 Charged ... Manly Eagles Rugby League player Brett Stewart leaves Dee Why police station. Picture: Noel Kessel. |
THE National Rugby League has stepped in to suspend Manly star Brett Stewart until round five, after he was charged with sexual assault of a 17-year-old girl.
The 24-year-old fullback was charged last night over an alleged incident following the club`s boozy season launch. Manly had stood by their player and said he would play in this weekend`s season opener against the Bulldogs.
But after a crisis meeting this morning, the NRL said Stewart had breached the league`s code of conduct and would not be eligible to take the field until round five. He is due in court on April 7, after the fourth round of the competition.
Stewart was the face of the NRL`s $1.5 million 2009 season marketing campaign which has had to be edited.
"Brett could not have been in a more high profile position of trust for the game on the eve of a season than he was last week and we believe he should have recognised the honour that he was given and the responsibility that went with it," said NRL chief executive David Gallop.
"By any estimation there was an abuse of alcohol in the aftermath of a club function that has led in some parts to the game being placed under enormous pressure. The players and the clubs need to know that we are not going to accept that.
"The Manly club has today delivered its report into the function and the measures simply weren`t sufficient to stop drinking getting out of hand in the case of some of the players."
The Sea Eagles are also in the spotlight over Anthony Watmough`s behaviour after the forward was involved in an altercation with a club sponsor at last Friday`s controversial launch event. The NRL has fined Manly $100,000 over the function.
Stewart and Manly have five business days to respond after receiving the formal breach notice with the option to take the matters to the NRL Appeals Committee.
Support
After Stewart was charged last night, he was driven to a meeting with Sea Eagles officials. Mr Gallop joined the meeting by phone and reportedly urged the club to bench Stewart, but coach Des Hasler stood by his star.
Stewart also received the support of the Rugby League Players` Association, which said he had the right to keep playing while the matter was before the courts.
"As a general rule, a player should not be stood down from playing and fulfilling his contractual commitments to his club because he has been charged with a criminal offence particularly where the player has indicated that he will defend the charge," the RLPA`s Matt Rodwell said.
"A player like any other person in the community is entitled to the presumption of innocence."
In a news.com.au poll, three in four respondents said Stewart should have been sidelined until the matter was dealt with.
Last year, Cronulla suspended key player Greg Bird after he was charged with assaulting his partner. That case is still before the courts and Bird now plays in France.
Cronulla chief executive Tony Zappia has said the same should have happened in this case. "Whether the players like (it) or not, they are considered to be role models," Mr Zappia said on ABC radio. "...Players (must) understand what their responsibilities are."
The New South Wales Premier and his opposite number both urged Manly to stand aside Stewart.
- with AAP
