Gallop cleared Benji Marshall of everything that falls within his jurisdiction and left the rest to the courts. The Wests Tigers five-eighth won’t be suspended and will be free to play in round one against the Bulldogs on Monday night at ANZ Stadium.
Marshall was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm this week after an alleged altercation outside a McDonalds on George Street in Sydney.
For those who aren’t familiar with the spot, let’s just say you see more civilised interaction between mammals at the zoo than you do at that intersection.
Certain sections of supporters, Manly Sea Eagles fans to be more exact, would’ve been quite happy to see Gallop throw the book at Marshall.
They’ll also be, no doubt, venting their frustration around the watercooler today over what they perceive as inconsistent punishment from head office.
In 2009, Manly fullback Brett Stewart was given a 4-match-ban by the NRL, following the Sea Eagles season launch. Stewart was charged and later cleared of sexual assault. So why was he suspended in the first place? And why has Marshall been let off the hook?
Well, this is what Gallop had to say yesterday:
“Comparisons are often made, but those comparisons are not necessarily apples with apples. Certainly this is a very different situation to the situation that we dealt with two years ago with Brett Stewart. In that situation there was clear evidence of misconduct on the night that was separate to the allegation of sexual assault.
“We left the allegation of sexual assault to the court to determine, but we acted in relation to the misconduct that happened earlier in the night.
“That’s a clear and stark difference with the situation that we’re dealing with now with Benji Marshall.”
Gallop is saying that the NRL didn’t suspend Stewart because of the charge, as many believed. They suspended him because he was drunk at a club function where he was representing the region and the NRL.
So does this have any similarity to the situation involving Marshall?
Let’s put the fact that Benji Marshall is a nice guy aside. Lets also forget the fact, for a minute, that he’d just helped raise a quarter of a million dollars for a cancer foundation.
The fact is he wasn’t guilty of misconduct of any sort from the time he arrived at the fundraiser to the time he tried to get a mc-snack, according to the NRL.
To take action in relation to the assault charge would be ridiculous as Marshall is yet to have his day in court.
If they did anything then that would be judging him guilty.
“What can be said at this stage is that Benji Marshall has been charged with assault,” Gallop said. “But there’s no evidence of any other misconduct on that night which would lead us to looking at misconduct other than the assault charge.”
“That puts us in the situation where the facts are in dispute in relation to the assault and it will clearly be a matter that needs to be determined by the court.”
“At this stage therefore the club isn’t in a position to take any action and we accept that, and we’re in a similar situation.”
Cue the angry mob with pitchforks! Before you light them up though, consider the fact that Gallop is 100% right.
The other pre-season problem was Todd Carney’s decision to drive to a meeting with Roosters CEO Nick Politis after having a few drinks the night before. Can the club just arm him with a booklet full of cab charges for a while?
He was stopped at 7am and blew 0.052.
The NRL’s decision not to suspend Carney enraged Manly coach Des Hasler. He couldn’t understand why Stewart was suspended and Carney wasn’t.
But Carney has been punished, just in a different way. The playmaker must stick to a strict five-point plan or his career is over.
I suspect Hasler was also struggling to reconcile how a man who was the face of the game at the time gets what he perceives as heavier punishment than a man who was once barred from the NRL for a year.
“He has gone low range PCA on a Saturday morning. As I said last week, it’s an inadvertent mistake by him not a deliberate piece of conduct,” Gallop said.
That’s where it gets a little grey. Carney was still punished, but not with matches. He was given a program that helps a long-running problem. Did Stewart need a five-point-plan instead of a four match-ban?
Probably not.
Gallop’s decisions may not be popular with everyone. In fact they’re rarely popular with anyone. But in the case of Benji Marshall, he has got it spot on.
Stave
Guest
What ever the NRL says Stewart was stood down for the latter incident not for being drunk. And Des Hasler is making some noises now about Stewart suspension.
Redb
Roar Guru
yes the NRL have been entirely consistent with their handling of Brett Stewart and Carney/Marshall. Or have they?
