Women in League Round shows NRL’s hypocrisy
Roar Rookie By Zee, 21 Jun 2012 Zee is a Roar Rookie
- Tagged:
- David Gallop, North Queensland Cowboys, NRL, Robert Lui, Rugby League
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This week, the National Rugby League celebrates the amazing women that contribute to our game and the female participation in our game, while raising funds for the McGrath Foundation.
I think it’s a brilliant thing to celebrate as, behind every famous footballer there is a mother, a sister, a partner that gives them that love, courage and support
But if you’re going to celebrate and acknowledge women in our game, you can’t be half hearted. You must eradicate the link between rugby league players and violence against women.
The game must show a tough stance on those who have committed violent acts against women.
It absolutely disgusts me that Robert Lui is still a contracted footballer in our game.
Now for those who are unaware of his actions, he assaulted his girlfriend while she was pregnant with his child, after the charges were put against him, the Tigers let him go. North Queensland picked him up.
I understand that he was stood down while waiting to face court, however he has since been found guilty. He has only been suspended for the rest of the season.
Ryan Tandy was banned for betting on matches – surely Lui deserves the same punishment? It baffles me that he is still involved in rugby league.
After the ARL suspended Lui, former NRL CEO David Gallop came out and said that the game was sending out a ‘‘clear statement about the need to prevent violence against women.”
A clear statement would have been to give him a life ban. One year’s suspension is not enough.
Unfortunately there has been way too many controversies regarding players’ treatment of women in our game. Up until this point, however, each have been dealt with accordingly. That is, until this issue.
So while we celebrate the amazing contributions of women to rugby league, we still have a man contracted in our game guilty of bashing his partner and putting his unborn child in harm.
To celebrate the Women in League round, and allow this to continue, is hypocritical.
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- Explore:
- David Gallop, North Queensland Cowboys, NRL, Robert Lui, Rugby League
June 21st 2012 @ 7:11am
steve b said | June 21st 2012 @ 7:11am | Report comment
Your right !!
June 21st 2012 @ 7:36am
oikee said | June 21st 2012 @ 7:36am | Report comment
No your wrong, you cant ban people for life because they make mistakes. If you did this every worker who did the same should be banned from work for life. Sorry, the world does not operate like this, if it did we would just take him out the back after been found guilty like the chinese do, and shot him through the head. You want this world, go live in china.
I like the idea, criminals who murder, no death row, just out the back and bang, your gone.
June 21st 2012 @ 8:21am
steve b said | June 21st 2012 @ 8:21am | Report comment
He is not banned from getting a real job,he just got banned from playing footy for 12 months,,keep it real…
June 21st 2012 @ 10:51am
turbodewd said | June 21st 2012 @ 10:51am | Report comment
oikee, youre way off! Way off.
Bashing your wife isnt a mistake – its deliberate! I think a 1 year ban is fair and accurate, 2 at most.
June 21st 2012 @ 1:44pm
Australian Rules said | June 21st 2012 @ 1:44pm | Report comment
Punching and kicking your pregnant girlfriend and then dragging her around by the hair… is apparently a “mistake”.
Do yourself a favour and go quiet on this one Oikee.
June 21st 2012 @ 4:53pm
mushi said | June 21st 2012 @ 4:53pm | Report comment
Seriously Oikee.
you said some stupid crap but labelling this as a simple mistake is disgusting hell you partner should leave you after seeing that given how trivially you treat her rights and safety.
I hope you don’t have daughters and force them to beleive your drivel about domestic abuse.
Ironically he’d probably get nothign for this in china
June 21st 2012 @ 8:04am
Crosscoder said | June 21st 2012 @ 8:04am | Report comment
Fair point,but each case has to be treated on the situation.If Lui is banned for life,the newborn needs to be provided for financially.I dont know his qualifications,but I suggest they are rather limited,and in the current economic environment more so.
