and like I keep saying, I don't disagree with the fact they broke the rules re the hotel, and they deserve to be punished for that, but I don't think any player would imagine that having consensual sex with another adult would be blown so out of proportion
It's the circumstances around it that lead to this.
People are holding onto this 'consensual age' or 'nothing illegal happened' story as if it actually means anything. I get it, because I imagine that's what you're holding onto when copping a spray from your mates about the Bulldogs. I did the same during the Coffs Harbour shitstorm.
The issue here isn't about the women at all. It's that they went against our strict club rules. Rules that were set on the back of intense media frenzy around our club after the Mad Monday shit, the porno films, Coffs Harbour etc. etc. Every player knows how hard the club has been working to turn our imagine around, to rebrand the Bulldogs. FFS that's the reason we were up there, and at schools in the first place
Whether they started the process at the school or not, it's clear Okunbor knew she was a schoolgirl from the school he had just been at. This isn't about picking some chick up on Tinder or wherever, he knew she was from school. Based on that it was clear the shitfight that would follow if he got caught. He risked his career, but more importantly the career of his teammates and the club's reputation on his dick.
The NRL have linked this whole situation to his school visit, and even though that may be extreme Okunbor gave them the rope to hang us with. Blown out of proportion? With CHN I do think that he should face punishment for breaking club rules, but I think it's extremely harsh the attention he's getting because of the Okunbor issue. I do feel sorry for him to a point.
But Okunbor ... for a supervisor, role model, coach, whatever way you want to put it ... for one of these to go to a school function and end up fucking one of the girls ... they'd immediately lose their job. You know they would. Imagine if a police officer did that? Or a substitute teacher? Or a nurse? Anyone of these and they'd be sacked immediately. Why's it different for Okunbor?
Because she's of legal age? That's not the point and surely you and everyone else understands that. He's in a position of power in being at that school so it's ethically wrong to do what he did. No matter how happy sh was to go along with it.