By Adrian Proszenko, Adam Pengilly and Dan Walsh
The NRL has decided not to recognise Michael Jennings’ 300th game following a backlash over the decision to allow the controversial Rooster to resume his career.
Jennings made his 299th appearance in the Roosters’ loss to Canterbury after being activated as a concussion substitute. Given the Roosters are without Dominic Young (suspension) and James Tedesco (concussion), Jennings is expected to be named for Thursday’s clash against Newcastle at McDonald Jones Stadium.
Jennings will become the 51st player to reach the milestone of 300 NRL games. It is customary for the league to issue a congratulatory press release and for the chief executive to present the match ball after full-time. However, for the first time, head office will not mark the occasion.
“Due to past conduct, Michael Jennings will not receive official NRL recognition on his 300th match,” chief executive Andrew Abdo said.
Jennings, who has only just returned from a three-year drugs ban, was ordered to pay nearly $500,000 in damages for personal injuries, including post-traumatic stress disorder, to his ex-wife Kirra Wilden following a civil case in the NSW District Court. Jennings denies allegations he verbally and sexually assaulted Wilden during their relationship in 2014 and 2015.
Michael Jennings played his 299th NRL game last Friday night.Credit: Getty
Jennings was activated as 18th man in the Roosters’ wild loss to the Bulldogs last Friday night after Tedesco and Sam Walker were diagnosed with concussion.
The NRL and Roosters liaised for several months over Jennings’ return to the game after his drugs suspension ended. He was initially given conditional approval to train with the Roosters, pending certain parameters being met, before the club elevated him into its top 30 with the NRL’s permission.
The code has never stood down a player as a result of court findings from civil proceedings. Jennings was never charged by police over the matter.
Jennings’ application to be registered included a statement of his desire to fulfil his financial obligations to his ex-wife. As reported by this masthead, lawyers acting for Wilden said their client has yet to receive any money from Jennings.
Wilden told the Herald on the weekend: “I think it’s disgraceful that they have allowed this to happen. It’s upsetting as I feel the NRL doesn’t take the safety of women seriously.
“People wonder why people don’t speak up about these types of incidents, it’s because I feel nothing gets done about it in time.”
Roosters teammates insisted Jennings deserves to be acknowledged like any other triple centurion in the game, with Angus Crichton, who did not speak about the claims of sexual and verbal abuse, pointing out that other “people in rugby league who have had similar [drugs] charges” have “been celebrated and put on honour boards”.
The backline reshuffle will bring Jennings into the centres, with Joseph Manu switching to fullback and Connor Watson partnering Luke Keary at the scrumbase. Junior Pauga is in line for a call-up to replace Young on the wing.
Flyer Daniel Tupou played alongside Jennings more than a decade ago during the Roosters 2013 premiership run and believes the 35-year-old deserves acknowledgement if he plays the milestone match on Thursday.
“Whatever outside noise there is, they’ve got their opinion, but it couldn’t happen to a better bloke,” Tupou said.
“I feel like he thoroughly deserves it. Everyone goes through stuff. We’re all human at the end of the day. That’s just my opinion, don’t take it out of context, I feel like he deserves it for what he’s done for the game over all these years.”
Crichton spoke along similar lines after Roosters training, specifically referencing Jennings’ suspension for testing positive to prohibited substances LGD-4033 (Ligandrol) and Ibutamoren. Jennings maintained his innocence but eventually accepted the charges in order to reduce his ban from four years to three.
The former NSW centre was then found to have raped his ex-wife at least four times by a NSW District Court judge on the balance of probability.
Asked about the Jennings milestone, Crichton said: “I think it definitely should be celebrated.
“I don’t know the full details, but from what I’ve seen, he stands by that he actually wasn’t using performance-enhancing drugs. And I think that I believe him and I trust him.
“I think he’s obviously been such a great player in our game for so many games. I think why not celebrate? We’ve got other people in rugby league who have had similar charges and they’ve been celebrated and put up on honour boards.
“Michael Jennings 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.”
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