Manly V Tigers *spoilers*

[Coxy]

Gus said it best in his column in the SMH today.

BRETT STEWART

Young Stewart resumes today for the Sea Eagles.

Much has been written and said about the significance of his return to the playing field. I think we should keep things in perspective.

Stewart faces some pretty serious charges. He's entitled to the presumption of innocence until his case has been finalised but I find it totally inappropriate that we send signals that suggest we're rolling out the red carpet and treating him like a hero.

I've no problem with his continuing to play his football. If and when he's eventually cleared of all charges, then normal service can be resumed.

However, in the meantime, we need to temper our commentary.

I'm sure Stewart, his family and the family of the other parties involved in this case would appreciate things being kept pretty low key.

I feel sorry for those of you affected by these events. I hope you get a speedy resolution to this matter and, whatever the result, I trust you can all get on with the rest of your lives in peace.

Stewart shouldn't be lauded as some great hero. Play, by all means, but let's not forget he's still potentially a rapist....

 

[QUEENSLANDER]

I thought watmough and stewart deserved all the praise they got today, they both played fantastic. I do agree tho that he shouldnt be playing while the other stuff is up in the air.

Question to all those in the thread that have said they think he shouldnt be playing... did you feel the same about hunt, thaiday and boyd?

 

[guppy]

Question to all those in the thread that have said they think he shouldnt be playing... did you feel the same about hunt, thaiday and boyd?

Yes. (Although I haven't posted anything in this thread.)

 

[The Brizz]

Reminds me of when Cousins made his comeback a couple of years back for West Coast after his initially drug issues and the commentators were labeling it a heroic and courageous comeback. I agree he has served his punishment for the piss-up and should be clear to play now as he is innocent until proven guilty but any fanfare should be spared for everyone including his sake. FTR, I wanted all 3 of our guys stood down for the semi against Melbourne last year much like Stewart not for the alleged illegal activity but for the alcohol related adventures prior to them.

 

[Aeetee]

I thought watmough and stewart deserved all the praise they got today, they both played fantastic. I do agree tho that he shouldnt be playing while the other stuff is up in the air.

Question to all those in the thread that have said they think he shouldnt be playing... did you feel the same about hunt, thaiday and boyd?

Sure did.

 

[Fozz]

Hunt, Thaiday and Boyd weren't charged. Stewart was.

 

[Kaz]

Stewart was only suspended for being drunk at Manly's official launch, not for the crime he has been charged with.

Hunt, Thaiday & Boyd didn't break any laws, so why should they have been dropped.

 

[Kimlo]

If the commentators are juicing over him that will make me sick. IMO he shouldn't be allowed to play until cleared/found not guilty. I know inoccent untill proven guilty but if he was charged with kiddie fiddling or say selling crack cocaine to primary school kids would he be still playing..... best way to beat Manly, take Downie out early.

So you think he's a kiddie fiddler, because he SUPPOSEDLY(key word) had sex with a 17 year old? A 17 year old is not a child.

There is so many people out there over 18 years old who are going out with 16/17 year olds and have sexual relationships, it's not kiddie fiddling, HUGE difference, if it was consensual I see nothing wrong with it.

And it's innocent until proven guilty as far as i'm concerned, I think it's totally unfair how much criticism and abuse is being directed towards him when he is not even found guilty. If he is proven innocent I hope people take back their comments, either way the damage is done, and his repuatation will be damaged for a long long time.

 

[Aeetee]

If the commentators are juicing over him that will make me sick. IMO he shouldn't be allowed to play until cleared/found not guilty. I know inoccent untill proven guilty but if he was charged with kiddie fiddling or say selling crack cocaine to primary school kids would he be still playing..... best way to beat Manly, take Downie out early.

So you think he's a kiddie fiddler, because he SUPPOSEDLY(key word) had sex with a 17 year old? A 17 year old is not a child.

There is so many people out there over 18 years old who are going out with 16/17 year olds and have sexual relationships, it's not kiddie fiddling, HUGE difference, if it was consensual I see nothing wrong with it.

And it's innocent until proven guilty as far as i'm concerned, I think it's totally unfair how much criticism and abuse is being directed towards him when he is not even found guilty. If he is proven innocent I hope people take back their comments, either way the damage is done, and his repuatation will be damaged for a long long time.

Wasn't refering to the 17 y.o. more like 'kiddie' age. And I wasn't saying thats what HE has done. What I mean't was if someone was charged with said offences, think REALLY FUCKING bad ones, would we as a society praise them when they came back on the field, with charges hanging over there head?

And 17 is not an adult.