I abhor any act of violence toward women, verbally or physically,however perpetrators unless they are basket cases,should be rehabilitated.Even murderers get that opportunity.We have that guy Kyle…..who made some vile comments about women on radio,and retains his job.Sheesh.And some clown on the lefty show ABC Q&A, bagging the physical appearance of G Rinehart,and get away with it.That is also abuse
There are an additional 20,000 females participating in the code this year,involved in every aspect of the game.The game must be doing a little right.They also are the ones who should be critical of the Lui decision and stated so to Gallop .
June 21st 2012 @ 1:51pm
Australian Rules said | June 21st 2012 @ 1:51pm | Report comment
“If Lui is banned for life,the newborn needs to be provided for financially”
So what you’re saying is: that if Kyle Sandlinands was banned from radio, his kids should be provided for financially.
On what planet does that make sense?
June 21st 2012 @ 4:39pm
Crosscoder said | June 21st 2012 @ 4:39pm | Report comment
What on earth are you on about AR.Do please read a bit more of what I stated “unless they are basket cases”.
I am concerned about the child being looked after financially and its long termwell being Nothing more nothing less .Whatever Lui got whether it be a season ,life ,he was responsible for his actions.He got the public humiliation and he has to live with it.
I compared Sandilands because the guy made verbal abuse against women and remained in his job ,and should have been banned by the station,not for life FFS.
And Sandilands has a lot more in the bank,than this idiot up north could dream about.
And you should be a bit concerned,as an AFL player is currently having similar violence problems with a woman,and the code is not giving him a life ban.In fact playing in the VFL down the line this year.
Wonder if you have influence with the moderators AR,I get very suspicious at times.
Spend a little more time analysing ,before you respond..
June 21st 2012 @ 6:08pm
Australian Rules said | June 21st 2012 @ 6:08pm | Report comment
Honestly, you and Oikee are the not the spokespersons for your code that you imagine yourselves to be.
Even on THIS issue, both of you have relied on some embarrassing code-war defensive:
“And you should be a bit concerned,as an AFL player is currently having similar violence problems with a woman,and the code is not giving him a life ban.”
First, that’s pathetic to bring that up – this isn’t about AFL or NRL.
Second, that player was instantly banned by his club for the season.
Third, what has that got to do with what we’re talking about anyway?
I’ll repeat your full quote this time:
“If Lui is banned for life,the newborn needs to be provided for financially.I dont know his qualifications,but I suggest they are rather limited,and in the current economic environment more so.”
You comment implies some concern that Lui’s skills (and thus future earning capacity) are limited and this should be taken into account. I think that misses the point of the article completely.
June 21st 2012 @ 9:01pm
JVGO said | June 21st 2012 @ 9:01pm | Report comment
Regarding your ‘embarrassing code war defensive’ AR you know that you and your provocative moniker are only here to niggle and cause code war grief to anyone who doesn’t bow to the superiority of the code your moniker represents, and you love to target both Oikee and CC
Crosscoder is highly regarded as one of the most reasonable and fair posters on this entire site. In fact CC was thanked specifically by Wendy Harmer in the Telegraph for his support for her on this site when she was the victim of code war pointscoring from both Peter Fitzimmons and the mighty Spiro himself over her support of Brett Stewart during that affair. She stated how much CC going into bat for her and the other women suppprting Stewart against the false allegations meant to her in a difficult time..
And Oikee recieved support from virtually everyone on this site when tristan questioned the value of his forum contribution. I have never seen anyone support the cynical and mostly disingenuous drivel that you post here on the site. At least Oikee and CC are both genuine and real posters who contribute unique and original viewpoints whereas your line here as always amounts to nothing more than that the AFL does it better.
I for one have never seen CC or Oikee revert to the absolute offensive drivel and play the man rubbish that Cattery dished out here on the weekend,
June 22nd 2012 @ 9:06am
Australian Rules said | June 22nd 2012 @ 9:06am | Report comment
Cattery doesn’t always get it right, but Oikee’s “people make mistakes” comment is about as base level as I’ve seen on the Roar.
I’ve agreed with some of CC’s comments in the past and I’ve disagreed with plenty of them.
