Hayne, Hauraki And Paulo Stood Down For Round One

parragirl

Thursday 6 March 2008

Parramatta Eels players Jarryd Hayne, Weller Hauraki and Junior Paulo have been stood down from Saturday weeks Telstra Premiership season opener against the Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium.

They have also been fined $2,000 each for their involvement in an altercation that ended with their being the target of a gunman in Kings Cross early on Monday morning.

The Eels playing group was informed of the decision earlier today following discussions between Parramatta CEO Denis Fitzgerald AM, head coach Michael Hagan, members of the team leadership group and senior team management.

The Parramatta club has been left with no choice but to take firm action, which is why we have made the decision to stand down Jarryd Hayne, Weller Hauraki and Junior Paulo from round one, Mr. Fitzgerald said.

Monday morning was the latest in a line of behavioral incidents featuring alcohol for the players involved and we hope that missing round one will send them and the rest of the playing group the strongest of messages.

At the time of the altercation they had the opportunity to walk away and didn't.

It is high time we said enough is enough.

Their involvement in this incident has been highly damaging for the team, the club, our fans and sponsors, and most of all to the players personally.

They have paid a high price and the timing of the standing down is unfortunate, coming in the opening round of the Centenary season.

However we just hope that missing such an historic occasion will help the message hit home.

Hayne, Hauraki and Paulo will be given trauma counseling and will also be offered alcohol counseling as part of the action taken against them.

All three will be considered for selection for the Eels round two game against the Warriors at Mt. Smart Stadium, Auckland, on Sunday 23 March.

http://www.parraeels.com.au/news/news1708.shtml

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