The NRL could be set to effectively impose a life ban on new Manly Sea Eagles recruit Zane Tetevano, after he pleaded guilty to a number of offences in a Newcastle court on Friday.
Tetevano – who had just signed a deal with the Sea Eagles after four seasons with Newcastle Knights – has pleaded guilty to eight charges in Newcastle Local Court on Friday, including two counts of common assault and two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
With Manly now expected to tear up a contract that had yet to be signed off and approved by the NRL, it seems likely that the governing body in Australia will not register Tetevano as a player – effectively ending his career in the NRL.
“Zane Tetevano is not a registered NRL player. For him to be registered we would need to be satisfied that he is a fit and proper person. Based on today’s developments in court, he will not meet that standard if he were to apply for registration. Our position as a game around domestic violence is clear. We do not condone violence against women.”
Manly have now stood the player down from all club duties, and released a statement saying that his position will be reviewed at the club.
“The player was signed by the club in good faith. However, the details of previous incidents have now been fully disclosed in a court of law,” according to a club statement. “Tetevano has been training at the club since the start of November, but does not have a registered contract with the NRL. His position at the club will now be reviewed internally before making any further comment.”
