David EdwardsRugby League Star Unable To Work Under Stress?
March 1st 2007 02:27
Whilst I wrote about the AFL and their off-field dramas with Kerr a few days ago, the NRL has made their own headlines due to the St. George Illawarra’s star Wes Naiqama recent brush with the law, or course with a far more dire consequence.
Yesterday, facing up in court, Naiqama was sentenced to a two-days a week periodic dentention for 12 months after he was caught driving whilst disqualified, a previous offence which netted him a $2500 fine and banned him from being behind the wheel until 2013. He will now have to face up to mid-week detention for a minimum of six months before parole.
Naiqama was caught driving in extreme circumstances, as he claimed that he was driving back from the hospital with his then girlfriend popstar Paulini Curuenavuli after she was too groggy to drive after day surgery.
Whilst the sentence was imposed, the Dragon have announced that they will appeal the severity of the sentence on May 22.
Whilst the periodic detention is probably the best result Naiqama could have recieved, still allowing him to play rugby, they are still claiming that the sentence was too rough, simply because he was caught driving after he was banned from getting behind the wheel until 2013.
Whilst I am in full support for the sentence, as it teaches Naiqama that there is no exceptions to the rule when it comes to breaking the law, what I cannot believe is the reasoning his lawyers placed before the judge.
Claiming that Naiqama made the ‘fateful decision’ because the whole experience was emotionally draining on the rugby league star, and I quote “did not react well to the pressure,” and “When he is emotionally stressed he makes poor decisions.”
This has got to be one of the stupidest arguments that the barrister could have placed forward. Can anyone actually believe that Naiqama, who is forced to play in stressful situations each and every round, with one mistake on the ground potentially being the end of his whole playing career, does not react well to pressure when emotionally involved?
It boggles the mind. Every player in the NRL would be going through stress at least once during 80 minutes played each week. From trying to stop a defender scoring to trying to squeeze through the minute gaps to grab the lead, the entire game is based on making quick, right decisions during a stressful scenario.
Do not get me wrong, I am in no means stating the amount of stress on the field is anything like a person he cares about going in for surgery, but how is it possible for him to be able to play so well in such stressful conditions in the hardest league in Australia, but not be able to call the number for a taxi when he has to decide how to get his then girlfriend home?
Naiqama made a mistake, he got caught breaking the law, and now he has to pay the price. By no means should his playing career be affected by this, as he can still play and train whilst serving his sentence, and in fact it would show a lot more of his character if he did his time with no complaint. It would prove to everyone that he can cope being in a ‘stressful’ situation of serving periodic detention whilst trying to keep his squad high on the ladder and still make the right decisions, both on and off the ground.
One final point about this whole debacle. Even if you believe that he could not cope with the emotionally draining point of his life, and like many of us, has made the wrong decision in the time of need, how do you explain his four previous driving offences that made him disqualified from driving in the first place? Were they all during stressful times as well?
Until next time, sports minds.
Yesterday, facing up in court, Naiqama was sentenced to a two-days a week periodic dentention for 12 months after he was caught driving whilst disqualified, a previous offence which netted him a $2500 fine and banned him from being behind the wheel until 2013. He will now have to face up to mid-week detention for a minimum of six months before parole.
Naiqama was caught driving in extreme circumstances, as he claimed that he was driving back from the hospital with his then girlfriend popstar Paulini Curuenavuli after she was too groggy to drive after day surgery.
Whilst the sentence was imposed, the Dragon have announced that they will appeal the severity of the sentence on May 22.
Whilst the periodic detention is probably the best result Naiqama could have recieved, still allowing him to play rugby, they are still claiming that the sentence was too rough, simply because he was caught driving after he was banned from getting behind the wheel until 2013.
Whilst I am in full support for the sentence, as it teaches Naiqama that there is no exceptions to the rule when it comes to breaking the law, what I cannot believe is the reasoning his lawyers placed before the judge.
Claiming that Naiqama made the ‘fateful decision’ because the whole experience was emotionally draining on the rugby league star, and I quote “did not react well to the pressure,” and “When he is emotionally stressed he makes poor decisions.”
This has got to be one of the stupidest arguments that the barrister could have placed forward. Can anyone actually believe that Naiqama, who is forced to play in stressful situations each and every round, with one mistake on the ground potentially being the end of his whole playing career, does not react well to pressure when emotionally involved?
It boggles the mind. Every player in the NRL would be going through stress at least once during 80 minutes played each week. From trying to stop a defender scoring to trying to squeeze through the minute gaps to grab the lead, the entire game is based on making quick, right decisions during a stressful scenario.
Do not get me wrong, I am in no means stating the amount of stress on the field is anything like a person he cares about going in for surgery, but how is it possible for him to be able to play so well in such stressful conditions in the hardest league in Australia, but not be able to call the number for a taxi when he has to decide how to get his then girlfriend home?
Naiqama made a mistake, he got caught breaking the law, and now he has to pay the price. By no means should his playing career be affected by this, as he can still play and train whilst serving his sentence, and in fact it would show a lot more of his character if he did his time with no complaint. It would prove to everyone that he can cope being in a ‘stressful’ situation of serving periodic detention whilst trying to keep his squad high on the ladder and still make the right decisions, both on and off the ground.
One final point about this whole debacle. Even if you believe that he could not cope with the emotionally draining point of his life, and like many of us, has made the wrong decision in the time of need, how do you explain his four previous driving offences that made him disqualified from driving in the first place? Were they all during stressful times as well?
Until next time, sports minds.
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