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
Tricky Ricky
Guest
With falling ratings and crowd attendances at games the NRL does not need a grub like Russell Packer in its playing ranks.
yewonk
Guest
What bs there is no circumstance for him to return to the game and certainly not this soon. The nrl are just hypocrites of the worst kind. Life ban for a fan throwing a bottle , three years for a player for repeatedly stomping the head of someone.
Kurt S
Roar Pro
Hi Mary. A great, thought provoking read as usual. I agree with "eggs" Benedict above. Packer has done his time according to society's rules. The NRL is its own authority and is an elite envoironment; they have elite rules, guidelines and requeirements. NRL on the face of it have been proactive. The have opened the door for Packer to redeem himself. They have also given him enough rope to hang himself before 2016. He has been given strict criteria regarding behaviour and education from media reports. He has been given an oppotunity to be a man who can demonstrate his use not only to society, but to a sporting body like NRL. I'm happy to give the NRL the benefit of the doubt on their proactive stance.
Loosehead
Guest
So of all the debate about whether this thug should be allowed back into the game and not one reply in regards to the victim in all this? A person was rendered unconscious and had his head stomped on and all anybody can say is whether the poor excuse for a human being who did it should be allowed to play in the NRL. Where is the second chance for the victim?, He suffered physical injury from the start and probably psychologically scarred from the assault a well, will Packer be paying for any ongoing medical support? I doubt it very much. If Packer is allowed back into the NRL and paid handsomely for his efforts I should think the person he assaulted should take out a civil suit and then sue Packer at least for medical expenses incurred, if not more.
Gareth
Guest
With the instant sin-bin rule for punches showing that player can indeed compose themselves in even the most heated moments of the game, albeit with a 10000% increase in the number of slaps being thrown - there's a pretty solid argument that if the NRL isn't so toothless with its punishments it can enact rapid change. So yeah sure, Russell Packer has done his time. Now he can go get a respectable job as a labourer and be a nagging thought in the mind of the next NRL player who thinks it's appropriate to jump on another person's head. It might even give them pause to make the right decision. These are all big, strong boys who could hold their own in prison. Taking away their league might be a deterrent that actually works.
The Barry
Roar Guru
He should have bashed a bouncer. NRL doesn't suspend for that.
The Mountain
Guest
Well said Maroubranos, how dare any of you ‘holier than thou’ do-gooders criticize Parker for king hitting a guy and then jumping up and down on his head while lying on the ground unconscious. Parker may have not got hugged enough when younger so he is allowed to try to kill someone. Let Maroubranos watch rugby league undisturbed with any of these other unimportant issues and when a huge front rower knocks one of his kids out and is jumping up and down on their heads Maroubranos will be happy to accept that the guy has an excuse and the winner can be rugby league.
pjm
Roar Rookie
Where's the Getup campaign? If the victim was a female then he'd be outta here.
Epiquin
Roar Guru
Very well said Wal.
planko
Guest
I am not going to get on my high horse but this was a very nasty attack. This was not high spirits and a few hay makers...From a couple of mates after about 10 to many. From what I read this could have easily been attempted murder. But I am glad to see the NRL say whether this is deliberate or not but it appears that the NRL is imposing what the judicial system could not a 2 year sentence. Good luck to him for getting a second chance I hope he appreciates it , rewards himself and the NRL.
Wal
Roar Guru
Where I feel a NRL player (or any professional sports person) differs from the average joe on the street it that they represent a brand. Much in the same way as Jen Hawkins is the face of Myer, these guys are the face of the NRL brand, and get paid very well to be such. As with Tiger Woods (who did nothing illegal) the brands he represented rightly dropped him until he was deemed a good representative of their company again. Does Russell Packer deserve a second chance in society - absolutely. Does the NRL do it self any justice having a person convicted of violent assault as a representative of their brand absolutely not. If they just want to play footy then play in any amateur league. If you want to get paid to do it then certain responsibilities come with that pay check.
Epiquin
Roar Guru
I really hate these 'holier-than-thou' arguments that suggest a person needs to have never committed any wrongdoing in their life in order to have an opinion on somebody's indiscretions. You're right though. I didn't have the opportunity to play a sport I love for big money and I didn't have the influence of someone like Wayne Bennett in my life, so we have not had the same opportunities or influences at all.
Maroubranos
Guest
Good article. The bloke has served his time. For all you 'holier than thou' do-gooders, allow this young person the opportunity to get his life on track considering that he did not have the same opportunities and influences as a child like you, perhaps had.
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
Benedict, fair comment. I suppose where I run into difficulty is in respect of your last paragraph. How do we work out when a player should or should not be let in? Is it the time away from the game? Is it the nature of the offence? Is it whether they appear 'remorseful' and who makes that call? I realise I have just given you more questions than answers... Sorry about that!
Epiquin
Roar Guru
Hi Mary. Good article. I can say I both agree and disagree with your point of view. The difference between Packer and Wicks/Ma'u is that Wicks and Ma'u have done two things: 1) served their debt to society AND 2) demonstrated that they have turned their lives around by staying out of trouble and working hard to lead better lives. I disagree that the NRL is issuing "double punishment" by not allowing him to play. We forget that he was a contracted NRL player when the offense occurred and therefore (presumably) violated terms of employment relating to code of conduct. So when the NRL makes the decision to register his contract or not, they will be assessing whether or not he can be trusted to fulfill his contractual obligations, not whether he has paid his debt to society. I absolutely think Packer should be given a second chance IF and only IF he can demonstrate satisfactorily that he has made a meaningful and sustainable change in his life the way Wicks and Ma'u have and I hope the NRL is open to helping him rehabilitate. After all, a civilised society does not write people off for life when they can turn their lives around.
Gazzatron
Guest
It's a minimum of 12 months in Jail before you can be deported. Then it's up to the Aus government to decide if he stays or goes.
Casper
Guest
My question is where does the Australian government draw the line on citizens of other countries convicted of indictable offences staying in the country? If Packer is still a NZ citizen, is he deserving of continued residence in our country? we deport other offenders, why not him. Are we required to forgive and forget. In my view, the sentence appeared light but that's an argument going on in society for almost every offence. A bit of justice would seem appropriate, how about any NRL contract Packer signs including a provision for compensation to the victim, most times civil cases are too difficult to run after a criminal case has been successful.
SamPro
Guest
I think he should get an extra 5 years for 'relieving' himself on the Hallowed Turf of Lang Park. Grub.
pjm
Roar Rookie
It's not just about doing the time. Wicks and Ma'u have both been very contrite. When they speak you know they regret what happened but as men have accepted that they screwed up and have done everything they had to to turn it around. Perhaps if Packer were to express similar things and show in actions that he has then it would be different. Packer didn't even apologise when he urinated on the field.
Benedict Arnold
Guest
Just because he has done his time in societal sense does not mean for me has has done his time rugby league wise. I don't think the two are the same. Yes he went to jail and did his time, but I think the punishment has been more than fair for him from the NRL. The fact he is going to be allowed to return to the game is an amazing privilege considering what he did. He is unbelievably lucky that an employer will offer him the opportunity to return to their workplace. Something a lot regular people would not get. I am all for second chances, Russell will get his in due time. I think that we need to move away from this idea that if you do the time it automatically means they should be allowed back pronto like all their sins are instantly absolved.