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I go into the writing of this story very aware that there are people that are going to vehemently disagree with my view. This does not surprise me.
The subject of this blog post is one which people feel very passionate about and it is a subject which goes to the integrity of the NRL, so it is one that we must have open and frank discussion about and one which we must have a consistent approach on.
Today I want to talk about Russell Packer.
For those of you unaware of the history of this story, Russell Packer was a former forward for the New Zealand Warriors and Newcastle Knights who was convicted and sent to prison following his assault of a man in Sydney’s CBD. The footage was sickening, with Packer punching a man lying on the ground and then proceeding to stomp on his head. Packer was originally sentenced to two years in prison, but his sentence was overturned on appeal and replaced with a two-year term and allowing a 12 month non-parole period.
A year later, Packer found himself working hard to begin playing rugby league again. In recent weeks he has been cleared to begin training with the Dragons, but the NRL’s governing body has decided that Packer must wait until the 2016 season to make his comeback. Since being released from prison in January, Packer has been playing for the Illawarra Cutters while waiting to hear from the NRL on his plans to return to the game.
The question is, should Packer be able to return.
I am of the view that Packer should be able to return to the NRL. Before you all shout me down, take a moment to consider my arguments.
Packer has done the time
Packer has been through due process and through our legal system. He committed an offence, went through due process, has paid his debt to society and is now looking to get his life back on track. It is not the role of the NRL to hand out double punishment and to prevent Packer from returning would be just that.
The sentence was too lenient for an assault of such a nature. However, it is not the role of the NRL to punish or to deter or to determine what the punishment should be for certain offences. That is the role of the legal system and whether Packer should have been sentenced for longer is a role for the legal system.
To those who think Packer should not return, what if his jail sentence had been a lot longer. Five years? Ten years? Would that be enough for Packer to have paid his debt to society? I feel like this is where much of the problem lies, that people do not feel that a 12-month prison sentence is enough of a punishment. A similar argument could be used for men who have been convicted of assault such as Robert Lui, who was placed on a good behaviour bond following the assault of his girlfriend.
This sort of violence, particularly against women, is an epidemic in our current society and perhaps offenders need to be more harshly treated – but by our legal system, not the NRL.
The opportunity for a second chance
How can I possibly deny Russell Packer the chance to play NRL again when in my team, the Parramatta Eels, two men don the blue and gold each week who have also been convicted of offences – Danny Wicks and Manu Ma’u.
Especially in the case of Ma’u, I am so proud that my team has given him a second chance and that he has taken this chance with both hands and turned his life around. It is too early to make such a judgement about Wicks, but his behaviour, commitment and play have suggested that he is here and that he is serious about his NRL career and getting his life on track.
How can I be proud of these men and the role my club has had in rehabilitating them and then not allow Packer the same opportunity?
Is it because of the nature of the crime? If we begin to make these sorts of judgements who makes the call? Who decides what crimes are an automatic black list from the sport? What crime is serious enough? How many chances should a person get?
Once we begin to make concessions for some over others, we begin to tread a very shaky moral ground.
Rehabilitation
By denying a man like Packer a second chance, I also feel the NRL would be acting irresponsibly. The NRL is Packer’s livelihood and his profession. Taking part in the sport he loves, in his profession and contributing to society is a big part of his rehabilitation.
Men like Packer present the NRL with an opportunity to assist in rehabilitation and to take a strong stance in regard to behaviour with conditions in their contracts. Should Packer make a mistake like this again then whether he should return again is another question entirely.
But for the moment, I am happy to give Packer a second chance. His crime was heinous, but he should not spend the rest of his life suffering for one terrible mistake.
I would be very willing to have an open discussion about this. Just because I am for a Packer return, does not mean I condone violence of any kind. It simply means that I am for people being given a second chance and the opportunity to turn their lives around.
This is @mary__kaye from @ladieswholeague