Brett Stewart suspension - do you think he deserves it?

Question

Do you believe that Brett Stewart did something to that girl after the Sea Eagles launch? He was pretty drunk so he can't even deny it. Do you think he deserves a suspension or even do you think he should have one for longer?

Answer 1

II believe young footballers should be educated on manners. Someone should have been looking out for him he was put and they are put in vulnerable situations.

What happened to Mum and Dad this should be one of the jobs as a parent to educate their children on how to behave?

Even if she did make advances towards him, he should have walked away. Being drunk is no excuse for bad manners. He is no Gentleman that he still has to learn; maybe this is one of his lessons he has to learn. We have are lessons to learn. Yes he needs to learn, he should be briefly suspended.

Answer 2

Dont know dont care.

As far as I am concerned the only thing I thought about when I read the question was if the young lady is ok, regardless of whether he did anything or not. If he did then I hope she is ok. If he didnt and she made the accusation then there is a reason she would do that which goes deeper than "she's a teenage girl doing a silly thing".

Either way I hope she is ok.

As far as the NRL is concerned, as far as the players are concerned I couldnt care less anymore. I have given up on the NRL (and NBL) for that matter. It scares me to go to the soccer - some may consider this to be overly anxious - some may even consider the violence to be normal - all I know is I just dont need the behavious in my life when I am going there to watch a game of football.

AFL is my pick at the moment, and only because it is atleast a fast enough game that I am distracted from the behavioural issues that go on with those players too. Yep, they are no better than NRL in the behaviour stakes. I am a Collingwood fan and even when those two got suspended last year I didnt mind because what they did was stupid.

What Stewart did (whether he assaulted her or not) was stupid.

I didnt say HE was stupid (just in case anybody gets confused).

I said what he DID was stupid. That is his problem. When it effects a young teenage girl (assuming he did do it) that is the sad problem that comes from this. If he didnt and it's her that is in the wrong, I guess there is just nothing anyone can do about that and all the other silly young teenage girls that "get away with stuff like that". Remember either way, whatever happened, karma will catch up.

Answer 3

Well if you do the crime; then you do the time!



At the end of every day we are all responsible for our own actions! Mr Stewart is human like the rest of us....he also has to take heed as we all do.



That is the old saying - only the two people involved in the situation know for sure what really happened. It is now a legal matter and it should be resolved without prejudice & interference from outside influences.



If a man employed in a say professional position within a corporation was charged with sexual assault - there would no doubt that the corporation would take action to protect its image and the moral of its other employees. Then in this instance - whats the difference - Manly should have taken action as soon as heard there was a problem or any allegation.



Now it has all been blown out proportion and it has caused the NRL to take action against Manly as the governing body which the Manly club are aligned with.



The NRL and Manly are both multi-million dollar businesses and the players are employees - if Manly fails to take action where it is percieved that they should have (or could have) then the governing body (the NRL) which Manly abide by and subscribe to have to step in and bring order to the situation plus protect their businesses.



The law states that Mr Stewart's is innocent until proven guilty.



I hope for Mr Stewart's sake that he is not guilty because if he is; he has not quite felt the full ramifications of his alledged actions.



As for the young lady's father - what the hell has his past got to do with the alledged actions of Mr Stewart? We all make mistakes and why would he (the Father of the Young lady) risk perjuring himself for some kind of notority or money making scam? He has more to lose than he has to gain...that is going too far Channel Nine when you had the choice not to release this information to the already fueled situation!



Suspension or standing Mr Stewart down from the Manly team is the correct way of handling this situation.



On the 7th April he will have his day in court! Then the real verdict will be available for us all to see!

Answer 4

If Brett Stewart hadn't run into that girl, whether he was drunk or not, he would be playing this week. So Gallop banning him and saying he "let the game down" by being intoxicated is an absolute joke and a kneejerk reaction from an organisation struggling to face the realities of life.



