Salford Red Devils veteran Krisnan Inu has been hit with a club-imposed suspension and fine over his controversial social media post in support of former Parramatta team-mate Jarryd Hayne.
Hayne was last month jailed for five years and eight months following his conviction for the 2018 sexual assault of a woman in Newcastle.
The two-time Dally M medal winner has maintained his innocence and has appealed the verdict.
Inu referred to the woman Hayne assaulted as a ‘so called victim’ in his vulgar post and pledged his support for Hayne.
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Salford on Wednesday night banned Inu for two months and fined him four weeks salary after he ‘brought the club into disrepute’.
Inu will also be required to attend an education program as part of his punishment.
“I deeply apologise for the comments made in my social media postings on May 6,” Inu said in a statement released by the Red Devils.
“By the inappropriate use of language, my remarks were open to misinterpretation and have caused offence and disrepute to my club Salford Red Devils and the RFL.
“Along with the Club, I will not condone any violence against another person and truly believe that any such victim should receive appropriate support.”
Inu played 139 NRL games for the Eels, New Zealand Warriors and Canterbury Bulldogs from 2007-14.
The veteran of six Tests for New Zealand and one appearance for Samoa had stints with Super League clubs Catalans and Widnes before joining the Red Devils in 2019.
