NRL players do their best to shift spotlight

Mark, I suppose you will now be advising your kids not to play rugby, given what has happened between the Bath and Harlequins players. See http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/rugby_union/article6328962.ece. It's perfectly reasonable to object to the bad behaviour of individuals, but unreasonable to suggest that any one code is worse than another. The problem with the NRL is that Gallop blows up every minor indiscretion into something that is dramatic. He is doing immense damage.

Billo-Yeah your right. Maybe I need a life. I just get a bit sick and tired of people trying to excuse their behaviour regardless of employment. Just be a bit mindful of saying well thats ok, theres more players in one sport to another. Thats crap, another excuse for allowing stupidity. It has nothing to do with RU v NRL v AFL v NSL. The other sports dont have to do a thing to the NRL as they do enough themselves. Steff, if you going to throw rocks, make sure you have enough of them. P.S. Go Souths.

Mark, When you're in a hole you should stop digging. I'm a rugby fan, but I wouldn't dream of suggesting there are any behavioural differences between the two codes (and you can bring in soccer and AFL too). The fact is that the number of 'scandals' is directly related to what sells newspapers in any particular market.

Mark - I'm from an AFL background, so, the only name that means anything to me from that list is a different Bryce Gibbs at Carlton!!! But, look - you could come up with a nice little list of AFL misdemeanours. You OUGHT to keep mindful of a couple of things - A. there's a heck of a lot more elite domestic players in BOTH AFL and NRL than in the 4 Super 14 franchises. - simple numbers game that. 16 clubs with 30 to 40 listed players vs how many RU guys? Do an extrapolation based on a fair multiplication factor and work it out. B. there's a heck of a lot more saturation media coverage of both the AFL and NRL - this ensures 2 things, one that people are MORE likely to be recognised (and therefore snapped on mobile phone/cameras) and also that the media laps it up - - in Melbourne, especially if said player wears black and white vertical stripes! C. each of AFL and NRL have a single core city, Melb and Syd respectively - where, it's very, very hard to slip away quietly. btw - I'm not sure about the 'churn' factor in the NRL - I know a lot of players have crossed over to RU, or to Europe/England etc. I DO know the churn in AFL is pretty high, with clubs forced to free up places prior to the end of season draft, so, that 600-700 players has about an annual churn of 80-100 players.......so, over a 5 year period, you'd be looking at a pool of about 1000 you men (each of whom has their own personal lives to deal with, and are likely to make 'mistakes' b/w age 18-24, after that, though, they should be rightfully expected to behave a bit better - - but, sadly are targets - - heck, just look at the recent stories of death threats against several AFL players and the shot fired through the window of Travis Clokes house. Actually, that type of 'target' was more literal than I meant - I was more meaning when going out to socialise, that the profile players are under a huge amount of pressure.)

Jezzus you guys, next thing you'll be saying is that Ivan Milat played RL, and look how he turned out. The original post was stating that after a tough week, the game has been doing well, but you'll still get some tools who will bring in the headlines. Most of the time its News Ltd craving the stories, and as far as News is concerned if the on field brilliance does well it attracts good press and viewers to the TV, and if its bad press they don't care either as it sells papers for them.

Awww, how sweet, Mark has been keeping a list :)

