According to this he’s been formally charged, although there’s no statement/quotes from police, so it may just be a media beatup

My point exactly. The case already carries the stench of media beatup – the single eyewitness report says that a heavily drunken Stewart crash-tackled the girl in question, yet somehow the papers are talking about sexual assault and rape – and we’re buying into it in spades with articles like this. This article hasn’t been thought through properly, or been written with any consideration of practicalities and logistics – it’s a just an outlet for the writer’s indignation rather than a serious attempt to propose a solution to the NRL’s ‘problems’.

I don’t like the chances of what you were saying coming out. There was an article snuck in the back of the sports pages of the Herald about how the police cheif in charge of the Bulldogs case never thought there was anything in it and thought his colleagues simply got carried away investigating big stars months after it had all blown over.

This of course didn’t fit in well with the Magnay’s, O’Hallorans et al who ahd nailed their colours to the flag early doors. They still bring it up every chance they get despite no player at the club every being charged.

There is little humility in modern journalism so don’t expect them to say sory if they’ve dragged you through the mud.

Sorry gabriel, I can’t see how this would work other than being some sort of feel-good factor to make everyone think the world would magically become a happier place.

The Bulldogs weren’t charged with anything, that seems to have been forgotten, so what do they gets stung with?

Surely it shouldn’ just be down to allegations?

And the Tigers players all came from their feeder team , so if guilty does the first grade team cop the hit?

What is worse, a cam shepherd, todd carney panel beating session against a player getting pissed in a pub?

Let’s leave the tables to reflect the actions on the field and the cops to sort out the stuff off it.

How do you put a value on these “indiscretions”?

Is it 4 points for pissing on someone’s leg, 8 points for jumping on cars, 16 points for glassing your girlfriend in the face?

In this case, if the accusations prove do prove to be true, I’d hate to be David Gallop having explain to the media that after hours and hours of deliberation the NRL (probably via some special board made up of ex players) had decided that docking Manly 37 competition points was an adequate penalty for one of there player committing sexual assault.

I’m sure that will be awfully comforting to the young girl and her family.

Something is seriously wrong with Australia in 2009 if the docking of competition points acts as a greater deterrent to committing criminal acts then the possibility of going to prison.

Znotty is dead right. Why on earth can’t we just leave these things up to the cops and let everyone else just get on with it?! If it’s found to be based in fact and he’s found guilty, let the law deal with him as it would with any other member of society. Until such time, he’s innocent as far as I’m concerned. And I’m pleased to see that that seems to be Manly’s position on the matter thus far too.