The inconsistencies with this organisation are immense and it is no wonder that the RLPA are furious about this decision. No action was taken against the 3 High Profile Broncos late last year nor against a very High Profile Storm player earlier in the year, all of them letting the game down by being allegedly intoxicated in a public place. Then there's the Bulldogs and we can go on and on.



If Brett Stewart is found guilty of a criminal offence then he should be punished to the fullest extent of the law, but to ban him because he had a few too many is laughable.



What is going to happen after Mad Monday at the end of the year? If this organisation is to be credible then there shouldn't be too many players left to play at the beginning of next season.

Answer 5

you can't use alcohol for an excuse of your behaviour, I don't believe for one second you can't remember anything because you were drunk. Brett would have some flash backs from the event that took place that evening. Its a knowing fact that males do lose all there morals when there drunk. I believe when he woke the next morning he would of had flash backs of the incident and thats why he refused to be interviewed by the police. The club plays a big role in this, having no limitation on what they consume and allowing brett and others leave the venue in that state of been intoxicated. I think it was a good decision the NRL suspended brett from playing , it might change other football players to think twice. There not above the law.

Answer 6

No, personally I do not believe he is guilty of the alleged sexual assault charge against him.

The media has muddied the details surrounding this.

First it was - they were having a chat together and went into the stairwell together, then they had a brief chat, she left and he followed her into the stairwell. No it was outside the neighbouring gated driveway of the nextdoor townhouse complex. No they had a chat and then he crash tackled her, no wait he arrived home in a taxi then proceeded to crash tackle her in front of shocked on lookers.

Initially, the parents heard her cries for help and the father rushed to her defence,then knocked on a neighbours door to call the police - this particular neighbour did not hear or see anything.

No hang on it was the shocked bystanders who pulled Mr Stewart from the girl (if this scenario was true why would the father/mother/daughter go to a neighbour then, surely one of these bystanders had a mobile phone to call the police?

There was a neighbour who upon hearing cries for help turned his web cam to the common ground of the complex and taped the scuffle between Brett and the father....This footage was reported as seized by the police.

My question with this - if true, were the cries for help from the girl when being allegedly assaulted or when there was a scuffle between the father and Brett.

The father, mother and the sisters have been to police to be interviewed as witnesses to the alleged assault.

I wonder how much could have been seen from their premises if the girl was outside next door's gated driveway, as they only reacted upon hearing her cries for help. Plus there was no mention of the sisters going with the father, then the mother to the scene.

People have reported Brett Stewart as having admitted he was so intoxicated he cannot remember what happened... Brett Stewart has not said anything of the sort. This was apparantly suggested by his "family and friends" (I'm sure they would have been more than happy to relay this to the media?) or there was the overheard admission by one of the so-called shocked on-lookers who supposedly heard Brett say he couldn't remember....

The only thing Brett has said is that he is innocent - via his club - Manly, and his solicitor. His solictor has also flatly denied the claims that Mr Stewart was too drunk to be interviewed by the police. I strongly believe not much else can be said whilst the case is before the courts.

There are too many inconsistencies and this has definitely been a trial by media. Front page news for days and days, until the DNA evidence was reported as negative both on Brett and the girl.....Surprise it rated only a small paragraph on about page 5. Great unbiased reporting..



I do believe he was intoxicated - to what degree I don't know. It has pretty much been taken as fact by many that he was refused service at the Wharf Bar ( I read in one report that it was when Delmege tried to place his card behind the bar and since the club was now open to the public it was was refused as it would be too hard to police).

Then he was supposedly refused entry to another bar. (No mention of which one though). But even if those 2 points were true where does it say that Brett reacted badly to either refusal. Surely someone in the media would have been able to find out if Mr Stewart behaved in an obnoxious and loutish behaviour. No there has been no reporting of that at all.

In fact he was on his way home at 7.30pm (such a rabble rouser) in a taxi mind you - such a disgrace to the NRL.

Mr Gallop would like the public to believe that his decision to suspend is purely based on the above 2 points , being intoxicated and bringing the game into disrepute and that it has nothing to do with the alleged charge levelled against him. If this charge had not been laid ,I (my opinion only) believe we wouldn't have heard a thing about Brett Stewart from that day.