 

[Kimlo]

If the commentators are juicing over him that will make me sick. IMO he shouldn't be allowed to play until cleared/found not guilty. I know inoccent untill proven guilty but if he was charged with kiddie fiddling or say selling crack cocaine to primary school kids would he be still playing..... best way to beat Manly, take Downie out early.

So you think he's a kiddie fiddler, because he SUPPOSEDLY(key word) had sex with a 17 year old? A 17 year old is not a child.

There is so many people out there over 18 years old who are going out with 16/17 year olds and have sexual relationships, it's not kiddie fiddling, HUGE difference, if it was consensual I see nothing wrong with it.

And it's innocent until proven guilty as far as i'm concerned, I think it's totally unfair how much criticism and abuse is being directed towards him when he is not even found guilty. If he is proven innocent I hope people take back their comments, either way the damage is done, and his repuatation will be damaged for a long long time.

Wasn't refering to the 17 y.o. more like 'kiddie' age. And I wasn't saying thats what HE has done. What I mean't was if someone was charged with said offences, think REALLY **** bad ones, would we as a society praise them when they came back on the field, with charges hanging over there head?

And 17 is not an adult.

Oh, I completely agree there, I can't stand how they are making it out as though he has come back from cancer or like is some hero returning to the field, I hate it as well, I think the commentators, and media should say nothing mroe unless it's strictly about on the field until the case is over.

I certainly agree with you on that.

 

[mick]

The way I see it, I'd be stood down (with pay, mind you) if I had criminal charges over my head. I feel it should be the same here.

The only big question is the MASSIVE grey areas. Do we suspend players who are waiting to answer a charge on public nuisance, wilful damage, speeding or something else they are contesting? Because even those small matters can take three months to be heard by a Court.

I think, above all, there has to be a uniform thing put in place across the NRL. Either suspend players on full pay whilst they are being investigated, letting them return if they are cleared, or let them play on regardless of the charge.

 

[The Brizz]

Hunt, Thaiday & Boyd didn't break any laws, so why should they have been dropped.

They went on a 12 hour drinking bender during the finals series which led to them embarrassing the club (whether the toilet sex was illegal is not the point). Why the hell should they have been playing 6 days later? What they did was irresponsible and incredibly embarrassing for the club, they should not have played again last season.

 

[Coxy]

Hunt, Thaiday & Boyd didn't break any laws, so why should they have been dropped.

They went on a 12 hour drinking bender during the finals series which led to them embarrassing the club (whether the toilet sex was illegal is not the point). Why the hell should they have been playing 6 days later? What they did was irresponsible and incredibly embarrassing for the club, they should not have played again last season.

+100000000000000000000000000000000000000000

 

[Kimlo]

Hunt, Thaiday & Boyd didn't break any laws, so why should they have been dropped.

They went on a 12 hour drinking bender during the finals series which led to them embarrassing the club (whether the toilet sex was illegal is not the point). Why the hell should they have been playing 6 days later? What they did was irresponsible and incredibly embarrassing for the club, they should not have played again last season.

+100000000000000000000000000000000000000000

x1000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

 

[mrslong]

Brett Stewart is an immense talent and without him on the field Manly don't have a hope in hell of winning.

He makes Orford look good. Seriously, Stewart should have had the Dally M last year not Orfull.

Watmaugh is a talent and won them the game yesterday. But he is the worst grub in the league. He shouldn't have a contract imo. He burned his mrs with cigarettes ffs. [icon_non

It's a shame they're all drop kick morons of the highest order.

I HATE MANLY!!! but let's be honest, Stewart is amazingly talented, and it would be for the good of the game if he is cleared of the wrong doing and set up.

 

[Coxy]

I HATE MANLY!!! but let's be honest, Stewart is amazingly talented, and it would be for the good of the game if he is cleared of the wrong doing and set up.

[eusa_eh If he's not guilty, absolutely.

If he is, then I think the worst thing that could possibly happen would be for him to be "cleared" and then continue to run around being lauded as a "hero".

 

[Je$ter]

I can't stand Brett Stewart. I was elated when Crocker knocked the stuffing out of him in the '07 gf, I would pay good money to see that again.

ps. Benji Marshall is far and away the most over rated player going around, he's absolutley useless at halfback!

 

[mrslong]

I HATE MANLY!!! but let's be honest, Stewart is amazingly talented, and it would be for the good of the game if he is cleared of the wrong doing and set up.

[eusa_eh If he's not guilty, absolutely.

If he is, then I think the worst thing that could possibly happen would be for him to be "cleared" and then continue to run around being lauded as a "hero".

Yeah that's what I mean, that he's not guilty.