Manly winger Jorge Taufua has been suspended for the final two games of the NRL regular season after pleading guilty to assaulting a police officer on the Gold Coast last October.
Working in conjunction with the NRL, the Sea Eagles took action after Taufua changed his plea in relation to allegations he spat at a police officer outside a Surfers Paradise nightclub in the early hours of October 19.
The matter is headed back to the courts on Wednesday.
“After careful deliberation, and a recent changing of legal firms, Jorge has chosen to plead guilty, but with strong mitigating circumstances,” a statement put out by the Sea Eagles read.
“At the time of the incident, the club took no official sanction as the matter was under due investigative process and Jorge had not offered any plea.
“But after the latest consultation with his legal representative and the NRL, resulting in a guilty plea, the club believes it is now appropriate to make an announcement.”
It is a timely call by the Sea Eagles, with Taufua set to be available for Manly’s opening finals game.
The Sea Eagles are already guaranteed to play finals football and need to win just one of their last two games to secure a top four finish.
Manly coach Geoff Toovey admitted on Wednesday morning there was already doubt over Taufua’s availability for Saturday night’s encounter against Melbourne with the bullocking winger struggling with a cork.
Taufua has apologised for his role in the incident and is seeking counselling through the NRL’s endorsed counselling service.
“Since the incident, Jorge has shown unconditional remorse and regret, and has vowed to learn from such a setback,” Manly general manager David Perry said.
Bear
Guest
Can't think of many professions where you can repeatedly act like a drunken d...head. Drag your employers name through the mud, and keep your job. High time we stop making excuses and ban a few for life. Might make a few sit up and take responsibility for their actions. Or at least think about the consequences. -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
john badseed
Guest
the Nrl owe Manly 6 weeks and 200k over the Snakey non incident 2011. they're still in debt
Dave the Yank
Guest
This is pretty much the heart of the issue. If a player is criminally charged they should be stood down until the charge is resolved. For example,a few other players are currently awaiting trial for assault and sexual assault charges. They should not be taking the field for their respective clubs until these issues are resolved. This would allow them to maintain "innocent until proven guilty" with limited trial by media.
Damn Straight
Roar Rookie
Spitting on anyone is a disgusting, base act.
Damn Straight
Roar Rookie
Not condoning the actions of a drunken fool by the way. If Georgey was a testosterone, alcohol fuelled twit, then he fully deserved the punishment that was handed to him.
Damn Straight
Roar Rookie
Yeah, police are never heavy handed or never use excessive force. I've seen first hand how some police can goad and inflame a situation, knowing full well that they always have the unequivocal support of the state with their resisting arrest and assault police officer charges. The crown will always back the police, even if their charges are greatly exaggerated or completely unnecessary
V.O.R.
Guest
ha, ha.... Pest calling it as it is..... ;)
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
I don't see how the one punch laws are applicable with this story...
Pest
Guest
Get over yourselves , haven't you learnt a thing , you guys wasted your time cause if Have not worked out that Manly have there own rules , do as they please then your dumber than what I first thought ,,, he he he suk it up ladies
Pest
Guest
Good one oik
V.O.R.
Guest
I'd say you are on the money Dave the Yank
V.O.R.
Guest
hallelujah....
oikee
Guest
Time to move on, nothing to see here, heads sand buried. amen. hehe
oikee
Guest
He forgot the song, you only have to fly over Queensland and your ours. As Jeff Fennick would say, "we loves you all". He is the smartest man to come from NSW. amen.
V.O.R.
Guest
Yer..all too predictable. Manly are a win at all costs type of organisation. Not sure they would even care how it looks.
nayfo
Guest
fair enough innocent until proven guilty but two weeks that's too lenient and convenient that the finals are two weeks away.
nayfo
Guest
funny how he only got 2 weeks just seems very convenient to me, i have no doubt if there was 4 weeks left till the finals the club would hand down a 4 game suspension......just sayin.
V.O.R.
Guest
Mals, DCE was born in Redcliffe, Brisbane outer suburbs, played junior footy in mackay....his dad is former Brisbane Norths Devils and Redcliffe Dolphins forward Troy "Bluey" Evans. I think it is fair to say he has solid ties with Brisbane. Anyway home is QLD. ;)
V.O.R.
Guest
+1 makes sense...not just Manly...there is a culture creeping in that is quite damaging...blinkers off people.
Mals
Guest
DCE is from Mackay so Brisbane is hardly home. As pointed out by others on a different thread it's nearly 1,000kms away.