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Carney at least kept his powder dry for 12 months,Fevola's was never dry in the first place.If you wish to discuss wet tissues,I suggest in the latter case,you could encompass the Kleenex factory.Cats get 9 lives,he appears to have been given eternal life. I am amazed at the loyalty of sponsors for Lions,St Kilda for starters.They don't have triggers to fire off warning shots apparently.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Sponsors pay money to be involved,QED they should be involved.Nowhere has it been stated currently, that sponsors are going to pull the plug,and we are awaiting your evidence. The sponsors at the forefront? WTH .The club,the NRL/sponsors/fans the people at the Cancer function are all at the forefront Have a little knowledge of the cases at hand,before going off at a tangent. Fevola was hanging around like a bad smell after a miriad of incidents and as for Cousins.Then get back to us about decisive action. 6th para http://www.afana.com/drupal5/print/418 If you bothered to check,and appears you haven'tt for convenience sake,Gallop has never stated incidents will stop,regardless of the penalties in place.It is a long term education that is required ,for young men with a lot of energy.He has stated the message need to get out ,that these anti social incidents are not to be tolerated. And I have yet to meed a rl fan,who believes incidents will stop completely .Alcohol is the underlying factor in many.When you start to speak on behalf of rl fans,then i have read everything. Do you understand really,the NRL will wait until the court appearances,before making further decisions,and that no doubt mean penalties. Reality check there has been zero tolerance for some time,ask Greg Bird and Seymour.The latter was drunk ,that is all.
Queensland's game is rugby league
Guest
Carney should be sacked. There's no defending a man with his record. Benji Marshall cannot be blamed for doing what any other citizen would have done if they were in that situation. He was a victim of a racial assault.. The person he punched called him a "black c***" at least three times and told him to "go back to New Zealand". Benji walked away after the first and second taunt. Walking away didn't diffuse the situation. It's silly to say he should have continued to "walk away" when it was obvious the racist wasn't going to stop. We also need to remember the racist was in a group of 8 to 10 and Benji was with his manager and girlfriend. The bigger issue here is racism. The media's refusal to focus on the racist's disgusting conduct says more about their integrity than it does about Marshall's.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
Stave - you assert, wrongly: "You really believe that Stewart was stood down for being drunk????" Luke Doherty's piece makes clear that: "Gallop is saying that the NRL didn’t suspend Stewart because of the charge, as many believed. They suspended him because he was drunk at a club function where he was representing the region and the NRL." and “We left the allegation of sexual assault to the court to determine, but we acted in relation to the misconduct that happened earlier in the night." If there was no sound basis for this suspension Stewart personally, and Manly, could have been successful in legal action to have that set aside, and perhaps with a claim for damages/compensation. Manly did not demur and neither did Stewart.
skull
Guest
This from a Broncos supporter where all sorts of stuff get swept under the carpet. What happened in that toilet a few years ago and why was no one suspended then for misconduct.Seems to be the NRL heirarchy like to play favourites
skull
Guest
Stewart was not drunk as the prosecution failed to prove in the court case and did not commit any sexual offence. You should withdraw this comment
skull
Guest
And what exactly did Stewart do wrong at the season launch. Bear in mind the Crown prosecutor could not show evidence that Stewart was drunk.
skull
Guest
Maybe you should delve a little further into the Stewart case. Gallop is guilty of double standards and slandering Stewart and for that he should either resign or be sacked.
skull
Guest
the court case actually showed Stewart was not drunk. He did nothing wrong. Dont believe everything you read in the papers or what the Galloping goose says
leauge luvin larry
Guest
Funnt it would appear that Des Hasler is saying the same thing....
skinner
Guest
you make a good point, I would think that the majority of players get smashed when there is free grog about espically at a function that was all about them. I dont think Stewart got suspended for getting smashed, because half the NRL wouldnt be playing if they started trying to bring in that law.
