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http://www.foxsports.com.au/league/nrl-premiership/wests-tigers-to-keep-robert-lui-in-exile-until-court-hearing-over-assault-charge/story-fn2mcuj6-1225948976259" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Wests Tigers to keep Robert Lui in exile until court hearing over assault charge
- By David Riccio
- From The Sunday Telegraph
- November 07, 2010 12:42PM
Extended break … Robert Lui will not begin pre-season with Wests Tigers. Source: Brad Hunter / News Limited
Wests Tigers halfback Robert Lui remains in limbo, with the promising rookie banned from returning to pre-season training with the club on Monday.
Robert Lui has been charged with nine offences against his pregnant partner, Taleah Backo, which include two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, three of common assault, one of malicious damage, one of choking with intent to commit an indictable offence, one of detaining for advantage and one of aggravated robbery.
The 20-year-old, who has vowed to vigorously defend the charges, will face court on November 15.
But Lui will be forced to train in exile despite steering the club to this year’s grand final qualifier alongside Benji Marshall.
“Robbie won’t be back at training on Monday,” Wests Tigers chief executive Stephen Humphreys confirmed.
"We’ve stood Robbie down from official duties and all club-related duties so he can concentrate on his court appearance.
“I know Robbie has been looking after himself and training pretty hard on a personal level to keep himself fit, but he won’t be part of our training next week.”
The Queensland-born halfback has played 20 first-grade matches since making his debut in 2009.
But Humphreys suggested it would be premature to offer any guarantees in regards to Lui’s long-term future.
“We’ll review the situation after the court matter on the 15th,” Humphreys said.
"That will be the first opportunity from when he was charged to understand in any kind of detail the evidence against him.
“I’ve spoken to Robbie and we’re trying to support him as best we can, as well as his partner Taleah.”
Talented utility Tim Moltzen, who is expected to vie with Lui for the No 7 jumper, will rejoin his Wests Tigers teammates tomorrow after missing almost the entire 2010 season.
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This is stupid. What purpose does leaving him out of training serve? Let him train and once all is revealed and the club wants to sack him then sack him. But what if he’s cleared? He’ll be way behind in training for no reason. Its a pointless decision. Bloody poltical correctness.
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Pretty serious charges against him that haven’t been withdrawn as is often the case with domestic violence charges.
I doubt that the club is allowing him to while away his time twiddling his thumbs, I would hope that there are private training sessions to keep him in shape, if not contact Chris Lawrence for his personal training services!. -
Easy Sirro,it’s the correct descisson…The club has no other option i dont think…
They are supporting both Robert and his misses…he wont be too far behind the rest we’ll know in a week…
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Lui is fighting the charges, does that mean he thinks he is innocent?
Coz its pretty much the case of he said, she said.
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The 15th will only be a Mention Hearing. Basically the court will hear statements and decide whether the such court has the ability to hear such charges, or decide to direct the charges to another/higher court.
In Qld, the DPP won’t decide until after the Mention Hearing whether they will take the charges up, or listen to any pleads.
The 15th won’t have any bearing in relation to whether Robert is guilty or not…
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A small article from the tele (yeah, I know, it’s the tele) says - "Don’t be surprised to see troubled
Tigers star Robert Lui end up at North Queensland next season."
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Lui is fighting the charges, does that mean he thinks he is innocent?
Coz its pretty much the case of he said, she said.
He said, she said is an interesting situation. Does anyone know if Robert and his missus are together and the police are taking up the charges, or have they separated and is she taking up the charges with the police?
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@Mrs T:
A small article from the tele (yeah, I know, it’s the tele) says - "Don’t be surprised to see troubled
Tigers star Robert Lui end up at North Queensland next season."
Why is it that the News Ltd funded sides are always cashed up ready to to swoop on any available talent, I know that Robert’s roots are from North Qld but the only club that recogonised his talents were the Tigers.
We seem here to be in the same situation as the Canberra Raiders with Todd Carney, bow to pressure and sack him only for another cashed up club to jump in and sign him up.
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@Tiger Watto:
The 15th will only be a Mention Hearing. Basically the court will hear statements and decide whether the such court has the ability to hear such charges, or decide to direct the charges to another/higher court.
In Qld, the DPP won’t decide until after the Mention Hearing whether they will take the charges up, or listen to any pleads.
The 15th won’t have any bearing in relation to whether Robert is guilty or not…
This mention hearing is usually a case of the Defendant entering their plea, be it guilty or not guilty. Lui will plead not guilty and based on the brief of evidence served by NSW Police, it will be decided whether or not there is enough evidence to go straight to trial, or more commonly a date for a committal hearing will be sought.
Pretty sure Brett Stewart still trained with Manly during his court process so it’s a tough stance taken by the Tigers, but they have their reasons so Lui will just have to tough it out for now.
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Correct decision IMO. They’re letting it play out in the courts, Lui is still entitled to train of his own accord and the club will wait for the verdict before making their decision on his future.
The club won’t want to sack him only to find out he is not guilty only to have another side swoop in on him. The club is also showing a bit of character by taking this stance and still protecting themselves from losing a valuable investment. Good move by the Tigers.
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Good Pr stance Whilst still supporting the individual. I would have liked this matter to stay out of the papers. It adds no value and tells us nothing new.
I hope for the couple and the baby on the way things get sorted and there is no more drinking. I think its far to say another binge drinking related incident.
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While I myself enjoy a cold beer or five, can’t say I’ve ever been violent or done anything stupid. I love the game, but Rugby League would have the only professional sport in the world where a culture of boozing is actually acceptable and not discouraged.
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This just reminds me of what Ray Warren said on the deadset legends on the weekend. Sides like Canberra who sacked Carney, Cronulla who sacked Bird, are doing the right thing by the NRL, sponsors etc by sacking a player who has disgraced themselves, the club and the game in general and it seems their reward for that is that player pulling on a jumper for a differesnt side a few months later. Yeah Lui has done the wrong thing but what difference does it make if we sack him or not? If we do he’ll just be playing against us for a different side.
I just dont see that its fair that we can sack him and someone else can have him.
Wheres the justice? -
I can tell you for certain, there is a Player Manager who shops around his clients to ALL NRL Clubs, ESL & Rugby Union every year. Upon finding a sutor, he openely hatchs plans for his client to play-up to encourage his current club to terminate, to ensure his player goes to the new club so the Player Manager gets his commission…
The NRL has set a bad precedence in these circumstances allowing players to be re-registered…
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