Roosters plan Michael Jennings celebration after NRL refuses to recognise the 300-game milestone

After the NRL abandoned plans to officially recognise Michael Jennings’ 300-game milestone, the Sydney Roosters will take celebrations in-house.

The NRL has abandoned plans to honour Sydney Roosters centre Michael Jennings for his 300th game. Picture: NRL Photos/Anthony Kourembanas

• Buzz’s open letter to NRL

The Sydney Roosters will acknowledge Michael Jennings’ 300th first-grade game behind closed doors after the NRL abandoned plans to officially recognise the milestone.

Jennings will play his 300th NRL game against the Knights in Newcastle on Thursday amid a wave of controversy over his return to the game.

Traditionally, the NRL would hold an official ceremony where chief executive Andrew Abdo would present Jennings with a match ball to mark the occasion.

However, the NRL made the decision on Monday morning to distance themselves from Jennings’ milestone after Abdo spoke to ARL Commission chair Peter V’landys, Roosters boss Nick Politis and coach Trent Robinson.

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

It comes after Phil Rothfield penned an emotional open letter to Abdo, imploring him to consider the message it would send to women in rugby league after a civil court, in 2021, found Jennings sexually assaulted his ex-wife, Kirra Wilden, on four occasions and was ordered to pay her $500,000 in damages.

He lost an appeal to reduce the damages awarded to Wilden, but is yet to pay her.

Jennings, 35, will become the 51st player to reach the 300-game milestone, just one week after playing his first NRL game back from a three-year drug ban.

Not only will the NRL not officially celebrate the occasion, the Roosters will now acknowledge Jennings’ achievement out of the public eye, acutely aware of the negative publicity it would generate.

White Ribbon Australia, an organisation dedicated to stopping men’s violence against women, supported the NRL’s stance.

“While 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,” the statement said.

Phil Rothfield's open letter to Andrew Abdo.

“NRL players and other high-profile male athletes are role models for our young people and should be held to a higher standard. There is simply no excuse for violence and abuse. Celebrating a 300 game milestone by a player who was ordered to pay his former partner damages for personal injuries he is alleged to have caused 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.

“Women and girls should have the right to train, play and mix with their male colleagues in an environment that’s inclusive, safe and respectful. It’s critical that all levels of government, sporting codes, businesses and our communities recognise the importance of engaging men and boys in the issue of women’s safety and holding those who choose to use violence accountable for their actions.”

Stranded on 298 NRL games for three years as a result of his drugs ban, this masthead first revealed last November that the Roosters had signed Jennings to a $1200-a-week train-and-trial deal, with a view to playing reserve grade.

However, last month he was elevated to their top-30 squad and made his NRL return in last week’s 30-26 loss to Canterbury, setting him up to reach the triple-century landmark.

ROBBO IN NRL’S CROSSHAIRS

Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson is in the crosshairs of the NRL over his comments surrounding the send-off of winger Dom Young and sin-binning of Victor Radley against the Bulldogs.

This masthead understands that the NRL is reviewing the comments, which went down like a lead balloon at Rugby League Central and could result in Robinson receiving a rebuke from head office.

Robinson has also tested the patience of the NRL after questioning the decision to send off Young for a shot that knocked out Bulldogs fullback Blake Taaffe last Friday night at Accor Stadium.

He also slammed the sin-binning of Radley during the club’s upset defeat to the Bulldogs.

Robinson described the Young send-off as over the top and claimed it had set a new bar in the game. He described Radley’s sin-binning as “ridiculous”.

Young was subsequently suspended for two matches while Radley was exonerated of a hip drop.

Those comments have prompted the NRL to take a closer look at what was said as they weigh up whether to take action against the three-time premiership winner.

The only saving grace for Robinson was that he didn’t question the integrity of the officials or their decision making.

Originally published as Roosters plan Michael Jennings celebration after NRL refuses to recognise the 300-game milestone