Read the room, Robbo, celebrating Jennings is disrespectful. I’m out

Michael Jennings’ history includes heavy drinking, cocaine use and gambling, sexual abuse, an NRL ban and a court judgment against him. Good bloke, though. Just ask Trent Robinson.

The Sydney Roosters’ slavish devotion to the redemption of a bloke whose rap sheet includes a ban for performance enhancing drugs and a civil court case finding he abused his ex-wife leaves me a woman without an NRL team.

I pulled the plug on the Roosters on Wednesday morning, when coach Trent Robinson mansplained to me why I should be celebrating Michael Jennings’ 300th game.

Already I’d been on dodgy supporter ground when Jennings was let Jennings back into the game late last year – ostensibly giving him the chance to pay the $500,000 he owes his ex-wife, Kirra Wilden, for sexually assaulting her during their relationship.

Judge David Wilson found Jennings raped Wilden four times in 2014 and 2015. Jennings’ supporters inevitably point out this was a civil trial in which a lower burden of proof is required than that required in a criminal case.

To which I say, with just one in 10 reported rapes resulting in a conviction through criminal channels, good luck to Wilden for getting a win where she can, rather than being dragged into a criminal proceeding where inevitably she’d end up feeling like the one on trial.

Roosters coach Trent Robinson backed celebrating Michael Jennings’ 300th game this morning. Picture: News Corp

The wash-up of that case was Jennings ordered to pay his ex $500,000 – mostly because the effect of four rapes left her unable to work.

Jennings appealed – and lost – late last year. Wilden’s lawyers say she hasn’t seen a cent.

Jennings made sure of that by selling off a few investment properties for about $1.5m, and apparently giving the money to a third person, a judge found in 2022.

Then Jennings’ asked to be allowed to play again, to raise the funds to pay off the debts he was dodging.

Why he couldn’t dig ditches, stack shelves, labour on a building site, become a fitness trainer, work a bar — do anything but be given re-entry to the NRL, and with that tacit approval for his deeds — is utterly beyond me.

The NRL approved the Roosters’ request to re-register Jennings as an player on the understanding he would honour his court-ordered obligations.

Roosters player Michael Jennings walks across to the training fields on Driver Ave in Moore Park on Wednesday. Picture: Rohan Kelly

Earlier this week, the NRL belatedly read the room. In the wake of an open letter from my colleague Buzz Rothfield it said there’d be no formal celebration for Jennings. Good decision – although frankly the NRL could have avoided this very situation when Jennings signalled his wish to play again – by saying a firm no.

“Due to past conduct, Michael Jennings will not receive official NRL recognition on his 300th match,” NRL chief executive, Andrew Abdo said on Monday.

White Ribbon Australia, which campaigns against violence against women and is a former NRL partner – backed the NRL’s decision.

Still the Roosters failed to read the room.

Jennings’ history includes heavy drinking, cocaine use and gambling as well as sexual abuse. He’s a good bloke, though. Just ask Trent Robinson.

On Wednesday morning, the coach told us Jennings has a “clear and pure” purpose now that he’s back in the fold, and the club will “definitely celebrate his 300th game”.

Jennings, has “come a long way”, Robinson said. The Roosters are “comfortable supporting someone looking to turn their life around”.

People can have their opinion, Robinson said (thanks, coach), but “I feel really proud about what we are doing as a club to get a player that’s bled in our jersey to get back on his feet.”

Mate, perhaps he could start by paying his court-ordered debts instead of hiding wads of money.

Jennings’ ex-wife, Kirra Wilden arrives at court during her case against Jennings. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

Robinson assured us celebrating is “not disrespectful to women” because there’s no criminal conviction against Jennings.

“At which point does he get allowed to continue with his life and continue working?” Robinson asked.

I dunno, Trent. Maybe the point he pays the debts he owes to the woman?

The same woman who was unable to continue working because of the PTSD she suffers after her experience at his hands.

The same woman who might have found it easier to continue with her own life if he’d paid the $500,000 he was told to, instead of selling $1.6m of property she didn’t see a cent of it.

Trent, if Jennings has “come such a long way”, if his purpose is “pure and clear” as he “rewrites his name” as “a father for his kids”, why hasn’t he adhered to that court order?

Robbo, your stance on this is as disrespectful as it gets. And when it comes to matters like this – you don’t get to tell women that it isn’t.

White Ribbon has labelled your comments “appalling”.

But it’s clear you, and the Roosters just don’t get it.

When you’re done with your mansplaining, and the clean-up after that 300-game celebration, maybe take a breath and instead of telling us about Jennings’ rights, think about what’s just right.

There are better fights to fight. Worthier issues on which to take a stance. Better causes to back.

This is not one of them. This is not right.

– Debbie Schipp is The Daily Telegraph’s Digital News Director, and a former sports journalist, sports editor and columnist