The Roar
The Roar

Mary Konstantopoulos

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Joined August 2013

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Lawyer, sports advocate and proud owner and founder of the Ladies Who empire, including Ladies who League, Ladies who Legspin, Ladies who Lineout and Ladies who Leap. Send me love on twitter at @ladieswholeague! x

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Dutski, what have you made of Gayle Broughton in the opening rounds?

Also agree re the Eels, absolutely underdogs, but we saw last week what can happen!

NRLW Round 3 Preview: Titans and Tigers chase hat-tricks but Eels and Broncos still searching for first win

Let’s see how I go Nick!

NRLW Round 2 Preview: We've kicked off but it's still hard to predict who's going to come out on top

Isn’t that exactly what has happened here? The player stood down still gets paid and is still able to train with the team. They just miss time on the field? No player has been prevented from pursuing their profession.

Why NRL should revisit no fault stand-down policy in the wake of Brown allegations

Brett it’s not the same comparison. The players represent the game at all times (unfortunately). There is very little, I would argue, that is unrelated to their work.

Why NRL should revisit no fault stand-down policy in the wake of Brown allegations

But Gray-Hand, where do you draw the line? Like which offences should you be stood down for and which not?

It’s a really tricky issue.

Why NRL should revisit no fault stand-down policy in the wake of Brown allegations

I suppose ‘The Raw’ at the very least he decided to go out when his playing group made a pact to try and lay low. At the very least, if I were his teammates I would want to understand and make sure it didn’t happen again.

‘Rehabilitation’ is potentially the wrong word. I have a legal background so when I think about why we ‘punish’ people, there’s a ‘punishment’ element but also an element of how we can help them too. 🙂

Why NRL should revisit no fault stand-down policy in the wake of Brown allegations

The situation with the NRL is different once again.

In a normal workplace, employees are not the face of the organisation. For the NRL, their brand and reputation is highly impacted by players and their behvaiour.

Let me use another example – if a player had been accused of murder, would they continue to play?

Why NRL should revisit no fault stand-down policy in the wake of Brown allegations

Dutski, I think for Brown, if it does end up being five counts, my understanding is that that is 5 years. The NRL stepped in and used their discretion in this instance.

Perhaps the 11 years has come from a review the NRL did of the offences they were most concerned about? There would be a reason why that threshold was selected.

Why NRL should revisit no fault stand-down policy in the wake of Brown allegations

Regardless of what the court decides – he was out and about when the team made a commitment not to be out and about. Alcohol was likely involved too. There is always opportunity for growth and change in these situations – just like if an employee made the decision to disgrace themselves at an office Christmas party.

Why NRL should revisit no fault stand-down policy in the wake of Brown allegations

Each situation and employer is different Ben.

What about a person who works with children, accused of a crime related to children? That’s an example where I am certain that person would be stood down.

Why NRL should revisit no fault stand-down policy in the wake of Brown allegations

Which paragraph are you referring to?

Why NRL should revisit no fault stand-down policy in the wake of Brown allegations

It’s not quite the case that there is ‘no evidence’. There is enough evidence for charges to be laid.

It’s also not just about ‘guild’ or ‘innocence’.

When it came to JDB, I remember writing an article a few years ago about how I thought the stand down would help him. It meant he was still being paid and training with his friends, whilst focusing on the important thing (i.e. the charges that had been laid against him).

Regardless of the outcome of the case too, the NRL has a brand to uphold and each of these players has brought the game into disrepute.

Why NRL should revisit no fault stand-down policy in the wake of Brown allegations

It is a ‘no fault’ stand down policy. It has nothing to do with guilt.

Why NRL should revisit no fault stand-down policy in the wake of Brown allegations

It’s a ‘no fault stand down’ – there is no presumption of guilt there.

Why NRL should revisit no fault stand-down policy in the wake of Brown allegations

The challenge, Dionysus is that currently the Policy gives the NRL discretion. So even if an offence does not meet the criteria set out, the NRL can use its discretion and stand that player down. So really, the NFSP can apply in any situation the NRL deems appropriate.

Why NRL should revisit no fault stand-down policy in the wake of Brown allegations

I assume the coach, Farmyard Friend.

Jack Bird and Zac Lomax are also part of the leadership group and were not selected.

Making de Belin captain of Dragons a sad indictment on a club that doesn't know what true leadership looks like

How is he being cancelled? Not every player has the opportunity to captain a team throughout their career.

Making de Belin captain of Dragons a sad indictment on a club that doesn't know what true leadership looks like

Participating? Or leading? There is a difference there.

Making de Belin captain of Dragons a sad indictment on a club that doesn't know what true leadership looks like

And has done so with AFL too!

Rugby living rent free in NRL's head but childish chairmen of both codes raise questions on governance issues

The article isn’t really about that at all. The article is about the behaviour of both V’landys and McLennan. McLennan makes a comment and V’landys hits back.

I would really be curious, if you exclude those two where you see it coming from. Is it the media or just generally speaking amongst fans?

Rugby living rent free in NRL's head but childish chairmen of both codes raise questions on governance issues

But it’s not just the AFL, jameswm – keep an eye on the newspapers and the way most corporations conduct themselves. It is the CEO who comments because they know about the day to day running of the business. It’s not the board who is in the press all the time.

Rugby living rent free in NRL's head but childish chairmen of both codes raise questions on governance issues

Stevo, I am genuinely interested here (because I think any code bagging another is stupid). Where have you seen the bagging from rugby league to union?

Rugby living rent free in NRL's head but childish chairmen of both codes raise questions on governance issues

Mick, I would absolutely love to see an investment made in that space too! So much opportunity to ensure that Indigenous people have pathways to play the sports that they love at the highest level.

Rugby living rent free in NRL's head but childish chairmen of both codes raise questions on governance issues

Andrew, seriously! Agree with you – just shut up.

Rugby living rent free in NRL's head but childish chairmen of both codes raise questions on governance issues

What does that mean, Jacko? Not a ‘union’ person?

Rugby living rent free in NRL's head but childish chairmen of both codes raise questions on governance issues

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