Mike is that it??? Those incident pale in comparrison. Far to many to mention, have a read of the below. If RU players are as bad...I take it all back. However, they will never top this in 100yrs. 2007 • Richard Williams was charged with assault after an incident in Narooma • Frank Pritchard and his brother Tom were charged with affray after a violent street brawl in Liverpool. Frank was stabbed twice in the thumb and Tom suffered a stab wound to the heart during the brawl. • Wes Naiqama was convicted of driving while disqualified for the fourth time. His licence was suspended until 2015, and he was sentenced to eight months periodic detention with a four-month non-parole period. • Anthony Laffranchi was charged with the sexual assault of a 26-year-old woman. Shortly before the alleged rape took place, Laffranchi and a group of Wests Tigers players had partaken in a drinking session at the Sapphire nightclub in Kings Cross as part of the team's 'Mad Monday' end-of-season celebrations. After regaining consciousness, the woman alleged she was the victim of a date rape drug. A Wests Tigers player claimed the woman came back "quite willingly" to the party at Five Dock and he thought it was "all systems go" Laffranchi was acquitted of the charge. • Bryce Gibbs refused to leave a bar while drinking at Rosehill Racecourse, allegedly spat in the face of a police officer and tried to headbutt another before being detained. He was charged with obstructing police, assaulting police, resisting arrest, criminal damage and failure to leave a licensed premises when requested. • Craig Gower, inebriated with alcohol at a Kings Cross cocktail bar, allegedly tried to kiss one man before biting him on the neck and sparking a brawl in which he is accused of assaulting another man. • Craig Trindall was charged with intentionally causing serious injury after allegedly bashing a woman in the face with a children's blackboard. The woman suffered a broken nose, shattered eye socket and had timber splinters embedded near her brain . • Willie Mason verbally harassed a female journalist from radio station 2GB as she tried to conduct interviews with other players at Sydney Airport, resulting in a complaint from 2GB to the Bulldogs club and the ARL The reporter, Michelle Keighran later said she felt "belittled" and "embarrassed" and was reduced to tears over the incidents • Chris Walker was reportedly involved in a scuffle nightclub scuffle over a pair of broken sunglasses at Melbas nightclub in the Gold Coast in which several glasses were smashed. Walker had been drinking for "some time" before the altercation occurred. It was later revealed that Walker had been battling with alcoholism. • Bulldogs legend Terry Lamb was accused of assaulting another man during a fit of rage at a golfing function. The alleged victim, (Cabramatta club member Greg Davison) claimed that Terry Lamb punched him in the face, causing cuts and bruises to his head. Lamb denied the allegations • Anthony Watmough was accused of violence towards his girlfriend. In court, she alleged that Watmough threw metal coins at her, attacked her with a chair, and jammed her in between a sliding door. • Todd Carney drove a vehicle whilst already disqualified for drunk driving, which escalated into a high-speed[78] car chase through the Canberra suburb of Bruce as he attempted to escape police. The ACT Magistrates Court placed Carney on a 12-month good behaviour bond, banned him from driving until 2012, and sentenced him to 200 hours of community service • Sonny Bill Williams was caught in a compromising position with model Candice Falzon, with a photo taken by a mobile phone of the incident published on the Daily Telegraph website. Williams later apologised to his girlfriend. He was later caught by police relieving himself outside of a nightclub in Cronulla and fined $650, subsequently admitting to an alcohol problem and later on in the year was caught speeding 20 km over the legal limit of the area. • Ben Roberts pleaded guilty to drink-driving, driving an unregistered vehicle, driving an uninsured vehicle and not displaying P-plates. • Michael Crockett was charged with sexual assaul.The charges were later dismissed without the need for a jury trial. • Jason King was charged with drink driving after being allegedly caught with a blood alcohol level of 0.085 • Andrew Johns admits he used recreational drugs throughout his illustrious career. • Ian Lacey and John Te Reo were charged with intentionally causing serious injury to a bank worker, who suffered a fractured skull and bleeding of the brain. The Brisbane Broncos subsequently terminated their contracts 2008 • On 20 July 2008, Todd Carney was alleged to have urinated on a man at a Canberra nightclub. • Police charged Cronulla player Greg Bird with assaulting his girlfriend, Katie Milligan. Bird allegedly smashed a glass into her face, fracturing her eye socket. • Brisbane Broncos' players, Sam Thaiday, Darius Boyd and Karmichael Hunt are named by a 24-year-old woman in a sexual assault complaint made to police, though after an extensive investigation no charges were laid. 2009 • Canberra Raiders star Todd Carney went on a property damaging rampage in Goulburn, jumping on a car bonnet and damaging the entrance to a Fone Zone store. He received a 12-month suspended jail sentence, was ordered to undertake alcohol counselling, and in a highly unusual move was banned from the local Government area for 12 months. • Anthony Watmough accused by a Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles sponsor of punching him and harassing his daughter in a derogatory manner, at an season launch party. • Brett Stewart charged with sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl in the stairwell of an apartment block, after the same club function. A magistrate issued an apprehended violence order (AVO) against Stewart. Anthony Cherrington sent to anger management counselling after violently assaulting his girlfriend • Greg Bird was convicted of recklessly wounding his girlfriend. • Leon Pryce and Stuart Reardon were convicted of assault in a UK court and were ordered to do 100 and 200 hours community service respectively. • Jake Friend charged with drink driving after being caught by police in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs. • Willie Mason fined $2000 by Sydney Roosters after being photographed urinating in a public place.

