To whom it may concern
I am writing to express my disappointment, anger, and ultimately disgust over the double standards your organisation continues to show, and has once again shown in the case of Brett Stewart being suspended.
I know you have put out a release about the code of conduct, but once again, that again shows the hypocritical actions of your organistaion. Apparently your decision has nothing to do with whether he is guilty or not with the case, it is due to his consumption of alcohol and the subsequent actions that came from that, if so then I will be watching very closely to see if this applies to every other NRL player this season. I never saw this stance taken against Tim Smith for example last season, whose numerous alcohol related incidents were reported rightly. Also the stance was not taken when Craig Gower faced similar allegations years ago
There is supposed to be a thing called Innocent until proven guilty. Where is that in this case ? If you want to use Stewart's high profile in the game, and the role you have chosen for him this season as an excuse, then explain to me how, after 6 years of an absolutely clean record, and the great role he has played in the community mentoring youngsters, His word, and the fact he has denied these allegations, holds no bearing on your decision making ? His actions in the past were enough to get him the profile you were quite happy to push, yet these same character attributes have been shunted to the side in this case
Over the past couple of seasons, I have watched Anthony Laffranchi and Michael Crockett play on despite the same allegations. Where was your organisation then ? I also watched the finals last season, and Karmichael Hunt, Sam Thaiday and Darius Boyd play in an important finals match, under similar circumstances involving alcohol, and allegations from a female. So please explain to me why you are not a bunch of hypocrites in suspending Stewart after these previous examples, I am keen to know that.
I can see 1 reason that may explain it, Warriors and Broncos were both Super League clubs, and the Titans were a love child of the NRL/News Ltd. Manly were not a side that sold out, so is this suspension still part of News Ltd frustration at their failure of a competition named Super League ?
I am an overseas NRL fan, and at least twice a year I fly over and attend NRL matches and buy merchandice. This current stand by the NRL would have me considering stopping that, because at the moment I am not wanting to give the NRL any of my hard earned at all. However what will have me coming back is the love for my club and the enjoyment I get from watching them, and they still deserve my support and money, it is just a shame that a slice of that will end up in the pockets of the NRL after this episode.
I understand the need to keep those pockets full though, because if/when Brett Stewart is found not guilty of these charges, and you guys have stopped him fulfulling his job based on allegations, he should definitely be entitled for some compensation, as should the club that had a star player taken away from them on these grounds