The suspension given and the heavy handed way in which it was dealt was a complete over-reaction to the media circus created, and I believe Mr Gallop was embarrassed - he picked a player who up until that time had an unblemished and outstanding reputation on and off the field to be one of the faces of rugby league.

The rulings by the NRL are not consistent nor do I believe they will be. Mr Gallop, on Thursday night's footy show stated, when asked if this would be a precedent - that they have always had the power to step in and have done so in the past. I guess that didn't apply to other drunken incidents re: Lockyer, Inglis, Thaiday etc.

I don't believe he should have been suspended and I think the reasons provided by the NRL are a load of crock.Brett Stewart has been hung out to dry for sure.

I also believe that players should not be automatically stood down if there are charges before them and they are maintaining their innocence. That is for a court to decide and should be dealt with fairly and not in the media. Every Australian, regardless of profession should be entitled to our basic legal right of "innocent until proven guilty".

Answer 7

Another sporting hero who doesn't deserve the title.

The problem is the Aussie attitude that those with talent on the sporting field can do anything they like and at worst get a slap on the wrist.

Brett should be put on the sideline until such time as his innocencence is proven! If it was found that he was abusive to this girl, then this should be extended to a lifetime expulsion.

Similarly those who become so intoxicated that they loose control of their actions. These are supposedly professionals who have been trained to "stay in control". In these instances, whatever the penalty is for the average yobbo... it should be at least doubled for these purported "role models".

There used to be a call called "ungentlemanly conduct" - it's about time that this was reintroduced and applied both on and off the field.

As ambassadors of the game, their club and sometimes their state or country, any misconduct cannot be condoned and those regulating the players need to ensure that any repeat reflects their ineptness whereupon they should also be penalised or removed from their role.

Answer 8

Absolutely. Does everyone remember the the public outcry (not) when the olympic swimmer was stood down from the olympic team just prior to the olympics, that action pales the action of the NRL banning Stewart from a few games of rugby. Brett's qalleged crime is far more targic than the swimmers who for one qucik swing of the arm lost his career, Brett had a lot longer to time to react and stop whatever he was doing. And who does Manly think they are even contemplating letting him paly and what a load of old world rubbish that a professional sporting club allows their paid professionals to drunk at their sponsored events, that sort of stuff at the AFL went out a long long time ago. Wake up Manly and the NRL your dinasours clinging onto hazy drunken days of suspect glory. Not only that no one from the NRL world has even expressed any concern for the young lady at the centre of this rotten event.

Answer 9

It really doesn't matter, what I believe personally. The police think that there is a case to answer, so they must believe that something happened.



I worry about what is going to happen to the girl now - harassment by the media and by other players/supporters. A police spokesman said last night - leave well enough alone and let justice take its course. I totally agree.



I understand that Brett wasn't suspended (I do stand corrected if I am wrong), but that the advertising program in which he played a part, was initially suspended and then modified, so as to exclude images of him - but I don't believe that any player in ANY high profile code of sport should play, once charges have been laid.



edit: With regard to the last paragraph, I am wrong - I just read iot. The only thiung that I agree with there was that NO player should be allowed to play, once charges have been laid. It was clear, that his own club was going to do nothing!



But I don't agree that it should have been for a specfic time - it should have been, until resolved.

Answer 10

Over say the last 6 years, how many times have we seen it on the news where a woman has claimed rape (or sexual assault) by a sporting personality, only to have it dismissed before it reaches court?

100% - not one single allegation has made it to the courts.



I bet the charges will get dropped. Lack of evidence will be the reason.



As for the suspension, well under the circumstances it would be best if he sat on the side lines. Mind you, if the charges don't go ahead, he should be able to SUE!!!!

Answer 11

Yes I believe Mr Stewart should be stood down as the NRL boss said

Mr Stewart was in a high profile position and he has destroyed that

position, the ruling for 5 weeks appears adequate, as one is always

innocent until found guilty.I am hoping Mr Stewart is innocent as Rugby League does not need yet another kick in the teeth.

