Robert Lui’s appeal to be able to return to the NRL early has been quashed by interim ARLC boss Shane Mattiske. Lui who was placed on a good behaviour bond for two years and fined $2000 for assaulting his girlfriend after a Mad Monday meltdown.
The North Queensland five-eight was hoping he might be able to convince the ARLC to let him play again this year. He recently introduced them to evidence from a psychologist claiming he was on the mend and sorry for what he had done.
Cowboys boss Peter Jourden said he was shocked by the decision not to allow Lui an early return and said the players are the number-one asset in our game.
What does Mr Jourden think women are to our community?
Honestly, what are the Cowboys thinking? Do they think we have all forgotten about what Lui did?
Well done to Shane Mattiske for standing by the decision to not allow Lui an early return.
The ARLC stance on violence against women is a great thing and they have to remain strong on the issue. This is something that effects all communities and cannot be tolerated in any way shape or form.
This was a cowardly act and should not be allowed to be swept under the carpet, regardless who it is.
We have junior players coming through the ranks now who look up to these guys and are very impressionable. If the ARLC sends the right messege now it can only help in deterring future misconduct.
The Cowboys and Lui need to just cop it sweet and sit it out and wait. If many women in league had their way, Lui would never put a boot on again.
I just hope he realises how lucky he is to still be allowed back at all.
Tigranes
Guest
Josh if rugby league isnt an option for Lui, then what future career would he do? Im not sure if Lui has any qualifications that would enable him to work in another career? There are plenty of judges on here it seems angry about Lui not going to jail. The courts are responsible for dispensing justice, not some random blokes on a sporting blog. "In fact even if they aren’t convicted but they did do it (everyone knows he did it the first time he just wasn’t charged by his girlfriend) then they should be banned" - this is a ridiculous comment, and god knows how many NRL and AFL players would be rubbed out of the game for this, i.e. they "did it" but are not guilty.
Hez
Guest
So? What happens when he does it the next time? I wouldn't let him anywhere near my wife or daughters.
PLANKO
Guest
Ok ..... Would you like to see say a sponsor of the Cowboys make a stance ?
B.A Sports
Guest
Planko I've read your other comments, so i understand your position. I have no beef with you. It is strictly with Lui and the Cowboys. The Cowboys should have taken the penalty on the chin, and made a stand for the issue. Fighting it is very disrespectful - and in the community which they are in, it is plain ignorant. Lui holds an NRL contract. The NRL has sponsors to. The NRL promotes it programs to stop violence against women. Its their competition, they can choose who they will alow to play. Even to send him back to Q-Cup and Local footy. I don't know where you live but in Townsville and Cairns there are very large indiginous communities at local footy up there, and lots of indigenous women. What sort of message is it sending to let him waltz back in there?
PLANKO
Guest
BA Sports i have already made my peace with Steve but I think we fundamentally agree. My main problem is that he did not get a Gaol Sentence in the first place and as a society we only give this offence lip service in the courts. I agree you should be able to fire an employee for this but I think you may be in trouble if you did. Having said this I am sure "you could find another reason". What makes you think I have ever been accused of such an offence I am the one holding the bar up higher not lower if you did not mean this it came across this way. My opinion is that it should not be up the NRL. Cowboys sponsors should stop writting cheques. Trust me that will hurt more than anything you or I say. Stop buying Toyota's and tell them why ? All it would take is one big customer of Toyota to put a full page advert in saying they will not buy anymore Toyota's and why ? NQueensland would show olde Lui the door !!
B.A Sports
Guest
Planko If i had a staff memeber who did what he pled guilty to, they would be fired. Simple. There would be no second chance. The reason. Well for starters they won't be able to do their job because they are in jail, or meeting community service respsoniblities, so can't meet their responsibilites at work. The workplace has women in it, they shouldn't have to feel threatened when they come to work. Then there is the image of my organisation. So go get a job somewhere else, i don't want anything to do with you if you do what he did. I would do that because I want my organsisation to stand for something and to maintain a good image in the community. I guess the Cowboys don't share those same views.
steve b
Roar Guru
Agreed cheers mate !
