Although the legal age of consent throughout Australia is either 16 or 17 years of age, legislation in New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory makes it an offence for a person in a supervisory role to sexually engage with a person under their special care who is aged 16 or 17 years.
The girls were under their care in the school so what they did was illegal.
They are professional athletes. They are taught the laws and to be careful all the time and they still fucked up like this. Get rid of them from our club.
Ah lets wait till all is revealed. Andrew Hill has acted in accordance with the Clubs protocol. Information is limited to us however. Im not going to accuse the players of acting inappropriately until I know the circumstances of how contact was made with the girls.
The players were there to show the kids who play rugby league their skills. Imagine a school oval if you will. The kids are under the care of the school. The kids who play rugby league - boys and girls - are doing drills and skill sessions with the players, talking to them, getting autographs, asking the players questions on fitness, diet, training - everything. The players owe these kids a duty of care.
Then outside of the kids who play rugby league are other kids - hanging around, some are 17 and 18. They dont play rugby league. Hell they may not follow rugby league at all. These girls approach the players. They exchange phone numbers. The girls are not part of the training group. The girls are under the care of the teachers still, but if the girls want to fratanize with the players then its no different to them exchanging phone numbers with a worker fixing the plumbing at the school. The players havent groomed these kids. There is no strict duty of care breach here.
If this is an accurate portrait of what went on then Im stupefied that the players have been stood down. Last time I checked men and women of legal age can exchange phone numbers. Theres no grooming as the kids in my example were not participating in the skills sessions.
Lets be clear, at the moment, we are not aware of any complaint made to the Club either by the girls, their parents, the teachers or the school. The police are not investigating, theres no crime been committed, no duty of care breached.
At the end of the day the PC brigade want to ruin our game. What young fella would want to play our game if your not allowed to talk to adult females who are attracted to your athleticism.
Our game is played by young men in the sexual prime of their life. Be real. What happens in any teams end of season trip away? Are any ladies entertained? Wake up to yourselves you holier than thou self righteous self appointed guardians of morality. Matter referred to the Integrity Commission. What a joke!!! All this hoohar for a little bit of friction. My goodness. Move on. Theres nothing to see here...lets get on with the footy!!!