What is wrong with a total Ban on alcohol. These are professional

paid players.Supposedly elete, there is nothing elete about alcohol and its affects on the human body.

Come on GUYS get real you can't be professional if you want to roll in the gutter as well. The sports psychologist stated yesterday on TV that these Men should be grateful that they have been given the ability to play a

sport that is the greatest game on earth, not slobberings drunks that are destroying the GAME.

Brett should be especially careful as he is a diabetic,

The Public love our footy and the fact that there are players out there that shine each weekend allows us to believe that we are part of their development we pay to watch the game we cheer and support our team but none of us want to see a life taken away by alcohol.

Come on CLUBS and Major Sponsers BAN ALCOHOL all together.

Make it part of the contract, if our Players like Rugby Leauge as WE think they do they shouldnt oppose it. Mr Wayne Peirce told the public that he never touched a drop of alcohol till age 42. was he paid the hundred of thousands dollars that these players of today are, and yet we could only find a few like wayne from the past surely we have learnt.

Answer 12

Look he may not be guilty of sexual assault, however as a person with a high profile he should make a better example. As far as calling what he may have done to the girl a public misdemeanor, it is certainly more than a public misdemeanor.

The alcohol abuse that footballers are constantly blaming for getting themselves into trouble with, is also more than just a public misdemeanor.

As it is, the public perception is that footballers are on the low side of intelligence already. Don't you think that fighting and other bad behavior caused by drugs or alcohol by these high profile people should be controlled better?

They need to grow up and act like the grown men they are supposed to be, and not act worse than uneducated children. It's time these men especially should stop thinking with their middle leg and more with their brains. They are supposed to be role models to all. This player and all the other players should never allow themselves to get into such a state of intoxication and not be able to remember what they do. Horrible acts are done by people intoxicated to that level that they would not normally do. Just because he is who he is, why should the girl be attacked, if he did it he deserves the punishment. The NRL suspension should continue. If guilty he needs to be punished. If not guilty, he put himself in this position. No body else did it for him.

Answer 13

In regard to the assault charge which I believe was akin to a smooch (not a rape/ glass in the face / filmed sex in toilet /drugs /alcohol theft etc etc) he cannot be presumed guilty, just ask the guy who has killed 3 people in drink driving smashes and is still driving until his case is heard. Regarding the drinking (which they say is the reason for the suspension) im pretty sure Brett wasnt the only one to drink at an opening function of ANY club. If gallop is going to enforce his mistake then this year is going to be interesting as we watch 7 aside games cause any player who has 1 too many at any time during the season MUST cop a 4 week ban. Sometimes I wonder why our players do dumb things but maybe they are trying to proove they are ready for the top job.

Answer 14

Yes, because he got so drunk he couldn't even remember what happened. The fine on the club for not managing the function properly is absolutely in order and about time. The club has both duty of care and PR issues to deal with in ensuring excessive drunkenness doesn't take place, and they did a much worse job of that than winning games.

The Players Association are a bunch of spoiled wimps if they expect the ARL to not stand Stewart down when he's the face of the ARL campaign. How thick can you be to not expect the ARL to demand irreproachable standards of off field behaviour from a poster player, and then to react when he lets them down? If I was the ARL I'd be looking at suing him as well for wasting the game's funds spent on the marketing campaign.

Answer 15

I don't think he deserves to be suspended. He has had a clean record both on and off the field, that's why he was chosen for the NRL promotion. The club should just cop a fine for not making sure their players were properly supervised at the function and what about the venue, I think they have some questions to be answered as to why they were still serving alcohol to intoxicated people. If it is proven in a court of law (not in the media) that the alleged offence against the girl did take place then he should be stood down for at least half the season. As it stands now all he is guilty of is having too much to drink and being a high profile footy player.

