‘Not disrespectful to women’: White Ribbon slams Trent Robinson over Michael Jennings comments

White Ribbon Australia has slammed Trent Robinson over his controversial comments defending Michael Jennings, despite the NRL veteran being found guilty of sexual assault in civil court.

Trent Robinson.

• Buzz’s open letter to NRL

White Ribbon Australia chief executive Melissa Perry has slammed Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson over his defence of centre Michael Jennings ahead of his 300th game in the NRL.

Robinson claimed on the eve of the Roosters’ game against Newcastle that Jennings’ return to the NRL was “not disrespectful to women”.

That drew condemnation from Perry, who said Robinson had missed an opportunity to display genuine leadership within his club and the sporting community.

“These comments by the Sydney Roosters coach are frankly outrageous and appalling,” Perry said.

“Whilst it’s important that we continue to support men who behave in unacceptable ways to change their behaviour, we must also ensure there are consequences for their actions.

“This was a missed opportunity by Trent Robinson to display genuine leadership within his club and the wider sporting community on how important it is for men and boys to play an active role in women’s safety and calling out men’s violence and abuse.

“The complete lack of accountability and contrition on display here is astounding. In this sports obsessed country, these players are held up as role models for our young people, so it’s beholden on their leaders to show responsibility and hold them to account for their actions.”

Michael Jennings (wearing cap, left) walks to training on Wednesday. Picture: Rohan Kelly

Earlier, Robinson dismissed concerns around signing and selecting Jennings to a return to the NRL, saying “it’s not disrespectful to women”.

The 35-year-old is set to play his 300th NRL game on Thursday night but the occasion has been shrouded in contention after returning from a three-year drug ban and findings from a NSW Civil Court in 2021 that he raped his wife on four occasions during the course of their relationship.

Jennings was ordered to pay his ex-wife Kirra Wilden almost $500,000 in damages, and an appeal by the former NRL and Australia star was denied.

In recent days Wilden has spoken publicly to say the NRL doesn’t take the safety of women seriously.

And when asked about the decision to sign Jennings in the first place on Wednesday morning, Robinson said the club did their due diligence but because the legal matter was civil and not criminal, there was a difference in how it was treated.

“We spent a lot of time at the start and had to go through everything,” he said.

Trent Robinson has defended the club’s decision to celebrate Michael Jennings’ milestone.

“Because I knew his partner as well, Kirra, when they were here together.

“That’s a civil case, where it’s really difficult to go into. There’s been no criminal investigation. So we’ve just had to run on the facts there, and then and then going through where his life’s at, where his family’s at, at the moment.

“We knew, and we take pride in the responsibility of getting that right. And helping with that. It’s obviously Michael’s choice, and he’s made continuously good choices to get back to where he is now.”

When asked to comment on the claims it has been disrespectful to women, Robinson said: “It’s a really it’s a tough one, right? Because there’s no doubt we’ve moved a long way in that sense. And the hardest thing is people have trouble, we don’t know what happened.

“There’s been no criminal charges. So the differentiation between what happens in civil and financial payment and what happens in criminal is really different. And it’s been hard for people to understand the difference.

“They’ve been crossing over, but what judgment can we make when it’s not being criminal and gone down the traditional line there. And so therefore, it’s not disrespectful to women, because there has been no judgment when it’s come to criminal case in that way.

Trent Robinson said the club did their due diligence before signing Michael Jennings.

“We have to understand. And then at which point does he get allowed to continue with his life and continue working. How long is a punishment?

“We took that into consideration, the NRL took that into consideration. We want to play a part in making him the best partner now and the best father he can.”

The NRL has already backtracked on plans to celebrate Jennings’ 300th milestone in Newcastle on Thursday night but the Roosters will have their own plans.

“Definitely, we should,” Robinson said.

“It’s always unique, celebration for us, he’s come a long way, Jenko, you know, when I saw him mid-last year and where he was at, and I knew we had a responsibility - I guess that’s the thing, the questioning of it, you know, people can have their opinion, but I feel really proud about what we’re doing as a club to get a player that’s bled in our jersey to get back on his feet, working in the area that he’s passionate about and he’s good at, and to get his life and his family life back in order. That’s the celebration.

“It’s just been wonderful to see him from October through until now, and where’s he’s at, and where his life is at is in such a good spot. And I feel really proud about that as a club.”

Originally published as ‘Not disrespectful to women’: White Ribbon slams Trent Robinson over Michael Jennings comments