Shaun Kenny-Dowall expected to miss two more weeks amid domestic-violence charges, says coach Trent Robinson

Troubled Sydney Roosters star Shaun Kenny-Dowall is set to miss at least the next two weeks of the NRL season amid domestic-violence charges.

Kenny-Dowall was due to front Waverley local Court on Thursday but has been admitted to hospital over concerns for his mental wellbeing.

The 27-year-old is facing 10 charges including assault and stalking former partner Jessica Peris.

Roosters coach Trent Robinson said the club is standing by the New Zealand international and reiterated Kenny-Dowall was entitled to be considered innocent until proven guilty.
"He is not playing because of a welfare issue, it is not because we believe he is guilty of the fact, and that is definitely not for us to decide," Robinson said.

"We will stand by him, and he won't be playing this weekend and it's most likely he won't be playing next weekend."
Robinson said he understands Kenny-Dowall will "try and clear his name" when he does get in a court room but said that will not happen until he is in the right frame of mind.
"It's hard when you go through this as a club because you're not trying to say someone's right or wrong here," Robinson said.

"We're just saying somebody's had their say, and rightly so, and Jessie's had her point of view put across and next will be Shaun's.
"I think a lot of opinions have come off the back of her side and now the time's going to come where Shaun has his say and then people have to make the judgement in court based on that."

One person who apparently leapt to judgement before getting the whole story, according to Robinson, was New South Wales premier Mike Baird, who said if the NRL wanted to send a strong message they could ban Kenny-Dowall from playing until the case is resolved.

Robinson was "disappointed" by the comments and suggested Baird should have gotten "background" from the club before speaking publicly on the matter.

Robinson said the club has reached out to Peris to better understand the situation and the Roosters' support of Kenny-Dowall should not be misconstrued by the public as the team having a laissez-faire attitude towards domestic violence.

"It's a horrible thing in society so it's a really difficult topic," he said.
"I'm not going to stand here and say I support that part of society, of course I don't.
"So we've got to make sure we get rid of this and support the process of getting rid of this, but also understand that he may not have done this and that's the process and that needs to be heard."