The NRL has come down hard on Newcastle NRLW player Caitlin Moran, banning her for a social media post following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
Moran created headlines last Friday over the post, in which she referred to the deceased queen as a “dumb dog”.
The post was deleted after around eight hours, but screenshots of it have been viewed by the NRL’s integrity unit.
The NRL announced on Tuesday they planned on banning Moran for one match, which equates to one-fifth of the NRLW season.
The former Jillaroos back becomes the first women’s player to be banned for an off-field matter in the NRLW’s history.
The Indigenous Knights star also received a suspended fine of 25% and will be forced to undergo education and training around the appropriate use of social media.
Knights coach Ronald Griffiths came to the defence of his fullback after the team’s loss to the Sydney Roosters on Sunday.
“The relationship between Indigenous people and the monarchy is a complicated one,” Griffiths said.
“If Caitlin has done something then it will be investigated by the Integrity Unit and we’ll work our way through the process.
“We’re talking a little bit of negativity with Caitlin, but if we look at we’re she’s come from, in 2017 she wins us the World Cup and does her knee the year after and has probably been in the wilderness since then.”
However the NRL said the comments were unacceptable, no matter the circumstances.
“Rugby league is an inclusive game and has a proud and strong relationship with many communities,” the league said in a statement.
“Regardless of any personal views, all players and officials must adhere to the professional standards expected of them and on this occasion the public comments made by the player have caused damage to the game.”
In a statement issued on Tuesday night, the Knights said the club “supported the National Rugby League Integrity Unit’s move to issue player Caitlin Moran with a one game suspension”.
The Queen’s death prompted many Indigenous Australians to express their frustration at colonial atrocities, while others expressed condolences for the monarch.
Prof Sandy O’Sullivan, from Macquarie University, attempted to explain the reaction and put it into a historical and social context.
“For those saying we should be magnanimous about the passing of the queen, a reminder that the queen inserted herself into the lives of Indigenous people here multiple times. She wasn’t a bystander to the effects of colonisation and colonialism, she was an architect of it,” O’Sullivan wrote.
Moran was not named by the Knights for their final-round clash with St George Illawarra, with Tamika Upton returning at fullback.
The 25-year-old has until next Tuesday to decide whether to accept the finding.
