AND what about this scenario
It is week 4 of the finals and team A is playing team B in the final. Meanwhile team C are waiting in the wings to see who they will play in the Grand Final.
Team A are very confident of beating team B and have done so 2 times this year so they hatch a plan against team C for next weeks grand Final.
The sister of one of team A's girlfriend makes a pass at the "most significant player" of team C on the Fri night before the Final.
She has a few drinks with the "most significant player" of team C before luring him back to her place.
As she approaches the front door she yells and screams and runs out into the courtyard of her Units, where she screams "rape rape rape"
The police are called, she lays a charge, he is drunk, very drunk, and can't remember a thing.
The media get a hold of it and demand the "most significant player" be stood down from the Grand Final on the following week.
The club refuses, but the NRL step in and over rule the club and "the most significant" player is stood down from the Grand Final.
Team A go on to win the grand final and 4 months later "the most significant" player is found innocent by the court system!
This may sound far fetched but it definitely IS NOT!
See you on the grassy knoll.
I will be there next to Elvis and Kurt Cobain
Sorry but if the player is found not guilty, he doesn't just "return to the field". He is forever stigmatised and the game has been dragged through the mud once again for no reason other than because it sells papers. And now more than ever journalists are under more and more pressure to come up with stories that will sell no matter how truthful they are.
And when has it been the clubs responsibility to supervise their players outside of playing and club functions?
Honestly do work for News?
Well people get charged all the time, and it impacts on their life/employment/image in that way even when they are found not guilty. Why should league players be protected any more than you or I?Sorry but if the player is found not guilty, he doesn't just "return to the field". He is forever stigmatised and the game has been dragged through the mud once again for no reason other than because it sells papers. And now more than ever journalists are under more and more pressure to come up with stories that will sell no matter how truthful they are.
When the NRL tells them it is. CLubs have the choice of not accepting invitation to play under teh NRLs rules if that's such a problem for them.And when has it been the clubs responsibility to supervise their players outside of playing and club functions?
no. Not a fan of News Ltd myself. But you don't have to be a Telecrap lover to come to the conclusion it's time the game got serious about its image in the community, and the impact that has on crowds, ratings, broadcast rights, sponsors, revenue, and the game's long term survival.Honestly do work for News?
Stewart went outside the players NRL Code of Conduct. Therefore he forfeits his right to play - but he is still under full pay while the court investigates.The media IS allowed to report the incident. It is not that they can or cannot report the incident, it is the way that the incident is splattered all over the papers, and the lead story for days and days throughout the media.
I believe strongly that a man is innocent until proven guilty. It is the very basic tenet of our system of law and justice.
The media shamed Gallop and the NRL into standing Stewart down.
Laffranchi, and the Warriors winger were allowed the justice that this country provides, Stewart is not.
I hate Manly and am happy if the NRL stands down the entire club. But imo the NRL should not supercede the justice of the land.
Therefore, Stewart should be allowed to play until he is proven guilty.
Then he should have known better than to be out drinking until he was "very drunk" and to have been "on the pull" the night before the 2nd most important game of the season!AND what about this scenario
It is week 4 of the finals and team A is playing team B in the final. Meanwhile team C are waiting in the wings to see who they will play in the Grand Final.
Team A are very confident of beating team B and have done so 2 times this year so they hatch a plan against team C for next weeks grand Final.
The sister of one of team A's girlfriend makes a pass at the "most significant player" of team C on the Fri night before the Final.
She has a few drinks with the "most significant player" of team C before luring him back to her place.
As she approaches the front door she yells and screams and runs out into the courtyard of her Units, where she screams "rape rape rape"
The police are called, she lays a charge, he is drunk, very drunk, and can't remember a thing.
In this situation it would still be the player's fault for his choice of behaviour - just as being stood down is Brett Stewart's fault.This may sound far fetched but it definitely IS NOT!