so you don't like these sorts of distractions.
"Not only that, we've gone a long way to change the culture of our organisation, and it runs in the face of that, so it's not the sort of distraction that you do want.
"That sort of behaviour is not acceptable to our club, and it won't be acceptable going forward.
"I think the board's made that clear and I've made it clear, and it's disappointing that we're at this point.
"We do provide counselling and we do provide rehabilitation when people find themselves in a bit of trouble, and I have to say that we will continue to do that with Terence, even if he is not with the club.
"If the board's decision eventually is that his contract will be terminated, from a management point of view we'll make sure we provide the right assistance for him if he wants it."
Burraston said the club would not introduce an alcohol ban or curfews and it was up to players to take responsibility for their own actions.
"We want responsible use of alcohol. We don't want to ban it," he said.
"We don't want to stop players enjoying their life, or going to dinner with their partner and having a glass of wine or something, but I think you have to be responsible, as all of us have to do, particularly when it comes to driving cars.
"That's a serious matter."
Rugby League Professionals Association chief executive Matt Rodwell said Seu Seu had declined the union's offer of legal support.
Rodwell said he met with the Knights on Monday and spoke yesterday to Scott Dureau, the club's RLPA delegate, "but Terence seems comfortable with his legal representation".
"The Knights are certainly offering him procedural fairness in this matter. He felt he's in capable hands, so we'll let it run its course," Rodwell said.
Knights coach Brian Smith would not comment.
