NRL scraps plans to celebrate Jennings’ 300th game

The NRL has pulled the pin on celebrating Michael Jennings’ 300th top-flight appearance on Thursday, with chief executive Andrew Abdo explaining the backflip is due to “past conduct.”

The Sydney Roosters centre will join the 300 club when he runs out against the Newcastle Knights in Newcastle in the opening match of round six. The NRL had elaborate plans to celebrate the 35-year-old’s milestone match but quickly faced heavy backlash from across the NRL world for the decision.

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The pressure came from the fact that in 2021, Jennings was found to have sexually assaulted his ex-wife Kirra Wilden on four occasions and was ordered by a civil court to pay her $500,000 in damages. He then lost an appeal to reduce the damages he was asked to pay. He has yet to send Wilden a dollar of the court-mandated pay.

Abdo flagged the reversal with Peter V’Landys, Roosters chief Nick Politis, and coach Trent Robinson on Monday.

“Due to past conduct, Michael Jennings will not receive official NRL recognition on his 300th match,” Abdo said in a statement to AAP soon after the meeting.

Jennings has been absent from rugby league’s top Australian comp for three years after he failed a doping test in 2020. His test included positive pings on LGD-4033 (Ligandrol) and its metabolite Di-hydroxy-LGD-4033, and also Ibutamoren and its metabolites Desbenzyl Ibutamoren and OH Ibutamoren.

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The Roosters vs. Knights game is set to start at 7.50pm this Thursday.