We've heard news this morning that Manly fullback Brett Stewart has been suspended by the NRL for the first four matches of the new season after being charged with sexual assault on a 17 year-old young woman. We applaud the NRL's decision, and are sad that the Manly club could not have made the decision itself, having previously decided that Stewart's suspension was not warranted.
Sure, there is the issue that Stewart is innocent until proven guilty. But he is one of the NRL's marquee players, and once again the season starts with a cloud over the game.
And what of Manly? Stewart claims he was "too drunk" to remember what happened on Friday night. What does that say about the culture of a professional sports club; one the allows players to drink themselves into that state at an official club function, a week out from the start of the season? Let's not forget too that at the same function, Manly player Anthony Watmough was involved in an "altercation" with a club sponsor. The NRL has fined Manly A$100k, and the Sea Eagles could count themselves lucky it wasn't more.
And Stewart's suspension is extra good news for the Vodafone Warriors who travel to Brookvale Oval in round two - go the Warriors!
3 comments:
And what can we say about underage girls who go to clubs and target good looking rugby players.
It takes two to tango!
I recall the alleged 'rape' incident involving the England rugby team at the Hilton Hotel.
The rape only happened because she had a boyfriend!
I blogged on this at Bransley Bill the other day.
Women are not innocent and delicate little flowers.
They know what rugger lads arew like, or should do.
The Courts will of course decide whether Stewart is guilty or not. From what I have heard the suspension and the fine for Manly relates more to the issue of drunkeness, which was the point I was trying to make in my post. This incident happened after an OFIICIAL club function, where the players had been drinking from noon until around 8pm. The Manly RL club has a lot to answer for.
FM,
In this case the girl was at her home.
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