Mark, you asked "“From bashing women, sex assault to being involved in shootings….what other sport lays in the gutter like that?” - I gave you an answer. A rugby league player happened to be somewhere where a shooting took place yet an ex rugby union international captain murdered his wife with a gun at a rugby union club party - a club he was an administrator at. I could also name you several rugby union players who have bashed and sexually assaulted women. If you don't like the answer don't ask the question. This doesn't deflect from the fact that some NRL players have behaved badly but don't for one minute think that other sports are purer than pure.

Mark - Not that I care too much - but, even for a non RU person I know this is a little wistful As I recall the only RU player behaving poorly in Australia over the past 5yrs in Wendall Sailor. um....what about the Western Force lads over at Rottnest Island (Fava and Brown), and there's been a couple of incidents whilst 'on tour' in South Africa.......have there not? btw - re trouble and drugs too, in the main, the ARU has relied only on WADA/ASADA drug testing - and so, wouldn't know if anyone is on illicit drugs. It's like having one's head firmly planted in the sand - - - and then claim to be clean. (remember, WADA missed both A.Johns & B.Cousins)

Google what ever you like. The facts are NRL players are behaving poorly. Whats RU got to do with this? As I recall the only RU player behaving poorly in Australia over the past 5yrs in Wendall Sailor. He was accepted back into the RL. Go figure.

I recall that incident but it had nothing to do with him. He just happened to be in the area at the time. If you want guns and sportsmen you just have to look rugby union in France - an ex international shot killed himself playing russian roulette and an ex french international captain is currently in jail for murdering his wife by shooting her in the face at a rugby union club party.

Steffy- Jarryd Hayne had a little incident you might remember last year in Kings Cross at a well know NRL player hang out.

"From bashing women, sex assault to being involved in shootings….what other sport lays in the gutter like that?" Involved in shootings?

Billo- hows the papers today? How can you not read papers or watch the news??? what are you some sort of modern day hermit living in the city?? Reni a bannd drug. So your saying the NRL isnt media driven? Sex assault / Drug use / Shootings / Public disorder????? come on. Its getting beyond a joke. No matter how well the games are played. There is a very good reason why those boys changed codes. He knows who he is and so do I and unfortunatly hes one of these drop kicks who was a bit of a legend.

Mark, you should just stop reading newspapers, otherwise you won't allow your kids to play any sport at all. Surely you must realise that the 'scandals' that affect the NRL are largely media driven. You should let your kids play whatever sport they want to play, regardless of the scandals attached to any particular sport (and nothing compares for scandal with the English Premiership). You'll find that the people who run junior clubs of whatever code are some of the best people you can entrust your kids to.

Mate the super tanker just keeps rolling along, the Broncos are growing crowd averages every year and this year should be up around 35 thousand average. Hopefully the next T/V deal will refleck the fact that the NRL is the best rugby comp in the world. Now if your a sponser, it would be wise to get in at any opportunity, the broncos have a waiting list for sponsers. I am happy with every game played, even the sharks, and we all know how well they are traveling. Another comment i heard was about the price of tickets, mate i pay 86 dollars for 2 tickets to the broncos, worth every penny.

How many debacles do you want? How many wake up calls? the NRL is a lost cause. Im am so tired of the stupidity of players. From bashing women, sex assault to being involved in shootings....what other sport lays in the gutter like that? . Mums decide what sport their sons and daughters play. League is quickly not being one of them. Both my nephews have switched codes on the NSW Central Coast. With the on coming of a fifth francise in SANZAR, how many NRL players are looking to switch? The ARU will be as picky as they like. Gallop has failed and it kills me to say it. No matter how many family days / ladies days out, the NRL will feel the pain through sponsors walking away.