Hypocritical and inflammatory reporting at its best.....
NRL cancelled their registration, we had to follow their lead. Contrary to what many think the welfare of the players was considered.
The media had a field day,all of them, with just about every article having a dig at the players for their behaviour, some even calling for them to never play NRL again. Mostly positive for the club in their actions, as they were toeing the line of NRL leadership. Corona virus was starting to rear its ugly head and measures were being considered to safe guard the welfare of the game and the NRL did not appreciate what they called another headache for the game..... This article from a law firm......which I think says a great deal about the entire matter......a lot more to consider than just the player feeling he has been hard done by.
https://donaldsonlaw.com.au/good-work-bulldogs-because-you-cant-train-against-stupid-behaviour/
good work, Bulldogs – because you can’t train against stupid behaviour
Another day, another NRL sex scandal. Many of us are feeling disheartened, disillusioned and dog-tired at the news that two Bulldogs players took two schoolgirls back to their hotel. But before we throw the members’ passes in the bin,
we need to reflect on the significance of how Bulldogs management has dealt with it this time.
In days gone by, these types of cases involving consensual sex and no criminal wrongdoing might have been swept under the carpet by the club and none would have been the wiser. If there had been any suggestion of it via social media, it could have been passed off as fake news.
However, the club has drawn a line in the sand. It has taken swift action and stood down the players, Jayden Okunbor and Corey Harawira-Naera. This is to be applauded. It will have a significant impact on their future. They will forever be known as the players who made headlines for the wrong reasons. They will live with the consequences of their actions.
It should be a wake-up call for every NRL player. We have spent so long educating men in relation to consequences of their actions with respect to illegal behaviour. We have spent countless hours educating them about their obligations under their contracts. However, at the end of the day you cannot train against a player’s stupid behaviour.
Let there be no misunderstanding. These players engaged in risky behaviour, albeit legal, that has placed not only their careers at risk but jeopardised the success of their team.
Let me ask every employer: what action would you take if you became aware that a number of your employees had engaged in risky behaviour that was not illegal? Would you stand down two of your key people even though it would hurt your business and brand? That is the huge ethical dilemma for employers.
We need to remember that the 600 men employed by the NRL are employees and that they are in a high-risk profession. In any group, there will be a number who, for whatever reason, make the wrong decision at the wrong time. You simply cannot train these people.
All we can do is put steps in place so they can never claim ignorance as an excuse for their behaviour. Let it be known that these players received the proper welfare education and that they were on notice that this type of behaviour would have dire consequences.
Unfortunately, it will have dire consequences for the team as well. The Bulldogs should be proud of way the club has responded. Something once swept under the carpet has been tackled head-on.
Adair Donaldson is an ambassador for Rape and Domestic Violence Services Australia and the director of Donaldson Law, a national law firm specialising in working with survivors of sexual assault and abuse.
The NRL line on it all......
11 March 2020
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04...unbor-corey-harawira-naera-contracts/12111398
The NRL has cancelled the registrations of Canterbury players Jayden Okunbor and Corey Harawira-Naera after they were found to have breached the league's code of conduct.
Key points:
- Jayden Okunbor and Corey Harawira-Naera brought two young women back to the Bulldogs' team hotel during a preseason trip in Port Macquarie
- The NRL said the behaviour of both players was "inexcusable" and it would not "tolerate" such conduct
- The Bulldogs said it was offering support to the young women, who had become targets for social media abuse
The decision follows the NRL's investigation into
the behaviour of Okunbor and Harawira-Naera during the Bulldogs' preseason trip to Port Macquarie in late February, when they brought two high school girls above the age of consent back to the team's hotel.
The NRL's show-cause process found the behaviour of each player "constituted very serious breaches" of the code of conduct.
NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg said the behaviour of Okunbor and Harawira-Naera was unacceptable.
"The behaviour of both players was inexcusable and a very serious breach of the code of conduct,'' he said in a statement.
"The game will not tolerate such conduct and as such both players have had their registrations cancelled.
"This decision should send a very clear message to all players of our stance on such behaviour."
The Bulldogs released a statement, saying the club "fully" supported the NRL's decision to deregister the pair.
"The conduct of the two players, on the eve of our final trial match, demonstrated an unacceptable lack of respect for their teammates, their coach and club officials, our hosts in Port Macquarie and fans of the game everywhere," the statement read.
"An important part of the role of being a professional rugby league player is to promote the game and act as an ambassador for your club and the code.
"There can be no tolerance for any abuse of the privileged status the game affords its leading players."
The club has been offering "ongoing support" to the two young women, who have been subjected to social media abuse.
"The consequences of this matter have been serious and far-reaching and protecting the welfare of the young women involved has been a priority for us since we were first alerted to this issue," the Bulldogs' statement read.
"They have, unfortunately, been the victims of some distasteful social media attacks which are not called for and need to stop.
"We have been in regular contact with them, their families and their school."
The Bulldogs are liaising with the NRL and the Rugby League Players' Association to make sure Okunbor and Harawira-Naera have access to welfare support "to help them through this period and assist them into the next stage of their careers".
Okunbor, 23, made his NRL debut last season, scoring five tries in 10 senior appearances on the wing.
New Zealand-born Harawira-Naera, 24, moved to the Bulldogs from Penrith last season, making 21 appearances and scoring five tries for the club. He has represented New Zealand in three Tests.
AND some of the rest......from just the second page of articles on the matter...
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/s...y/news-story/86fc7280ddcb372ccc97795a9158f28b
https://www.zerotackle.com/jayden-okunbor-set-to-be-sacked-over-sex-scandal-53188/
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/spor...-down-after-schools-girls-hotel-incident.html
https://ladieswho.com.au/league/202...earn-their-behaviour-impacts-the-bottom-line/