David Gallop saw his fair share of scandals during his time as NRL chief executive \u2014 and his feud with the Stewart brothers played out on the game\u2019s biggest stage.<\/p>\n
Following a sexual assault charge in 2009, after drinking heavily at Manly\u2019s season launch and while he was a \u2018face of the game\u2019 in NRL marketing, Brett Stewart was suspended for four games. Stewart and his brother Glenn were angered by the decision and subsequent comments from Gallop.<\/p>\n
Reflecting on that call on Fox League\u2019s Face to Face<\/a>, Gallop reiterated that he had not prejudged Stewart with the ban and pointed out that under the current \u2018no-fault stand down\u2019 rule, Stewart might have been out of the game for far longer.<\/p>\n FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cIf you think about what would happen now if Brett was charged with those sort of offences, he probably would have spent 18 months to two years out of the game,\u201d Gallop said. <\/p>\n \u201cBeing a lawyer, I was very conscious that there was a criminal charge so we shouldn\u2019t go trying to prejudge that. There was some other behaviour on the night that we felt warranted a few weeks\u2019 suspension, but I think maybe Brett looks back on it now, he\u2019d realise that we didn\u2019t put him out for the whole period while he awaited criminal charges.\u201d<\/p>\n READ MORE<\/p>\n The brutal moment in scandal sagas that brought NRL boss, Bulldogs coach to tears<\/a><\/p>\n \u2018I didn\u2019t hide your contract\u2019: Gallop on salary cap scandal that rocked NRL… and his one regret<\/a><\/p>\n Brett Stewart (L) shakes hands with NRL CEO David Gallop at the end of the 2011 NRL Grand Final.Source: News Limited<\/p>\n Stewart was found not guilty in September 2010. Under the new no-fault stand down rule, he might have been sidelined until then; Dragons player Jack de Belin spent more than two years out of the game due to sexual assault charges before being cleared. <\/p>\n Gallop said he hoped that Stewart, upon whom the saga took a significant personal toll, was now able to appreciate he had been given fair treatment in the circumstances.<\/p>\n \u201cAs I say, when I look back and see what the rules are now, I think maybe Brett should understand that I tried to be as fair as we could be given the other things that had happened that night, the face of the game stuff,\u201d Gallop said.<\/p>\n \u201cHe got a few weeks, but he certainly didn\u2019t get two years out of the game.\u201d<\/p>\n