With Robert Lui admitting guilt in the assault of his pregnant partner last year, his promising NRL career should be over.
No third chance, no rehab and no counseling. This was the second time Lui had been charged with assaulting his girlfriend Taleah Rae Backo after an incident back in 2010 when the Wests Tigers were knocked out of the semis.
In that case he was charged with nine offences in relation to an alleged assault, with those charges eventually dismissed in April 2011.
This time, Lui was not so ‘lucky’. With his second attack coming eerily almost a year later after the Tigers were dumped from the finals, this time by the Warriors, he couldn’t escape them. And so he shouldn’t.
The Tigers rightly dropped him after the second incident emerged, and his hometown club the Cowboys picked him up.
Now, Lui has had his day in court, been convicted and admitted guilt. It’s time for the Cowboys to drop him also and for the NRL to de-register him.
You consider the example the NRL set for someone like Todd Carney, and then you look at Lui. Carney was de-registered for a year. Lui should face a much, much bigger penalty. Headbutting and kicking a pregnant women while she is on the ground is not on. Doing it twice, should see you ostracised from the sport for good.
I’ve often watched Mark Geyer on Channel Nine’s Sunday Roast and enjoyed his light-hearted, often farcical rambles. He seems as someone who doesn’t take himself too seriously, who comes up with some off-the-wall comments and predictions at times, and who has some strange beliefs. Perhaps too many hits to the head over his ferocious career.
But speaking yesterday on Fox Sports News on the Lui case, Geyer hit the nail on the head. He said that now rugby league as a code has the chance to stamp out violence against women.
Some of Geyer’s comments: “This is the second time he’s done it, there’s no way in the world Robert Lui should be allowed back in rugby league. I can’t fathom hitting a woman at the best of times, let alone a pregnant woman. It beggars belief.
“We as a code have to be strong on this. We promote women in league to the nth degree, we have to be strong on this. If we don’t do something drastic on the Robert Lui situation, the women in league round we might as well not have. We’re just being hypocritical.
“Now is the time to stand up and say no more. Enough is enough. He should be stood down and de-registered.”
Stand up and take a bow Mark, you’re right on the money. See you later Robert Lui.
Danny
Guest
Did I hear right on Seven News the other night that Rod Jensen (who is running for the council in Cairns defended Lui? If so I think he should step down and not run for council.
PLANKO
Guest
Do you know his number ? Nah dont worrying about I don't come from up there so I don't know how accurate the article was I have not been able to find it again. I did not bring him up cause I don't think he should play. I believe in second chances.
Tigranes
Guest
And besides, they play rugby league in prison anyway.
josho
Guest
If you want to know more about the Houston case just "give Gids a call".
PLANKO
Guest
Josho was only putting it out there interesting hearing your point of view ... I am merely making the point that I think there are alot of things happening and consistency is lacking.. Bascially football players are a subset of the community that experience the same issues and commit the same crimes as everyone else.
josho
Guest
Whilst not defending Bird I think the difference couldn't be more clear. Bird - one offence - not a repeat offender (not yet anyway) so doesn't display any signs that what he did wasn't a one off (very big and very public mistake) as opposed to Lui's pattern of behaviour. Yet of the two, Bird has missed more NRL as a result of that incident than Lui! Bird (it was alleged) had an object thrown at him and threw it back. Lui went out of his way to inflict damage not once, but twice, that the public is aware of anyway. If you want to throw them both in the same boat, would you be happy for Bird to continue playing if he glasses his missus again tonight?? Not really the same is it?