This article was about violence agaionst women, and those 2 were the only posters who tried to rationalise the Lui scenario by pointscoring with “AFL players do it too”…which just misses the point completely.
That said, the debates I’ve had with CC (in particular) have been robust, sometimes exhaustive, often humourous.
You may find my ironic moniker provacative, but that’s your problem. I debate issues and comments from every sport on this site, as is everybody’s right.
From what I’ve seen, your comments are largely confined to “NSW is No.1″, “AFL is ruining sport in this country”, “W.Syd hates AFL”…again and again. I feel if I had a different name, you wouldn’t feel so stung by what I wrote on this site.
June 22nd 2012 @ 2:02pm
oikee said | June 22nd 2012 @ 2:02pm | Report comment
Did i get support for that.? I never went back to that post because Tristain sent me a e-mail and i thought i had better lay low for awhile.
Thanks to everyone who did support me, i do come across pretty negative at times, i told this to Tristain as well, i said it is like a disease i am that passionate about the sport.
I try to tone it down, but as you can see, it is very hard for me. I really dont mind people having a go at me, i probably deserve it as well.
June 22nd 2012 @ 4:40pm
JVGO said | June 22nd 2012 @ 4:40pm | Report comment
Oikee, you received a lot of support. There are a lot of people who value very highly your humour and passion and also simply your ability to say what you think. The Roar would be a much poorer place without you….but don’t go getting carried away now.
June 22nd 2012 @ 10:54am
Crosscoder said | June 22nd 2012 @ 10:54am | Report comment
I thought you were the spokesman for AFL /NRL.the latter you seem to know more about it than many of us,apparently.
I only brought it up AR,because you had a chop at my posting.
My views were spelt out clearly ,which yoiu ignored for whatever reason.I have clearly and succintly expressed my feeliings,I abhor everything re violence physical or verbaltoward women.I have a wife and daughters.
No it does not apply that.Firstly it suggests the most important person is the childs current and future welfare and of course the wife.Whatever happens to Lui is his problem,but even those guilty of manslaughter ,sometimes murderers get the opportunity’, when they get out to provide for their dependents.
If you asked me would I Have banned him for longe.”The answer is yesTthen again neither me or you know what counselling is being done,and the other associated “punishment.
The point of the article is hypocrisy,because there is a women in league round.I suggest you read Catherine Harris’s comments in the Big League apge 16 (she is an ARLC commissioner).Quite frankly her views make your attempt at trying to snipe me,look rather puerile.
She made the point”it is a benchmark for other codes.”
So my response is ,and I am on the same wavelength as women involved in rugby league,that it is not hypocrisy.It is in fact an acknowledgment of the importance they play in the game,and public recognition for doing so.
Because of the extreme”and terrible actions of this guy,why should the rest have to suffer,by not staging such a round.
You lost me on that one AR.
if you believe I am trying to rationalise Luis deeds,you are kidding.He brought the game into disrepute and committed an atrocious act.
June 22nd 2012 @ 12:02pm
Australian Rules said | June 22nd 2012 @ 12:02pm | Report comment
Fair enough. To me, your comment read as though Lui’s future earning capacity (in order to provide for his kid) should be considered in determining an appropriate penalty. If that’s not what you meant, then ok.
I never wrote that the round is hypocritical or that it shouldn’t be staged bc of him. That’s not my position at all, quite the opposite.
June 22nd 2012 @ 4:36pm
JVGO said | June 22nd 2012 @ 4:36pm | Report comment
My perspective on this issue particularly in regards to indigenous players is that due to different cultural norms and the prevalance of the problem in indigenous communities is that they deserve a further chance. The one strike policy simply isn’t productive. it is simply too easy to throw another black man on the scrap heap as a loser and failure because that is what they are like isn’t it.
Greg Bird for one, whatever he did, his behaviour since seems exemplary and indicative that yes young black man can learn and grow into role models for their communities. I think this is a better outcome than throwing him on the scrapheap as an example to others. Of course he will never live it it down because he is a grub. Look at the reaction to the Corey Parker incident created where immediately it must have been Bird despite the fact that parker did it to himself.
