White Ribbon has backed the NRL’s decision not to celebrate the 300-game milestone for Sydney Roosters centre Michael Jennings due to his past conduct, which includes a ban for performance enhancing drugs and a finding in a civil case that he abused his ex-wife.
Jennings has returned to the NRL this year following his three-year ban and made his 299th appearance for the Roosters off the bench in their loss to the Bulldogs on Friday.
A spate of injuries and suspensions means Jennings is likely to reach 300 games on Thursday against the Knights, but the milestone will not be formally recognised by the NRL.
“Due to past conduct, Michael Jennings will not receive official NRL recognition on his 300th match,” the NRL’s chief executive, Andrew Abdo, said in a statement on Monday.
In addition to his drug suspension, Jennings was found in a civil matter initiated in 2020 to have raped his ex-wife. He denied the allegations and appealed in 2022, but lost the case.
The chief executive of White Ribbon Australia, which campaigns against violence against women by men, Melissa Perry, said although it was important to support men who behave in unacceptable ways to change their behaviour, there must also be consequences.
“NRL players and other high-profile male athletes are role models for our young people and should be held to a higher standard,” she said. “There is simply no excuse for violence and abuse.”
White Ribbon under previous management was a partner of the NRL but the organisations no longer have a formal relationship.
A celebration would have sent “a poor message, to teammates, the rugby league community, women’s NRL, and the growing number of boys and girls with ambitions to play the game at the highest level”, Perry said.
Jennings’ Roosters teammate Jared Waerea-Hargreaves was the most recent player to reach the 300-game mark, and the NRL allowed him to be joined by his family on the field to celebrate his milestone match last month.
The Roosters used a photo of the returning Jennings on social media channels for the background of a post with the score of Friday’s clash, prompting disappointment from some fans. “Jennings is not a good representative of what this club should stand for,” one said.
However, some Roosters players have been supportive of Jennings. Forward Angus Crichton said his teammate “has worked so hard to get back to where he is. I think he should not only be celebrated, but I think he’s deserved it.”
Winger Daniel Tupou said “everyone goes through stuff. We’re all human at the end of the day.”
The chief executive of Our Watch, Patty Kinnersly, said it was crucial that those who use violence and abuse against women are not held up as role models.
“Sport bodies and players are in a powerful position to challenge the attitudes and behaviours that lead to violence against women,” she said.
“They have a powerful opportunity to model good leadership including setting a standard for zero tolerance for violence or discriminatory behaviour.”
The Roosters declined to comment on Monday.
– with AAP
• Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues is available from the following organisations. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 500 2222. In the US, Rainn offers support on 800-656-4673. Other international helplines can be found at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html
