Mal Meninga silent over demand for apology by National Rugby League
Maroons coach since 2006, Mal Meninga, was silent about an apology which was demanded by the National Rugby League (NRL) officials on his attempt of defaming them in a newspaper. The time given to the coach to apologise in public expired at 5p.m. on Thursday,
July 15.
The demand was made on Tuesday, July 12, by the Kennedys - Sydney law firm in the wake of an article from the Queensland’s coach, in which he used insulting remarks against the NSW media, the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL), the judiciary and the NRL
match review committee.
Kennedys called out for the apology on behalf of NRL, to both the Australian newspaper and the Maroon’s coach. It was an attempt to put a stop to such future endeavours by anyone in the future.
NRL football operations manager, Nathan McGuirk, said after the apology demand was made, “The match review committee is continuing to work with legal advisers to seek some resolution and this is being done through the appropriate channels.”
It was further specified that NRL did not wish to provoke the situation but in line with the general perception, a public apology would suffice. However, this demand of an apology, despite the legal threats, was daringly sidelined by the Queenland’s coach
on Thursday.
He claimed that the behaviour which was displayed by the NSWRL against his team and himself was meant to undermine his on field efforts and called for such extreme measures. He further confirmed that there was no ‘delicate way’ of expressing it.
The coach added that the reaction from the NRL quarters was not unexpected as they have been dealt with in a deserving manner. He said, “But what I said needed to be said. They have called me a ranter. They have called me a raver, called me mad.”
Meninga’s silence over the apology led him to legal proceedings as promised by the NRL Match Review Committee. David Gallop, NRL’s Chief Executive stated, “The statements in the article were seriously offensive to individuals who carry out important roles
for the game with absolute integrity.”
Gallop added that the steps were not taken to bring a person down, but to prove that there are laws available which protect people from "falsely attacking" them. Legal proceedings will soon begin as a suit has been filed in the Supreme Court of NSW, on behalf
of the NRL match review committee, as Meninga failed to apologise in the requested time frame.
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