For many years I have coached kids from the Redfern community and know that whenever they go into a situation with white officials, coaches and players they are in a racist environment that will judge them by different standards and I am always prepared to make a total arse of myself simply in order to show them that someone is prepared to stand up for them, because no matter how talented they are, how exemplary or how successful, the racism will always be there, just ask Kurtley Beale perhaps.
In th end look how quickly someone as seemingly benign as the Cattery melted down and lashed out when confronted with preconceived judgements and perceived unfairness and imagine having to live it every minute of every day.
June 22nd 2012 @ 6:29pm
oikee said | June 22nd 2012 @ 6:29pm | Report comment
Yes. And Carney JV, imagine if we had just thrown him on the scrapheap after only 10 chances.
I think Carney is the role model for rugby league. I jest but still, i am glad we did persevere.
Good post, you dont need me.
What rugby league has taught me over the years, keep trying.
June 21st 2012 @ 8:16am
waterboy said | June 21st 2012 @ 8:16am | Report comment
If the above author’s stance was adopted, you then have the issue of potentially partners blackmailing NRL player boyfriends with false claims of domestic violence, so as to keep the NRL player in the relationship, or manipulate them for any other purpose.
Dont think it cant happen, or wouldn’t happen.
Many a security licence holder has been threatened unjustifiedly with an AVO in NSW by a partner, knowing that if the AVO is made he would lose his licence and his capacity to earn a living.
Each case must be judged on its own merit
June 21st 2012 @ 8:42am
steve b said | June 21st 2012 @ 8:42am | Report comment
Lets deal with facts shall we , he admitted to the assault ,,he is guilty ,,therefore this case was judjed on its own merits.. He assaulted pregnant women oh tough guy ..Voiilence against women should not be tolerated no matter who you are,, or what your circumstances are …. ,
June 23rd 2012 @ 12:49pm
Meesta Cool said | June 23rd 2012 @ 12:49pm | Report comment
I apologise if this post is read as ME defending Lui (or other wife/Girl friend/ Women BASHERS.. not so, I hate the thought of a woman being even pushed around!. I believe the law should be dealing more severely with the ‘bad guys’..
My comments were a reflection of what a workmate went through before he ‘cracked’. — He went through Hell amd tried his hardest to right things. Finding his wife was having an affair with his mate sent him ‘over the top’… There are ‘usually’ two parts to every story. ASk Brett Stewart!.
June 21st 2012 @ 8:34am
micka said | June 21st 2012 @ 8:34am | Report comment
Name em, shame em, defame em. Anyone -proven guilty- of bashing a wife, partner or child should be banned for life.
There was no one there to protect their victims, why do they deserve protection and carte blanche to make a tonne of money playing sport?
I don’t think players are or should be role models but this is a heinous crime and they should be heavily punished for it.
June 21st 2012 @ 8:35am
jamesb said | June 21st 2012 @ 8:35am | Report comment
you need to treat every case on its merits in regards to violence against women. Some cases it may be a mild case of violence, (such as a slap) while in other instances, it may be brutal. (like UFC style)
The NRL would need to get all of the details from police, courts etc, and than make decision.
June 21st 2012 @ 8:58am
jamesb said | June 21st 2012 @ 8:58am | Report comment
“Some cases it may be a mild case of violence”
let me correct myself by saying that there is no such thing as “mild”, which ever the case. Violence against women should not viewed as “mild” and should not be tolerated, what ever the act is.
June 21st 2012 @ 10:46am
JVGO said | June 21st 2012 @ 10:46am | Report comment
I’d suggest that there is another cultural layer in this that needs to be considered, it is not merely a RL, legal or women’s issue.. Domestic violence rates are considerably higher in the indigenous community. Most of the high profile cases I can remember in RL are with indigenous players Lui, Gordon, Bird, Inglis. I don’t know about the AFL or other sports. Is Wayne Cary or Grant Hacket indigenous? But I expect there is a justification for an additional educational/ counseling/ mediatory layer for both parties in these relationships that appear to come from a different cultural background.
