Following Ben Barba’s termination from the North Queensland Cowboys – before even running onto the field for them – he has been blacklisted from the game entirely.
He can never play in the NRL again. Todd Greenberg has finally put his foot down and said any player who attacks women will never play in the NRL again.
I never thought I’d be on the same page as Todd Greenberg but I think I finally understand why some tend to say “never say never”. The one part I don’t agree with is players in the last few years under his watch have done what Barba did and are back in the game.
However, this was before he put his foot down.
For some things, I do believe the idea of termination from his contract and 12 months away from the game is ideal but at the same time, we need to talk about the severity of it.
For Jarryd Hayne and Jack de Belin, should they be convicted, that’s their careers out the window.
If we take a look into the general public, if we did any of the stuff the players did – like bash our partners – we’d lose our jobs. Depending on the severity of it – i.e. anywhere from a broken nose to even accidentally killing someone – we could be looking at prison time.
Back onto the topic of footy, I liked Barba and I found him entertaining to watch on the football field but this is best for the game in the long run. If the NRL kept letting players who have done this crap back in the game, they’ll be bankrupt in about 25 years.
Consider this – we’ve have had seven off season incidents since the grand final – and that was four months ago.
It seems like the Knights and their “no bulls**t” policy has been adapted to the rest of the competition. I am thrilled to have said that. I am even thrilled to say Todd Greenberg has one upped it by mentioning possible life-long bans.
What do you think Roarers? Is this the direction our game should go in?
Robert F
Guest
Sorry Albo........ explain to me why she is still with him after all these incidents? Maybe Docs should be coming in to remove the girls from both of them since (A) Barba is clearly a poor father and (B) the mere fact she has this loser as a father around the children has to make you wonder and question her as a mother. Sure things may not be as crystal clear and cut in her world seeing all that money is there but the more important issue here is that by letting him hang around do you not think it sets the message that it's ok to hit women because daddy hits mummy? There are several ways they could get support and I'm more than sure the league is helping them out but I honestly have no sympathy for Barba or his partner as they have both failed in protecting their children. Having kids myself their is nothing more precious in this world and I would rather be dead before anyone harms my wife or especially my children....... They both need help and the children need someone in their lives who actually care about their wellbeing to not allow the drugs , alcohol and abuse to hang around.........
Don Aprile
Roar Rookie
With all due respect Ben...I hope because he's a good football player means he should be treated differently ....let's not forget he was also a 'repeat' offender .
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Why just women?? If a RL player is violent towards anyone - be it brother/uncle/old Joe - beating up on them or throwing rocks or stuff it's just as unacceptable.
Wal
Roar Guru
It seems pretty consistent to me, Barba has a number of priors and was on a "last chance" the Club investigated, saw the video evidence, and this was enough to ban him. The NRL would have also seen the footage or received an update from the club and made the call they have made. Consistent, and transparent. Most other transgressors are on their first offence and therefore afforded the process of legal proceedings before bans are upheld.
Wal
Roar Guru
That probably is the saddest part in all of these "events". Punishment has Zero effect as a deterrence. It makes us all feel good about "rubbing someone out of the game" according to statistics Ben Barba will more than likely re-offend at some time in the future. Yes, he deserves to be banned but the bigger question is why when all other crime rates are down (up to 75%) in the last 30 years, have assault (both sexual and violent) rates doubled in the last 30 years?
Albo
Roar Rookie
But the decision is not that clear cut. It is a tough one . Whilst Barba has been is strife previously, and I am generally a firm believer in a "Leopard never changes his spots", we need to ensure that we are not also " convicting" his partner & his 4 young daughters to a miserable existence, in banning Barba from making an income to support them. I suspect banning him from the game and taking away his football income, would only exacerbate the problems for his girls going forward. He needs some extra support to sort out his character flaws. Team rugby league is generally a very disciplined environment that should be important to his personal development, but it seems he needs more. Putting him out of work might be fine for sport's image, but will it really be helping the lives of those innocents around him ?
baz
Guest
Apparently rape is no longer a legal term. "In NSW Criminal Law, the term rape is no longer used. " "Sexual Assault is a broad term describing all sexual offences against adults and children. It also describes a specific offence when a person has sexual intercourse with another person without their consent." - see https://www.victimsservices.justice.nsw.gov.au/sexualassault/Pages/sexual_assault_victims.aspx .
Noel
Guest
TB - you're one of my favourite posters on this site, but I've got to call this one out, mate. Sexual assault is not rape. Rape requires a penetrative act in the absence of consent. Sexual assault requires a touching of an indecent (read sexual) nature in the absence of consent. It will be 'aggravated' because it was in company. JDB's is not a rape case.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Yeah - aggravated sexual assault is the legal term for rape and in company as it suggests means there was more than one of them. It is important to remember that JDB has only been accused at this stage and nothing has been proven but the charges are far more significant than “a silly mistake” or “exposed himself” or “all he did was get in a taxi” as some people here are making out.
Bangers N Mash
Guest
I’m guessing the word “Rape” is now deemed to be unacceptable, but my impression was , that he was “accused” of having sex without consent . And I should have continued to say , people that commit Rape have no place in society, but unfortunately , we live in an age where they continually get given the chance to reform.
Reesy
Roar Rookie
Lodge committed his crime in the US and was dealt with in accordance with the law there. His punishment involved compensating the victims in order to avoid extended jail time, as the law in that State allowed for in this case. Who are you say he hasn’t been adequately punished and that the NRL can’t be a place of redemption. Do you have further details of the offence that the US Courts weren’t not aware ?
Drew Lawrence
Roar Rookie
Or she wants the big paycheques to keep rolling in. It’s a possibility. Going from earning 200 grand a year to less than half that would not be an easy transition.
The Barry
Roar Guru
I think you need to read up on what JDB has actually been accused of charged with. It’s far more significant than exposing himself and a “silly mistake” as you wrote yesterday
The Barry
Roar Guru
First you’ve heard of rape? JDB has been charged with aggravated sexual assault in company. https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/jack-de-belin-in-custody-at-wollongong-police-station-20181213-p50m54.html http://www5.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/ca190082/s61j.html
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
Broncos "bailed him out". Punished?
The Barry
Roar Guru
Ok, so guilt needs to be proved in a court of law unless it doesn’t. Peter has summed it up pretty well below. There are two issues. Breaking the law which needs to be proven for a conviction or bringing the game into disrepute through poor behaviour which doesn’t.
Ben
Roar Guru
Not that I believe it's even remotely true, De Belin has been charged with aggravated sexual assault, which is at the least on par with the seriousness of Matt Lodge's indiscretions.
Ben
Roar Guru
I'm a proud Broncos fan, and enjoy the fact he's playing good footy for us. He's not proud of what he did, but should be proud of how far he's come. It's people like yourself that bring more support for Lodge and others that work their bums off to redeem themselves.
Ben
Roar Guru
Two weeks in prison is almost unheard of for such an offense. I see you've conveniently didn't acknowledge the amount of time he spent away from the game. I suppose you wouldn't take into consideration all the work he did with the NRL to redeem himself in that time out of the game either.
Ben
Roar Guru
Even two weeks in jail for that is almost unheard of. Very convenient that you don't acknowledge