The NRL’s adviser on women’s issues, Catharine Lumby, says Mitchell Pearce’s NRL career should be over after his off-field indiscretions on Australia Day which have resulted in him being stood down by Sydney Roosters.
Pearce made worldwide headlines when a video emerged of him simulating a lewd act with a dog, which resulted in Sydney standing down their co-captain on Thursday.
And Lumby, who has worked with the NRL for a decade, says the NRL has to send out a strong message on the issue, and bring the curtain down on his career in Australia’s top flight.
“I think he should be stood aside. I think this should be the end of his career,” Professor Lumby told ABC News 24.
“I think you should not be able to get away with this. He’s a high profile athlete, it just sends the wrong message and the NRL has to continue to show leadership on this issue.”
Roosters coach Trent Robinson confirmed the decision to stand down Pearce on their own in-house TV channel, and described his actions as “unacceptable”.
“That’s why he has been stood down up until this matter is resolved,” Robinson said on Roosters TV. “We will go through that with the NRL over the next couple of days.
“The behaviour was unacceptable. We understand that. At the Roosters, we can’t accept that and we won’t. Over the next couple of days we will come to a conclusion with the NRL.”