josho
Guest
Absolutely the NRL should make the tough decision, do the hard yards, take the high road. So he's a spoilt little brat, who happens to beat his missus whenever he loses a big gameor presumably something doesn't go his way. Who doesn't? So she was pregnant and defenceless. Does that give her a hall pass for a good old fashioned beating? no way! By all means the message the NRL needs to send these young blokes is: Don't drink and act like a tool in public (we're looking at you Stewart and Carney) but beat your missus, meh, she'll get over it! Why send the message that assaulting a woman may have serious ramifications such as losing your career and the vast opportunities it provides when you can just as easily "rehabilitate" them? Who better to rehabilitate than a professional football club? Those silly programs and facilities run by professionals in the field have no idea. I mean it worked for the Tiger's the first time didn't it? um, moving on. Andwhat better way to rehabilitate someone then to provide them with the ongoing benefits of playing a sport they love while remaining in the public eye and being lavished with praise and wealth??? When will the justice system and correctional facilities learn? To provide a deterant to people you must reward them for their crimes not punish them!! Drink driving - lose your licence? No, no, no. Here have a Ferrari (Wests) however, remember, if you do it again you'll have to trade for a Porche! (Norht QLD)
PLANKO
Guest
Swampy when was the last time you drank with a footballer ? The last time I actually was out with a first grade footballer in a pub it was a nightmare it was 3 years ago. I was not a personal friend I was just nearby. Every dumb hick carrying on like a tool and others thinking somehow they should be able to hit them up for drink " Cause you earn ton's of cash". Whereas in the early 90's I played touch footy that is right a first grade player, a house hold name who was playing touch footy and instead of people hassling him after game they treated him with respect. I have relatives who played in the 70's and early 80's and they never had to buy a drink when they went out. There has been gradual decline in general in the way people treat each other. If a player got unstable on his feet you didn't ring up a Journo and tell him all about it or record it on your IPhone. People forget that these people are people they make mistakes but beating the missus is just wrong. It has never been right.
Tigranes
Guest
bunnyman the bloke can count his lucky stars he isnt in the Big House
PLANKO
Guest
LOL !!!!
bunnyman
Guest
Lui has already been sentenced by the courts. Not the NRL or anyone else has the right to extend his punishment . Take him away from the discipline of playing football can only lead to more problems.
Swampy
Guest
Typical NRL inaction. When are the people in charge going to grow some and rid the league of idiots like Lui? Sadly you need more than 2 hands to count the number of illegal acts our NRL players have committed in the past 5 years. I don't prescribe to the arguments such as 'what Carney has done would have been expected of any league player 20 years ago'. Yes, and going to the pub on Saturday night, having a skinful and driving your mates home without anyone wearing seatbelts was acceptable once upon a time. Lui should be deregistered. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
PuntPal
Guest
What about Greg Bird...why do people forget what he did. Not only did he glass his mrs, he tried to blame it on his mate. What about Joel Thompson, he also commited a similar crime to Lui... Wes Naiqama kept breaking road rules so often he ended up in jail and still played on weekend for the Dragons... No-one is in a position to pick and choose who stays in the NRL. The clubs excercise judgement, as does the NRL. Leave it at that
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Chuck him in rehab by all means but you cannot in good conscience leave such a player on the books in the interim surely. But really, the sort of rabidity it takes to hit a pregnant lady is just ... On the great list of inexcusable acts there are very very few below this.
PLANKO
Guest
I have love this argument cause people keep bringing up goulburns own favourite son Todd Carney. Todd has done nothing that most footballers were not expected to do less than 20 years ago. I think Cronulla are doing it right. You put a boose ban on him and he is bound to let you down. Lui I have learnt here was not drunk he just loves hitting chicks. Considering who the girl was I know why FNQ seemed attactive. Hanging around Sydney I don't think was going to good for his health.
The Greatest Game Of All
Guest
Cant believe the Cowboys board wanted this bloke over Todd Carney. These are the same people that said Wayne Bennett was too old and turned him away too.
PLANKO
Guest
Can't comment about Matai by northern beaches standards he is a blow in. I have heard he has redeeming qualities but once again nothing from personal experience. A distant relative of mine dated Anthony for quite a while. In fact so long that the whole Watmough family apart from Anthony went to her 21st after they had broken up. Remember BA Sports 2 sides http://manly-daily.whereilive.com.au/news/story/manly-stars-bashed/
B.A Sports
Ah Watmough (and Matai), the only 105kg guys on the Northern Beaches to get "randomly bashed" when sitting outside his home...... yeah random...
PLANKO
Guest
Interesting ... To me it make's no difference whether he was drunk but some people will think even less of him now. Being drunk get's used as a deffence for actions all the time.
B.A Sports
Thats right Tigranes The Cows have has some great indigneous role models over the years. Matty Bowen, Rod Jensen, Ty Williams to name but a few. Great players and valued members of the community who kids love. But sadly domestic violence is an issue which confronts all communities but even more so our indigenous community and campaigns are in place to try and change these issues. Here is a link to some of those damning stats. http://www.creativespirits.info/aboriginalculture/people/domestic-violence.html two of the most horrible stats; Indigenous women are 35times more likely to be hospitalized due to family violence. and Indigenous children make up 40% of children aged 0-4 who are hospitalized as a result of assault The signing of Lui just said to people, "it alright".