Brett Stewart

Brett Stewart (born 27 February 1985 in Wollongong, New South Wales) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League. He is an Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative fullback known for pace and his prolific try-scoring. He has played his entire NRL career for the Sea Eagles, with whom he won the 2008 Premiership. He was charged with sexual assault in 2009 but found not guilty on 29 September 2010.^[1]

Playing career

Stewart was second on the top try scorer list for the 2006 season, behind the South Sydney Rabbitohs' Nathan Merritt. He currently has the best strike rate for tries versus games in the NRL, taking over from Billy Slater. Stewart is known as the "Try scoring wizard" because of strike rate in NRL games. In his first representative match playing for the Prime Minister's XIII against Papua New Guinea, he contributed to Australia's 28–8 win with a try. He made his State of Origin debut in Game 2 of the 2007 series, replacing an injured Anthony Minichiello at the last moment, and scoring a try. Stewart played in the 2007 NRL Grand Final for Manly against Melbourne Storm but he was knocked out by a fair charge in the early minutes of the 2nd half. Despite this, Stewart was selected as fullback for the Kangaroos end of season test against New Zealand in Wellington, contributing with a try in Australia's 58–0 victory.

He played in the 2008 NRL Grand Final victory over the Melbourne Storm.^[2]

In August 2008, Stewart was named in the preliminary 46-man Kangaroos squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup,^[3][4] and in October 2008 he was selected in the final 24-man Australia squad.^[5] Stewart withdrew with a shoulder injury before the competition had begun.^[6]

Stewart features in the NRL's 2009 television advertising campaign, alongside Greg Inglis.^[7] The campaign was launched in The Domain with Stewart declaring the start of the 101st season of rugby league in Australia.^[8] Stewart played at fullback for the Manly Sea Eagles in the 2011 NRL grand final, scoring a try in the win over the New Zealand Warriors.

Suspensions

Stewart was charged with sexual assault on 10 March 2009. The NRL said it was "making no judgement" and announced it would suspend the 2009 commercial which featured Stewart until further information became available.^[9] Despite the Manly board's decision to select Stewart for round one of the 2009 season, the NRL on 11 March suspended Stewart for the first four rounds for drunkenness,^[10] reportedly stating that "its decision to stop Stewart playing was not intended to reflect any judgment regarding the police investigation into the alleged assault."^[11]

Career highlights

• Junior Club: Wests (Wollongong)
• First Grade Debut: Manly v Parramatta at Parramatta Stadium, 6 July 2003 (Rd 17) (Parra 27 Manly 16)
• First Grade Record: 127 National Rugby League games, scoring 105 tries
• 100th First Grade Game: Manly vs Gold Coast at Skilled Park, 4 July 2008 (Rd 17) (Gold Coast 14 Manly 34). Stewart also scored his 79th and 80th try in First Grade Rugby League during the game to take his strike rate to 80%- the best in the competition.
• Top Try Scorer for the 2008 NRL Season. Stewart missed three games due to Origin duty but still finished atop the try scoring list with 19 tries from 21 games.

In round 2 of the 2011 season Brett Stewart was appointed captain for the first time.^[12]

• 100th First Grade Try. Stewart scored a hat-trick in the Round 9 clash in 2011 against the Raiders, moving his total from 98 to 101 career tries.

Personal life

Stewart is the younger brother of fellow Manly Sea Eagles player Glenn Stewart. He was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 14.^[13]

Stewart was voted the "sexiest man in league" in 2007.^[14]

He was charged with sexual assault of a 17 year old girl following the Manly season launch in 2009. He was cleared of all charges following a jury trial in September 2010.^[15]

Sexual assault charges

He was accused of assaulting a 17-year old girl following the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles' season launch on 6 March 2009.^[16][17] Stewart denied the allegation and was granted bail to appear in Manly Local Court on 7 April.^[16][18]

Stewart was charged with sexual assault on 10 March 2009. On 7 April 2009, Stewart entered a plea of not guilty to the charges at Manly Local Court and the matter was adjourned until 26 May,^[19] on which date Stewart's case was again mentioned in court, although Stewart was not present. The case was further adjourned to 23 June as his lawyer stated that he was still waiting on documents.^[20]

When the court reconvened on 23 June 2009, his lawyers requested access to further documents, including psychiatric evaluations, and the matter was adjourned until September.^[21] The court met once again on 28 September, and there they found that Stewart had a case to answer. As a result he was ordered to attend a committal hearing in February 2010.^[22]

The committal hearing commenced on 4 February 2010, at Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court. Stewart was represented by Clive Steirn, with Deputy Chief Magistrate Paul Cloran presiding.^[23][24] He was accompanied by a number of supporters, including his girlfriend Jamie Baker, family members, and Manly coach Des Hasler. His charges are sexual intercourse without consent, involving digital penetration, and assault with an act of indecency.^[25][26]

Stewart continued to strongly deny the allegations, with the hearing temporarily adjourned for one hour while Cloran read evidential documentation. The tendered documentation included medical evidence, psychiatric reports, and statements from the alleged victim and her family.^[24] The alleged victim’s former psychiatrist gave evidence for the hearing, these details were suppressed by Cloran.^[27]

The hearing was adjourned until 22 March 2010, in order for the alleged victim’s father to give evidence, as he was overseas.^[28]

Acquittal

On 22 March 2010 Deputy Chief Magistrate Paul Cloran determined that there was enough evidence for the case to proceed to trial.^[29] His trial commenced on Monday 13 September 2010 and concluded on 29 September 2010 with a jury verdict of not guilty.

At the opening and closing of his trial jurors were told by the judge that Stewart deserves the presumption of innocence despite the high number of sexual assault cases involving high-profile players that have received media attention in Australia in recent years.^[30]

References

External links

• Brett Stewart NRL Profile
• Brett Stewart Official Profile
• Brief Analysis of Culture of Criminal Sexuality by NRL Players (Sydney Anglican)