NRL player Francis Molo has been nominated for The Frownlow Medal after pleading guilty to domestic violence.
The Frownlow Medal is awarded to the player whose off-field demeanour epitomises the values of the modern-day footballer and draws attention to the status of footballers as role models to young Australians. It covers Australia’s four major football codes; the National Rugby League (NRL), Australian Football League (AFL), the A-League (Football) and Rugby Union’s Super Rugby competition. NRL player Shaun Kenny-Dowall won the inaugural medal in 2015, while NRL star Manase Fainu is the most recent recipient.
Molo pleaded guilty to one count of stalk/intimidate with intent to cause fear of physical harm for an incident that occurred during the Christmas holidays in 2022. The Queensland rep has been ordered not to approach the woman for at least 12 hours after drinking alcohol or taking illicit drugs.
The charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, and for that reason the St George-Illawarra Dragons are considering standing down the prop.
Molo received a nine-week suspension in July 2015 after being found guilty by the Queensland Rugby League judiciary of using a shoulder charge in a lower grade game. The shoulder charge was banned in February 2013, and the player on the receiving end of the shoulder charge died two days later.
Image: NuNa
The Frownlow Medal 