Answer 16

this has been a while since incident had look deep into case but 1 thing stands out HE ADMITS IT so how can you go past that, just admit it yourselves Manly supporters (OOOHH so Man.ly)to do that when you have a wife unexplainable. And to an under age girl (WHAT THA) men get done for that in jail. but bet it wont go that far lucky Brett. If team mates dont approve of this they all need to say something they will to have kids that age or near too

Answer 17

well lets start by saying im not a manly supporter but as for brett being suspended i think its a load of crap if he got suspended for being drunk as they are saying then y wasnt most of the manly team suspended lets face it they were all as pissed as brett was so y single out 1 person its about time the nrl realise that they cant stop adults from drinking even if they r the employer what u do in your own time is your own business noone elses and if the media were to keep there noses out of high profile ppls lifes then u wouldnt even know about this lets face it if i was to get drunk and run amuck would any of u or the media care ..no u wouldnt so until brett is found guilty if should be left alone and let play and do as he feels fit but if found guilty then throw the book at him just like anyone else

Answer 18

Yes I do believe he did something. However, did she consent until her father found out what they were doing, then accuse him of assault? We will never know.

It is not a matter of innocense or guilt. It is not a matter of role model, and it is not a comment on whether he is a bad person or good person, or he made a "mistake" or was drunk.

For many years this "accusation" has been made in many circumstances and not just by teenagers. There is nothing anyone can do after the accusation. Dont put yourself in that situation if you cant risk it (ie if you are the centre of a $1.5M campaign). It is unfortunate as my parents used to say. I make no accusation on Stewart or the young lady, that is up to the court. It is just a society issue that has been around for a long time and will not be going away anytime soon while young men and young women hang out together.

If you dont want to risk it, dont be there.



Great footballer. I wish him all the success. To the young lady, I wish you all the best as well, and best outcome in this situation. To both of you, I just hope that whatever the outcome is, it is what really happened and you both take responsibility for what happened.



To the NRL (and other codes of football) take note. There is a lot at stake in this, and more to come if you continue to put young men in positions of vulnerability. Manly, you need to also take responsibility for this, and for Wotmough.



Finally, I hope that everyone sees the result of what can happen on binge drinking nights. These two young people will feel the effects of this long after the media has stopped hounding them. Why?

Answer 19

Well, they had to be seen to be taking some action. When will these young footballers ever learn. It is not as if they have not seen this kind of thing happen before. He had the honour of being the face of football this year, and he blew it all over too much booze. No doubt he is very sorry about it all now, and if I have read it correctly and he is a diabetic, he should be taking better care of his health. He had it all, good looks, talent, and if stupidity were a crime, he would be suspended for the whole year. I still believe he is innocent though until /or if that Court finds him quilty.

Answer 20

As Bill P mentioned, his suspension by the NRL has nothing to do with the criminal charge but is because of his overall behaviour at a club function. The DNA testing (if that is what the case hinges on) takes a while to come through I believe so who knows how long this could drag out for??



It is good to see that the NRL has taken a stand against this kind of behaviour - are they going to or have they already taken action against the player who slapped the sponsor? That really isn't a good look either!



EDIT: Hey jorjiegirl, worked for Kevin Rudd!!

Answer 21

Guilty until proven innocent.



Hang on, it's the other way around, innocent until proven guilty! (My backspace key is broken!!)



The NRL didn't go after Stewart personally, they went after the club who decided not to impose any penalty on him (which is their right).

So the league hit the club with a fine and suspended him.



Talk about being slapped with a soggy lettuce leaf! Club puts on a booze-up, player gets drunk and can't remember what happened. If the league was fair dinkum in hitting the club where it hurts most they should have docked them 4 competition points like they did to the Warriors and Bulldogs a few seasons ago for transgressions!!