June 22nd 2012 @ 2:22pm
oikee said | June 22nd 2012 @ 2:22pm | Report comment
I am not sticking up for Lui either, but we have to think about the education aspects of these players. The courts never just send them to jail for life, and i see the girls on the footy show also want them banned for life. My argument would be we are taking the easy option,. I would rather the game put more effort into trying to help players. And i also think Gallop was similar thinking as well.
The problem people like me and Gallop have got, is everyone thinks the opposite.
That might be well and good. But like i said, it is the easy option to just say ban him and whoever for life, throw them in the to hard basket.
I dont agree with that Mackinnon lady on the footy show, yet everyone clapped. I would love to put a argument up to her and anyone else who wished to argue weather every one, including the courts, should put this in the to hard basket.
Life does not work like that, even muderers who get life, (only get 25 years), so its not even really life is it.
Anyhow, this was the reason for my points in my above posts . I am not sticking up for the beater, that is where most make the mistake, you try to be neutral or possitive you get hammered.
And if it is indigernous players with a higher percentage, then maybe even more effort needs to be made by rugby league to educate everyone we can.
We cant ever stop it, but maybe we can help. I think league does a good job now, we could be better.But just banning players wont stop this from happening, it might even send it underground. Actions reactions.
June 21st 2012 @ 9:01am
Titus said | June 21st 2012 @ 9:01am | Report comment
Good article, it does display a massive contradiction in the message the NRL wants to get out and the reality of how the NRL operates.
If the player has faced a court of law and been found guilty then the NRL needs to either take a stand or stop using their support of women round as such a cynical marketing exercise.
June 21st 2012 @ 9:16am
oikee said | June 21st 2012 @ 9:16am | Report comment
Their was a Geelong Cats youngster banned today for a year, he blackened the eye of some girl.
If you really want to make a stand, maybe post this under all sports should ban players for life who abuse women, and that goes for Aussies overseas playing soccer rugby, or any other sports.
You see, your either fair-dinkum or your just trying to make league the scrape goat. The code is doing its part in this issue. Why knock the game for trying, at least we banned him for a year. If they want more, maybe the law should have done more.
No i am sticking to my original post. The game is not here to dish out the law. We punished Lui on top of the law. I dont even think it is up to the game to dish any punishment, this should be the courts dishing punishment.
The game will end up being sued if you try to make us a court system. We banned him for a year, if he was in jail we would not have to worry about him.
I think we do enough, we are educating the players about abusing women. We cant baby sit them.
June 21st 2012 @ 9:41am
micka said | June 21st 2012 @ 9:41am | Report comment
Oikee, the NRL and AFL (as well as other codes) need to stamp out this gutless c**p.
As for the League being seperate from the courts… Would you associate with a bloke who kicked his pregnant partner in the haed and belted her around? Abuse of any kind needs to be stamped out by everyone, not just the legal system. I believe sporting bodies should definitely be responsible to the greatest possible extent for their players actions. The game isn’t there to dish out the law, but as a member of the community it should be expected to punish unnaceptable behaviour as all of us should do.
On a smiliar train of thought do you believe players should be free to do recreational drugs etc by the league so long as the law takes care of the responsibility?
June 21st 2012 @ 12:13pm
oikee said | June 21st 2012 @ 12:13pm | Report comment
Here is what you are saying, a normal guy with a working life, you want his employer to take action. ?
This is what you are saying, think about it.
These guys are being employed by the NRL, what thwe law does is not their concern, they let the law take it corse.
As for hang around with a wife beater, why dont you ask that Question to the family and kids of this person. You want them all taken away, good luck with that, just remember what i said the other day, every action has a reaction.
No, no to drugs fullstop. Again, the problems ascioatied with drugs is massive, i mentioned this the other day, i had a inlaw who had head problems caused by grass, weed. The health costs for this ( ) head problem is huge. Sychso, forgot the spelling,.
