19 Mar 2009

Fittler says clubs should look after player punishments

6:27 am on 19 March 2009

Sydney Roosters coach Brad Fittler says banning footballers from playing due to alcohol indiscretions is "pretty severe" and is adamant clubs should be responsible for handing out punishment.

The Roosters fined hooker Jake Friend 10 thousand dollars after he was charged with drink-driving, he blew three times the legal limit, while Cronulla halfback Brett Seymour has been stood down pending an investigation into his drunken behaviour last Sunday.

Both incidents will be discussed by the NRL board today with the possibility the league could overrule the clubs' punishments as they did last week for Manly star Brett Stewart, who was banned for four weeks.

Fittler says he understands the league is under a lot of pressure, however they see their discipline committee doing the job for their players considering they employ them.

The Roosters are content with their fine and rehabilitation program set out for Friend and hit back at critics who believe the player should be stood down.

Friend earns just $50,000 per year and the monetary punishment, 20 per cent of his annual wage, will hurt more than missing NRL games.