Answer 22

I believe that he does deserve to be stood down BUT am annoyed at the inconsistency of the NRL ..D Lockyer denyed that he tackled a bar manager after a drunken binge but video evidence proved otherwise and he admitted it was him ..no action taken and then he is appointed captain of the Aust teamfor the world cup.Bronco players invovled in drunken exposes in a toilet wilh a female ..players allowed to play no action taken against players or Broncos..no action taken by storm or NRL over the G Inglis fracis in london ..he is now the poster boy. Could this just be Mr D Gallop way of getting back at non Super League teams..it sure looks like it or is it lets kick him while his down

Answer 23

It is Fair. He was given a huge privalige of being the face of the Nrl add campaign 2009 and then he geos out and makes a complete fool of himself on the Launch day what an idiot. If he was not guilty he wud not have refused to be interviewd.

I think 5 weeks is fair McKinnon got 3 or 4 for spitting on the ground!!

If more info comes about the sex allegations and he is found guilty he will never play again.

Answer 24

Only two people know the answer to this question, Stewart and the girl, time will tell I guess.

I'm a manly supporter, if he is guilty he deserves what he gets no time for idiots who do this.



But it's interesting to see all the big mouths come out of the closet, Mal Me, Webke, and Gallop now makes a stand, didn't do a thing before, maybe it's because there is money involved this time.

Answer 25

Definatly....Its not like he's going to lose any $$$ from Manly and compared to people such as Nick Darcy, who missed his shot at the olymics, is a small price to pay for bring the game into disrepute. If fact if he had any character he would have advised the Manly board and NRL of HIS intenteions to stand down until the matter was hear and the truth comes out.

Answer 26

I think if you get paid that much money to be a public role model and be put in a massive campaign for the year you shouldn't be sooo drunk that you can't remember whether or not you even sexually assulted someone. That's a lame excuse when your a public figure that kids look up to. Nick Darcy got dropped from representing Australia for obvious misconduct. I think the NRL are right to have stepped in and fined Manly. It just shows what society is ok with.

Answer 27

Were there is smoke, there is fire. Guilty or not, most footballers are nothing more than a bunch of louts. They are over paid, under worked. Some can't even play a full game of football. The media portrays them as hero's. The status is not only wrong, but the mere suggestion that they are hero's has gone to their heads and they think they are untouchable. As far as I am concerned he should be side lined until he is cleared. If found guilty they should rip up his contract and ban him from playing for at least 5 years. If Manly defies the ruling, maybe the sponsors should pull the plug and withdraw ALL financial aid. The above suggestion should apply to all players of every code of sport.

Answer 28

Yes, he is a public role model and should be setting a better example of his behaviour, even if he is innocent!

It has been the power of his position that has contributed towards his behaviour and attitude, which is unacceptable in any circumstance.

What will he be teaching the up coming young ones, that when you reach the big league you are allowed to abuse the status? I think not!!

And pulling out the "i was too drunk to remember what happened" card, just shows how weak he is! Alcohol or no alcohol, if he is guilty there is absolutely no excuse for his actions and the damage he will cause to her.

Answer 29

In regards to this Brett Stewart incident, the police must feel that their is some truth in what has happened, they don't make the mistake of formally charging someone without sufficient evidences.



But apart from that, WILL THESE STUPID FOOTBALLS EVER LEARN?? I beg to differ!!

Every year we hear of players (doesn't matter what club), doing something really stupid, they no better and should learn by their team mates or friends mistakes, but they don't.

Don't get me wrong i love footy like the rest of you, and i have 2 boys aged 11 & 8 who are mad supporters, but when are these SUPER STAR FOOTBALLERS going to wake up, and start to set a good example for the young kids to look up too.

Answer 30

The assault charge is something the police and the courts will determine.



However, Yes he deserves to be suspended for sure.



Even if he is eventually cleared of the allegation charges, he has brought an enormous amount of bad publicity to the game.



He was in such a privileged position, especially with Manly's recent success and then to be the face of the new ad campaign on top of that - he was absolutely stupid to allow himself to get so p$$$$d he can't even remember what happened.



If he is not cleared of the assault charges and found to be guilty, then I think they should throw the book at him. When you see what happened to the Bulldogs and then to get off scott free, well they just laugh to themselves and it reinforces to these guys that they are gods and can do what they please.