I have seen it first hand. So no to drugs, not only for players, anyone.
June 21st 2012 @ 2:27pm
micka said | June 21st 2012 @ 2:27pm | Report comment
I understand your point oikee. My issue is that a lot of these people don’t give a sh*t what the “pigs” tell them. The law might not mean anything to them. I would never refer to a man who bashes his Mrs as “a normal guy” either. No one who bashes a pregnant woman is normal in my eyes. They are scum.
How often do we say that the law is too light on violent offenders etc? The only way these people are punished for their horrible actions is to have something they love taken off them. For Lui this would be the game.
I would ask the wife and kids as you suggested but the likelihood is seeing as he is known for bashing them (he actually has a track record for this I believe) they would be too scared to say anything or might be injured or possibly killed. You would know how sensitive a unborn baby must be, and Lui was sinking the boot in!!!
I understand what you say about the loss of employment etc impacting on the family. but I just can’t believe an income takes precedence ofver the health and safety of the woman and her kid/kids.
June 21st 2012 @ 3:27pm
oikee said | June 21st 2012 @ 3:27pm | Report comment
Yes, i am not sticking up for this action, as i said, the NRL is doing a great job, but we cant be the judge jury and executioners for crimes. Like i said, these guys are employed by the NRL, if one was thrown in Jail, he would not be employed, but our game revolves around giving guys who are lets face it, some of the meanest angriest, two bitten rotters you would ever want to come across.
Now, you can either ignore this, or tackle it head on like the NRL is, and has done for ever a century.
I think our record is pretty good, we now have a education(that being a key word) system in place for young players, so right from the word go we want these kids to succeed.
Anyhow, Gallop has been a huge part of this, and he needs to be recognised one day for his work in this part of the game. I have followed this, and even i am impressed.
June 21st 2012 @ 6:11pm
tom said | June 21st 2012 @ 6:11pm | Report comment
Yes the league can be judge and executioner. Players know the rules when they sign their contracts, its like nothing like this has happended before. The league has a right to protect its brand – we are at war with another code you know. You have got to show we stand up morally and ethically to the community standards!!
June 21st 2012 @ 9:51am
steve b said | June 21st 2012 @ 9:51am | Report comment
It was a token jesture by the league and yes he should have got way longer if they were serious ,,there is no defence for the un- defendable ..This moron should have got a life ban not a slap on the wrist and if the league was fairdinkum this should have been the outcome….
June 21st 2012 @ 3:55pm
James said | June 21st 2012 @ 3:55pm | Report comment
then the league would have opened itself up to a lawsuit that would/could have dragged on for years. seeing as David Gallop made this decision and he is a lawyer I’d say he knew what was going to happen if a life ban was enforced.
not defending Lui’s actions at all but I don’t think the NRL could do much without leaving itself open to a lawsuit, if clubs are willing to pay this poor excuse for a man.
June 21st 2012 @ 10:55am
JazzyJase said | June 21st 2012 @ 10:55am | Report comment
hard line stance needs to taken not only in NRL but society in general. Violence against woman is not tolerable
June 21st 2012 @ 12:20pm
Gareth said | June 21st 2012 @ 12:20pm | Report comment
Couldn’t agree more. Women in League round seems more and more like a marketing initiative to sell “one off” pink jerseys than a genuine celebration of the role women play in our great sport. The hypocrisy is never more clear than when NSW trots out half a dozen scumbags that have bitten women, beaten women, glassed women, sexually assaulted women, etc. and all we hear about is how tough and uncompromising they are.
June 21st 2012 @ 12:53pm
steve b said | June 21st 2012 @ 12:53pm | Report comment
Gareth dont leave QLD favorite son GI ,,just to be fair…
June 21st 2012 @ 12:58pm
JVGO said | June 21st 2012 @ 12:58pm | Report comment
Which half a dozenplayers would they be? I thougt Inglis played for QLd anyway.