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If Manly didn’t want Brett Stewart’s name in the spotlight, they shouldn’t have mentioned it in the first place. That was the swift and sharp “nuh-uh, he started it defence” from the NRL yesterday. It was like watching father and son go at it except in statement form, which is slightly less exciting than on video, but amusing all the same.
The entire argument was detailed on The Roar when it broke yesterday, and after you read the whole exchange, it would seem all involved have missed the point completely.
The Sea Eagles said they were “astounded” by the comments made by the National Rugby League in relation to Stewart’s alleged behaviour at the club’s 2009 season launch.
They also said there was no clear evidence of misconduct by the fullback at the launch, citing CCTV footage and the “lack of charges laid against the licensee for breaches of Licensing Laws,” as evidence.
“Anyone who attended the trial would be aware that it was a substantial part of the prosecution’s case that Brett Stewart was affected by alcohol on the evening in question. A great deal of evidence, some from witnesses and some in the form of CCTV footage, was put before the jury by the prosecution in order to attempt to establish that fact. It is reasonable to assume, in light of the verdict, that the jury completely rejected the suggestion that Brett was drunk at the relevant time.”
But soon after the NRL fired back.
They said the Sea Eagles neglected to mention, according to their own report, Stewart was asked to leave Main Bar at 6pm that night due to intoxication.
“The report was confirmed by the NRL’s own inquiries,” the league went on to say in the statement.
“The club has also neglected to mention its own admission at the time that its alcohol management procedures were inadequate.”
To further drive home the point, the NRL also said the club had withdrawn none of the matters in the report and that drawing inferences from a jury decision was just speculation by the club.
Last week, Manly coach Des Hasler made a choice.
Instead of offering a “no comment” to whatever probing question he was asked, he instead offered this.
“I think it’s a terrible inconsistency that’s gone about with the Todd Carney incident compared to the Brett Stewart incident,” Hasler said.
“It’s a disappointment from our point of view because there wasn’t the same leniency shown.
“Gallop had an opportunity to warn this particular player again, who is a repeat offender.
“Brett Stewart was proven innocent at the highest level in a Supreme Court, yet the players have been shown inconsistency.”
They’re the type of quotes that don’t get glossed over. Predictably, it got picked up by every website, newspaper and TV station east of Bourke.
I completely agree with the Sea Eagles in one respect. Stewart should be able to go about his business without worrying who slips up next. It shouldn’t be his problem.
But that’s not possible when the club is throwing his name around in the search for justice.
The Sea Eagles say Brett Stewart “is not guilty of anything other than being an outstanding citizen and a great footballer”. They’re right. So why drag his name back into the argument?
What was it going to achieve?
If they wanted debate and some reaction from the NRL, then it’s mission accomplished.
The only problem is that while Stewart is trying to put two years of torment behind him, his name is still in the papers.
When news of Carney’s DUI charge broke, Stewart was at best a sidenote to the story. He wasn’t THE story.
Unfortunately Des Hasler’s comments have made him part of the story for the length of the saga. Then, just when the heat was dying down, Manly’s statement moved him from just being part of the story, to being the centre of the story.
Regardless of what side of the fence you’re sitting on, it’s baffling behaviour.
Stewart has every right to be livid.
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