Answer 31

I feel for this guy in this case. I have been that pissed before. You wake up and ask the question "what happened last night?" Not being able to remember what happened is the worst feeling ever. This is still no excuse for his actions. In that kind of drunken state you are capable of anything and for that reason alone I believe he is guilty of TRYING to rape the girl. For the record 17 is legal. Not morally ethical but legal non the less.

Answer 32

No he doesn't deserve a suspension. Look at his personal record. I mean have a good look back. He has never done a thing wrong. There is something very very very odd about this allegation. Worse still he cant defend himself as he was so drunk he cant remember. I smell an opportunist at work here. Good luck Brett

Answer 33

Well the answer to your first question is, I don't know, no-body knows

other than Brett and the young girl.



No I don't think he should be suspended, I think that he has been made a scapegoat so Mr Gallop can try and stop trouble before

trouble happens this years

Answer 34

I think everyone is wasting their breath going on and on and on about how they should be role models blah blah......at the end of day they're rugby league players lol rugby players get on the piss and do stupid s$%t that will never change. I don't know why all these educated executives in the NRL don';t understand that they are dealing with generally socially unintelligent and uneducated meatheads!! i think society has too higher expectation of their social capabilities.



did'nt they set a precedent at the end of last season by NOT suspending Hunt and Thaiday for the GF after they're little nightclub incident?

Answer 35

Im uncertain. because of the fact the hit began on the middle and rolled right down to his legs. i could have thrown a flag yet not the rest. Favre could have hit him greater stable than that throughout the time of which will warrant a remarkable and/or suspension.

Answer 36

The suspension is not to do with the criminal case. The courts will decide that. The suspension is for bringing the game into disrepute. The player himself says that he doesn't have a clue what happened as he was that pi$$ed. Manly was fined $100,000 for having an alcohol fueled day.

Answer 37

The suspension is appropriate for now and when the evidence has been looked at and it is clearer what really happened then he will be dealt with accordingly. For now it will be enough for some light to be shed on the whole accusation.

Answer 38

It was for his drunkenness, I'm pretty sure. Oh well, Round 5 and we see Snake in the Number 1.

I just wonder why they're acting on it now, and not with before cases. Anyway...

Oh and to the person above me, how can footballs learn? They don't have brains.

Answer 39

Yes he should definitely be suspended until these issues are sorted out by the courts. These guy's need to learn to account for their behavior both on and off the field.

Answer 40

The presumption of innocence seems to have flown out the window regarding the criminal charges (Good old media bashing) but the suspension from the game is the correct decision based on the admissions he has made regarding his drunken binge and by discrediting the game by his behaviour.



What about the criminal offences by the club for serving drunk patrons? (liquor licencing Act)

Answer 41

If he has assaulted that girl then he is guilty of rape. It takes time to prove a criminal case and because he is a high profile person the case is getting media coverage. It does not matter who he is - if he is guilty, no one is above the law.

Answer 42

Yes he deserves it, Just because you think you're "Famous" it doesn't make you above the law. NRL is a business, more than a sport, if a player can't make the right decisions and jeopardize their ability to participate. They deserve to get what hey bring upon them selves.

Answer 43

He's really messed up, and the suspension is fair ... and I was looking forward to the new NRL ad campaign, but nope. He's one of my fave players and am so dissapointed in him. Bring on Fridat night footy ... :)

Answer 44

Brett should not have been their in the first place The players are their own worst ENEMY.I think he should be aloud to play until he is proven guilty or otherwise.

Answer 45

He has been charged with a criminal offence. therefore he has brought the game into disrepute. It is not whether he is guilty or innocent, that is not what the suspension is for it is for the shame that he he brought on this great game of ours.

Answer 46

Absolutely, there is NO excuse for his behaviour. He is supposed to be a role model and his behaviour off the field should be exemplary. This sort of behaviour happens regularly and I think that they should be banned from the game for a season...that would stop these antics for good if they were suspended for an entire year.

