Newcastle axe hooker to meet new standards
KNIGHTS chief executive Steve Burraston said last night that cleaning up the club's image after Andrew Johns's drug and alcohol confessions last year played a part in the decision to sack Terence Seu Seu.
The Knights' board terminated the 20-year-old hooker's contract yesterday as punishment for a series of alcohol-related incidents, the latest a mid-range drink-driving offence at New Lambton in the early hours of Monday morning.
Burraston defended the club against accusations of double standards as only last year they signed former Dragons centre Wes Naiqama, who was jailed for repeat driving offences.
Knights captain Danny Buderus feared Seu Seu would be signed by another team and "go on to be a superstar", and Burraston believed the NRL should introduce uniform regulations regarding clubs signing players sacked by other clubs for serious anti-social behaviour.
"I think our image was tarnished very badly during 2007. We drew a line in the sand and made it clear to everybody that it was a new club and we did have a new culture and new set of values," Burraston said.
"We said we would be very strict with disciplinary matters, particularly repeat offences. We did say we would give people one chance and try to help them out, but after that they're on their own."
Asked if the Johns revelations affected yesterday's decision, Burraston replied: "Yeah, no question. We got a lot of feedback from sponsors, from members and the general public, and we need to lead by example.
"We're one of the most influential organisations in town, and we need to set a good example for the community. We can't do that by ignoring misdemeanours or repeated anti-social behaviour."
Buderus said the players were disappointed to lose a teammate and friend, especially knowing the former New Zealand A hooker would almost certainly be picked up by another club.
"It's a shame because he's a really talented fella and everyone has put a lot of time into him, and he has as well, at being as good as he can be at rugby league," Buderus said.
"Some other club will probably pick him up and he'll go on to be a superstar, so that's disappointing for everyone here at Newcastle.
"It's disappointing to lose a teammate, but we're always here for him."
Burraston said: "It's time the governing bodies in football codes need to step in and take some action.
"If a jockey gets suspended riding on a horse in Sydney, they can't go and ride in Brisbane."
NRL chief executive David Gallop said if another club signed Seu Seu the league could choose to not register that new contract.
"In the first instance, we are guided by the attitude of the terminating club and the seriousness of the conduct that led to the termination," Gallop said.
Burraston said the vastly differing fates of Seu Seu and Naiqama, who was sentenced to six months of periodic detention last June for being caught repeatedly driving without a licence, could not be compared.
"Terence has a history over the last 14 months of several alcohol-related misdemeanours," he said.
"We have provided counselling and have provided rehabilitation programs.
"The previous CEO [Ken Conway] had placed him on a last warning, and I had placed him on a last warning.
"I made it clear to him then after everything that had gone on that I didn't want to see any related incidents of unsociable behaviour.
"I've got no doubt that we're going to be the losers out of this, but the club has got to stand tall."
Seu Seu, who had been contracted until the end of next year, would not comment. His manager, Mark Rowan, refused to be critical of the Knights and said his client "made a very poor choice".
Rowan said Seu Seu had not driven home after a night out but had attempted to drive to a fast-food restaurant because he was hungry after returning home.
Former Knight Luke Quigley has emerged as a possible replacement for the rest of this year.