PLANKO
Guest
Steve we should not argue we in principle agree. If park footy players get banned I am more than happy have Lui ban include park footy. Steve we normally agree i will come down off the horse now.. Tonight will be a cracker ...
steve b
Roar Guru
I Answered your question ,and you don't think kid's have ears or can read ,oh please ..
PLANKO
Guest
You did not answer my question do park footballers that beat missus get banned from playing park football ? These are the people who set standards... The odds are some poor kid is watching them beat their mother and this where it becomes normalised and accepted as "what happens" not when some idiot on a football field does it.
steve b
Roar Guru
Here Here Josh !
steve b
Roar Guru
The answer is yes they do ! And if you think that little kids don't look up to these guys ,then mate you need a reality check , maybe your doctor can help ...
steve b
Roar Guru
No planko he is lucky he didn't get a life ban ,,he can go to work ,he can make a living ,he just can't play footy ,,he got of easy .And yes i think he should have spent time inside it was a gutless act and deserved more than what he got !!
PLANKO
Guest
Steve you preaching to the converted write to your local member mate. I am not the judge who said he should keep his liberty. Also I never at any stage said he should be playing NRL. On the other way around do park players currently get banned from the game if they beat their missus and they are convicted ? If Rugby players are roles models to your children that is your fault !
steve b
Roar Guru
Planko ,,come on mate ,whether these guys like it or not they are roll models ,,we can not let this sort of offence be diminished in the eyes of the the yougsters,,, they must see that this sort of behaviour will not be tolerated.. And you don't need many life skills to pick watermelons as i did on a working holiday up north when i was younger ..Park footy is still footy .We must maintain zero tolerance on voilence to women at all cost ,its a privilege to play NRL NOT A GIVEN .And if these guys can't live up to their responsibilties then they have to cop the punishment and deal with it no exeptions .
George
Guest
It was stupid and It was a gamble that backfired. As for the Cowboys, If he got the all clear, Newspapers would of flooded us with so called feel good stories of how he has turned his life around, he knows he is in the last chance saloon and how the Cowboys have been awesome towards his rehab and blah blah blah.
PLANKO
Guest
Steve and BA Sports, Lets get this straight hypothetically does anyone else get banned from going to work for doing this. If society took this so seriously (as they should) it would not be an option he would have spent some time inside. This is a second offence. Apparrently this is incorrect it is offically his first as the other one did not press charges ? I understand that the NRL can make it's stand but he should be able to go to work and play park footy.
Josh
Guest
I think Lui just wanted to be back for the cowboys mad Monday hehe. Seriously though he is scum ( former tigers supporter here) he deserves to never play the game again as tigers fans me and many others struggled to cheer for him after the first time. The nrl needs to hold itself to a higher standard then the general public as it relies on fans to follow the game and the players themselves rely on the money the fans and sponsors provide and sponsors ( or anyone) doesent find his behaviour acceptable. He should never play rugby league again at any level and either should anyone nrl or not who is convicted of any violent crime In fact even if they aren't convicted but they did do it (everyone knows he did it the first time he just wasn't charged by his girlfriend) then they should be banned
steve b
Roar Guru
B.A.Sports ,,George was is worth bringing it back into the public gaze ,it can't have done their P.R; anygood ,,and yes the reasons for such a dumb move are obvious ,but they are way out of touch with community view .i still am in shock that they even had a go..
PLANKO
Guest
Ok steve at no point is hitting a woman ok drunk or otherwise but if society does not choose to lock him up why can't he play park footy. I happy for the NRL for various reasons to not allow him to play at that level but I think Ryan Tandy should be allowed to play park footy so I surpose I am a sucker. i just think once again we are holding people up to a standard most people dont reach. My main reason for saying this that they don't have other skills. By making them full time professionals we are robbing them of building "real" life skills. Modern footballers have few people skills and little practical life exeperience that we take for granted.