Answer 47

YES 100% Obviously the fame has gone to his head and he though he can have any girl he wants. He jumped on her like an animal a young innhocent girl. Im surprised he was allowed out on Bail. The law is an ass! Where have we come to when cowards like this can force himself on any girl. Hes just a coward and should be locked up where I hope someone pounces on him and takes him by force. His father's explanation and defence of this coward was pathetic. You should be thinking of how scared that young girl must have felt you moron.

Answer 48

This is what he deserves -



To be taken down to the local square and tied to a lamp post and then ALL the local kids can throw rocks at him.



I think the girl and her family will feel much better after this happens.

Answer 49

i am a die hard manly supporter. i have supported them since the day i knew rugby league. im a big fan of brett and i believe he is innocent. but in saying that i think it is in his best interest if he does not play until this matter is resolved. and i hope for his sake that he is found not guilty. rugby league is the greatest game on earth and we need him in the game, anyway thats my piece on the matter. let me know what u think of my opinion. cheers chad

Answer 50

I do agree with the suspension by the NRlL and am somewhat disappointed with attitude of Manly.

As for the offence. The outcome needs to be determined in a court of law with inconclusive evidence to support the verdict.

Who are we to jump to conclusions accusing him of sexual assault.

Has anyone determined that it wasnt consensual?

Maybe it was until they were sprung by her father ( who allegedly has great form with a conviction of con-man to his name).

i think we should leave the case alone,let the neccesary people deal with the allegations and find something more newsworthy!

Answer 51

yes he does

the league is bigger than the player and the club, its about time this off field stuff gets sorted out other wise why would i want my kids to play this game when all it seems to get is bad press about what happens off the field

I do believe in innocent till prov en guilty but he is getting suspended for what happened before the alleged incident

if he gets prov en guilty then hang him out to dry

Answer 52

boofhead footy players poison the minds of our young. they influence our kids in every thing from clothing and hairstyles to tattoo,s and how to act in society. when they show there true colours they should be jailed and barred for life - we need examples for the young to follow - lets not give them bad examples.

Answer 53

I think that given the fact that the girl never made a claim of sexual assault until her father (a known con artist) caught them doing whatever it was that they were doing, the charges laid are absolutely ludicrous. In regards to his suspension, yeah he might have been blind drunk, but who hasn't been from time to time, it's a first offense, a suspension is a little extreme i think.

Answer 54

4 weeks suspension 4 drinking 2 much booze & making a fool of yourself??? no NRL players left!!

DNA results negative..........what on earth r we talking about.......... sure the players need help with their attitude, but lets face it......Gallup is a moron & it's all about the money!

It's certainly been a bonanza for the Manly haters.....also morons!!!!

Answer 55

No he doesn't deserve this, he should be able to play. It seems every time football players are out at night they sexually assault some girl, little suspicious don't you think?

Answer 56

When you live your life in the public eye and benefit from it , then you must take every precaution to do the right thing and also to be seen to be doing the right thing!

Answer 57

Yes......guilty or innocent, its best for the game he deal with this issue away from the sport.

Answer 58

What ever happened to innocent until proven guilty..David Gallop has pre judged someone on hearsay...how wrong it that

Answer 59

I think a decsion should be made when the dna test is complete until then who can say weather he is guilty or not. But this happens every year look at the bulldogs prime example

Answer 60

to all you hypocrits out there he says he was blind drunk how the hell do you know that it wasnt HER that sexually assaulted HIM.maybe he grabbed her to get her off him and thats how his dna from his fingernails got on her.we dont even know the results of the dna.my opinion anyway.girls do get charged with sexual assault just look at that female teacher!

Answer 61

Yes and No

Answer 62

yes , there are to many high profile sport stars getting away with what they do

Answer 63

Jeez.... what'd happen if they banned every bloke from working every time he got pi$$ed & did something stupid.....

Answer 64

anyone that says no then wake up . yes he should be suspended

Answer 65

yes

Answer 66

I believe his innocent and i think he should play until proven otherwise.