Manly fullback Brett Stewart is expected to be named in the Sea Eagles team on Tuesday despite being charged with drink driving.
Stewart is unlikely to be stood down after he recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.079 on Monday morning following a night out drinking on Sunday. The Sea Eagles made contact with the NRL’s Integrity Unit when they received word of the charge.
Stewart joins Newcastle’s Willie Mason and North Queensland’s James Tamou as representative stars who have been charged with drink driving. While Tamou’s was the more serious of the trio, Stewart’s offence has been compared with that of Mason who was caught by police on his way to a Knights training session.
Mason - who had a blood alcohol reading of 0.09 in January - was not suspended by his club nor the NRL. It is understood that Stewart will face a similar fate, and is unlikely to be stood down by his club side. Mason was disqualified from driving for six months and fined $900 at Newcastle Local Court.
Tamou, however, was slapped with a $20,000 fine by the NRL and banned for one NRL game and a State of Origin clash. He was suspended from driving for 15 months and fined $1900 by the courts.
The NRL’s Integrity Unit has the power to intervene if it believes a penalty handed down by the club is not sufficient. Stewart was understood to be drinking at the Hotel Steyne in Manly on Sunday night and left the premises in a cab about 1am.
Stewart was pulled over at a random breath test on Pittwater Road at Warriewood on Monday morning. Police said the Balgowlah man was arrested and charged with low-range drink driving. Manly said in a statement that Stewart had failed the test "on the way to a gathering with friends".
The 29-year-old starred for the Sea Eagles in their 26-21 win to North Queensland on Friday night. He was arrested and taken to Mona Vale police station about 10am. Stewart allegedly returned a blood-alcohol level of 0.079.
He was released on bail and is expected to appear before Manly Local Court on May 7. Stewart was stood down in 2009 after being charged with the sexual assault of a 17 year old girl. Stewart, who was the face of the NRL’s campaign that season, was found not guilty. He denied the allegations that he twice tongue-kissed and inappropriately touched the teen on his way home from a Manly season launch function.
with Emma Partridge and Adrian Proszenko