ItsCalledFootball
Roar Guru
Agree Manlymck. Difference of standards from the NRL and inconsistent penalties. Can't have the 2011 "Face of Rugby League" missing the first round because of an assault investigation now can we. Wouldn't look good. If it was a Broncos or Melbourne Storm or a lower public profile player, he would have been stood down for sure. NRL and AFL make statements based on how their sponsors will react, because they don't want to lose their sponsors right at the start of the season. No worries, this won't turn people off rugby league, in fact all the publicity will only boost round one attendances.
Stave
Guest
You really believe that Stewart was stood down for being drunk???? Instead of being stood down for the alledge rape of a teenager!!!!! Yeah and I heard Johns stood down for taking a panadol!! Dont be so naive....... Honestly do you people believe every thing the NRL feeds you??
Manlymck
Guest
Assuming Manly Sea-Eagles fans wanted Benji suspended is narrow minded and flat out wrong. I am a Manly fan and I love Benji, there is no way that he should be suspended. The hero that abused him should be the one that is locked up. Having said that nothing David Gallop has said in the last few days about the Brett Stewart incident has convinced me that the punishmnet handed out by the NRL was anything but over the top. 4 matches and $100k for a player being refused service at a bar - please! Face of the game or not it was a huge overeation. As a Manly member I am proud of the clubs administration for supporting their player and the club by pointing out the rediculous double standards of the NRL. The NRL should have road out the media circus, waited until Stewarts case was heard and then said we were justified in supporting the player. If he had of been found guilty then they could have thrown the book at him and Manly. Poor Brett got cast aside as the face of the game, lost earning potential and got slapped with a huge legal bill for having done nothing wrong!
Mals
Guest
Manly was punished, the NRL dished out a $100,000 fine. I agree with The Barry, if anyone at Manly should have been suspended following the fall out to the season launch in 2009 it was Watmough!! As Oikee says the fall out for Manly since then has been the constant struggle to attract a major sponsor.
Adrian
Guest
Hey Oikee, Manly are hardly struggling for sponsors. Quantum the major sponsor now part owns the club after buying out Delmege's stake and Centrebet are the new rear jersey sponsor on what I believe to be a massive sponsorship. Last time I checked they won't have any part of the jersey or shorts free from a sponsor. Quantum AAA Radiators Centrebet Alsafe Security Reed ISC I will never trade the 40-0 GF win for anything (a record by the way, that's something to show for it).
lopati
Guest
So you say Gallop is doing the right thing leaving thios case to the courts. But isn't Todd Carney salso due to go to court? If David was such a great lawyer, why does he act as the sole judge, where is the disciplnary committee? He keeps saying "we" when talking about "his" decision. One man wrecking ball goes over the top on Toddy: - is there actually a rule in the NRL against having a drink? No there isn't. - Is there a NRL code of conduct against getting off your face and acting stupid? Yes there is, but Toddy wasn't off his face. - Is there a law against drinking and driving? Yes there is, but that's nothing to do with the NRL, it's a law. Todd got caught for drink driving, breaking the law, not acting stupid, and the law is dealing with it. - is fighting is a breach of the NRL code of conduct, Yes it is, probably the most important rules of the code. Benji broke the code of conduct, clear cut broke the [probably] biggest rule, and s let off. Is Benji being let off because it's a fair call? Clear breach of the code, so it can't be that. Could it be crusader Gallop is going soft because people have been commenting he is acting over the top? Nothing else explains it, seems highly likely. Shortly after overacting on Todd's case Benji is let off a clear breech of the code of conduct. Only one person really gains any benefit from that: it's not Todd, it's not Benji either, Gallops the only winner here. Clearly Gallop is not functioning properly, needs to be removed.
Tigers Fan
Guest
Stave, Did you even read the story? You clearly didn't. Perhaps read the story before commenting. As oikee pointed out for you (a second time) Stewart was suspended for being drunk at an official NRL function, not for the alleged sexual assault. And Tandy was stood down by his club, the Bulldogs, not the NRL. Facts can be important if you want to contribute to a debate.