Cameron
Make Manly Great Again #Hasler2019
dan not posting this as a news story as this arsehole has no place on the front page of this great website.
Laurie Daley says the NRL are to be congratulated on this tough stance
From staff writers
March 11, 2009 Fox Sports rugby league commentator Laurie Daley believes the NRL board has acted appropriately in protecting the game by suspending Manly full-back Brett Stewart for five matches after he was charged with sexual assault.
The NRL has taken quite a hammering since the story broke and, in an exclusive one-on-one interview with foxsports.com.au, Daley says the firm action by the governing body needs to be applauded.
What is your opinion of the five-match suspension handed out to Manly full-back Brett Stewart by the NRL on Wednesday?
I think the NRL had its hands tied (with the issue) and are to be congratulated on this tough stance. The landscape had definitely changed from Tuesday night when Manly indicated that Brett Stewart was going to play (in the opening round against the Bulldogs on Saturday night). At that time, it was only allegations (of sexual assault), but now charges have been laid and I think the NRL has done everything they possibly could.
Has the severity of the fine ($100,000) issued to Manly for the behaviour at their season launch surprised you?
I don’t know about what happened at their (Manly’s) season launch - it’s under an independent investigation by the NRL. In hindsight, yes, they (the Manly players) probably shouldn’t have been drinking alcohol at midnight. It wasn’t the right start to the season and it probably wasn’t the most professional thing to do to leave them (the players) on their own. They (Manly) have to pay the consequences, which is that one of their players has been stood down from the opening five rounds and the club has been hit with a fine of $100,000.
Do you think the NRL has acted with impunity?
I think regardless of the type of issue, the NRL treats them all very seriously. (With this) there is the presumption of innocence which they need to be careful of - and they’ve certainly distanced themselves from the Brett Stewart case. Stewart being stood down is in no way showing whether he is guilty or innocent of these actual charges. It’s actually to do with bringing the game into disrepute. The headlines which have been negative to the NRL over the past four or five days continue to hurt our sponsors and at the grass roots level - it’s just bad publicity.
Are alcohol-related incidents among players a bigger problem now compared to when you were playing?
Well, I’d say it would be, given the fact that over the past six or seven years there have been all these allegations. But having said that, I think the players are quite responsible and 95 per cent of them do the right thing. I think if you went into every workforce in Australia there would be someone who would have committed an offence or something that has brought their company or sport into disrepute. It’s not just rugby league players but society as a whole.
The RLPA (Rugby League Player’s Association) has backed Stewart, do you see them taking the issue further?
They would have to support their player – he’s part of their union. But having said that, the NRL are in charge of the game and they make the rules. If you want to play in this competition you have to abide by them.
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Laurie Daley says the NRL are to be congratulated on this tough stance
From staff writers
March 11, 2009 Fox Sports rugby league commentator Laurie Daley believes the NRL board has acted appropriately in protecting the game by suspending Manly full-back Brett Stewart for five matches after he was charged with sexual assault.
The NRL has taken quite a hammering since the story broke and, in an exclusive one-on-one interview with foxsports.com.au, Daley says the firm action by the governing body needs to be applauded.
What is your opinion of the five-match suspension handed out to Manly full-back Brett Stewart by the NRL on Wednesday?
I think the NRL had its hands tied (with the issue) and are to be congratulated on this tough stance. The landscape had definitely changed from Tuesday night when Manly indicated that Brett Stewart was going to play (in the opening round against the Bulldogs on Saturday night). At that time, it was only allegations (of sexual assault), but now charges have been laid and I think the NRL has done everything they possibly could.
Has the severity of the fine ($100,000) issued to Manly for the behaviour at their season launch surprised you?
I don’t know about what happened at their (Manly’s) season launch - it’s under an independent investigation by the NRL. In hindsight, yes, they (the Manly players) probably shouldn’t have been drinking alcohol at midnight. It wasn’t the right start to the season and it probably wasn’t the most professional thing to do to leave them (the players) on their own. They (Manly) have to pay the consequences, which is that one of their players has been stood down from the opening five rounds and the club has been hit with a fine of $100,000.
Do you think the NRL has acted with impunity?
I think regardless of the type of issue, the NRL treats them all very seriously. (With this) there is the presumption of innocence which they need to be careful of - and they’ve certainly distanced themselves from the Brett Stewart case. Stewart being stood down is in no way showing whether he is guilty or innocent of these actual charges. It’s actually to do with bringing the game into disrepute. The headlines which have been negative to the NRL over the past four or five days continue to hurt our sponsors and at the grass roots level - it’s just bad publicity.
Are alcohol-related incidents among players a bigger problem now compared to when you were playing?
Well, I’d say it would be, given the fact that over the past six or seven years there have been all these allegations. But having said that, I think the players are quite responsible and 95 per cent of them do the right thing. I think if you went into every workforce in Australia there would be someone who would have committed an offence or something that has brought their company or sport into disrepute. It’s not just rugby league players but society as a whole.
The RLPA (Rugby League Player’s Association) has backed Stewart, do you see them taking the issue further?
They would have to support their player – he’s part of their union. But having said that, the NRL are in charge of the game and they make the rules. If you want to play in this competition you have to abide by them.
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