It is official, the game we once knew as rugby league is dead. The fabric of the game has not just been tarnished; it has been burnt to a crisp and buried six feet underground.
Media reports on Sunday confirmed that NRL Chief Executive Dave Smith had contacted referees boss Daniel Anderson and directed him to implement far stricter penalties for players involved in any kind of fight.
If a punch is thrown, that player will be sin binned.
Perhaps in this day and age rugby league needs to think about its image. But the way this has been handled and the reactive decision of NRL administrators is atrocious.
“We need to make sure our game can recruit young kids,” Anderson told The Sunday Telegraph.
“We’ve got a duty to the community and to people involved in our sport.
“There are a lot of swinging voters on our game who could be turned away by certain incidents.
“The product has to be palatable and accommodate all people who want to be involved in the game. It’s the mums and dads who decide if their kids get to play rugby league.”
Two grown men playing the toughest sport in the world in the cauldron that is State of Origin had a disagreement. Two grown men paid hundreds of thousands of dollars a year and with the pressure of two feuding states behind them had a scrap.
Since Paul Gallen and Nate Myles came face to face at ANZ Stadium, a small minority went into meltdown. That small minority bitched and moaned so loud and for so long that the NRL panicked and hit that red button again.
The same one that exterminated the shoulder charge has now ripped another cog from the machine.
People have compared Gallen’s fists of fury to street violence and death. Sorry but that’s a shocking comparison. They have nothing to do with each other. Have these people ever seen the Ultimate Fighting Championship?
Worry about cage fighting before you attack rugby league.
Then there were the parents worried about their children emulating Gallen. These are the same parents that blame Gallen and then go out to JB Hi-Fi and buy their kids movies or games chock full of battles, violence, or worse.
Stop blaming rugby league. Communicate to your child to help them understand why two professional athletes use physical force in a physical game.
How can the NRL possibly enforce this rule anyway?
If tempers do flare in game two at Suncorp Stadium and all hell breaks loose, will the referees send all 26 players from the field?
This game is played with passion and pride and a desperation that sometimes sees emotions spill over. How can a banker sitting behind a big shiny desk make this decision?
Smith is worried about the game’s image. Physicality is our game’s image. This is overkill and reactive political correctness at its ghastly best.
We are what we are and that’s what separates us from the rest.
What the hell are we doing to our game?
Matt Canty
Guest
I dont want bigger crowds, bigger sponsors or any of that! Our game is a niche and will never be as big as soccer so stop trying to make it that way! We have loyal fans for a reason they love the game the way it is. The only people who want the NRL to be mainstream like soccer are the people running the game to make bigger $$$. Hell I care if the NRL branches to USA or Canada to make more money if it sucks...its all about $$$ here mate and they might be missing the point by seeing too many $$$ signs
Jack
Guest
Agree, some very bad comparisons in this article ! Clutching at straws I think, not many parents have their children participating in UFC but they do play rugby league and children always copy what their heros do !
Simmo Green
Guest
The game is evolving. It's a cultural shift that can't be stopped. It'd be nice not to have to endure yet another piece bemoaning the absence of what some people determine to be toughness. The game is not one for elite athletes yet, but it will be once alcohol is banned. It will happen, it'll only need one club to decide that they want a clear advantage over their opponents
amband
Guest
Anderson says NRL violence may stop kids wanting to play. Really. have you seen the newspaper reports re junior rugby league being ruined by the violence of Islander teams. Well publicized over last few years Don't give me any nonsense about " racism "
Maroon Blood
Guest
So you say that Gallen should have been sin binned.....for fighting......and violence shouldn't be encouraged.......so you are agreeing with the sin-bin for fighting ruling?? Not too sure what you are actually trying to say......
Maroon Blood
Guest
Thing is, this game is played by boofhead footballers for the majority and there will still be punches thrown as players will still do stupid things in the heat of the moment, there will just be less of it. Proof that footballers do stupid things on the field last night in the Tiges/Broncs game with Iosefa tripping up an opposition player. He knows it's wrong, he knows he will most likely miss a game or two as a consequence but does it anyway. The biff isn't going to leave League entirely, boofhead footy players will always play the game and boofhead footy players will still do stupid things like throw punches......god love 'em!
The Greatest Game Of All
Guest
Wouldn't expect a yank to understand, cheap shots bad, a man has a right to defend himself, to blokes mutually squaring off for a few seconds the crowd loves it, the players love it. Just don't watch it if you don't like it.
Hosey G
Guest
yeah good point. not Blake ferguson though.
pete_the_meat
Guest
Having had a mate been killed by one punch by a stranger in an unprovocked attack I can tell you all that Myles could have quite easily been killed. I for one was one of the most loud in complaining about the punch up as it gives people the idea that violence is acceptable in society. I think a 3 match ban should be the MINIMUM for any sort of punch up.
Arthur Fonzarelli
Guest
I love all aspects of sport. But dont tell me that when a blue erupts in a game of footy people at home watching on TV or live at the ground arent loving every minute of it. Yes Gallen should have been sin binned and deserved his suspension and violence shouldnt be encouraged. But it happens. And you can guarantee Origin 2 will be the highest rating Origin ever.
Renegade
Guest
Agree 100% Terry.
Dave the Yank
Guest
Actually that is the entire point, I must thank you for making the point so nicely. Smith did not change the rules of the game. All he did was simplify how people who violate the rules are treated, he has taken away the ref's discretion. Nothing more nothing less. You said yourself the bin would have been appropriate. "Greatest Game of All" I am so glad you have had a moment of clarity and realised D Smith has been right all along.
Kane Cassidy
Roar Guru
You might want to get yourself checked out there buddy if you only want to watch people get hurt.
Arthur Fonzarelli
Guest
People who argue that biffo will cause league to lose fans have rocks in their head. I would argue the biffo has the opposite effect. How many of us watch ice hockey highlights to see the skills and skating ability ? Not me. I love when the players crunch each other and punch each others heads in. Why do people watch boxing ? professional wrestling ? UFC ? Who doesnt love seeing a fast bowler ping a batsmen in the helmet or the ribs ? A baseball melee. Some of the sickening collisions in AFL and NFL. A stack in the V8's or Formula 1. Ever since the Lions took on the Christians and the days of the Gladiators, sport has been about skill, speed, athleticism, and yes - VIOLENCE. WE love it. And as a society we dont give ourselves enough credit. Most parents, kids and junior coaches can differentiate between the fact that at the elite professional level, the rules are slightly more flexible than at junior levels, allowing for the fact that the levels of competitiveness are so much higher.
solly
Guest
Well said.
Adam
Roar Guru
Why do fellow NRL fans need to make such claims that league is dead following decisions like this. What it is actually doing is provide consistency to an otherwise inconsistent area of the game. If you fight you get 10 in the bin, easy. Players get to return to the game after a sit down and continue with the game. Punching your opponent in the head is a dumb act anyway, in no way does it advance the interest of your team. I don't know what it is about rugby league and it's strongly held belief that a bit of biff or shoulder charge is an integral part of the game's survival. I for one don't mind seeing a fight during a game but strongly believe that the players responsible should be shown a reasonable level of punishment for their actions and 10 in the bin is perfectly legitimate.
solly
Guest
I haven't read any of the figures but just judging solely on the number of programs a single TV presenter appears on tells me that TV is hurting financially.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Rugby league's supposed demise has been predicted since 1995 when union became öpenly"professional,the super league debacle,the 2000 RLWC,the shoulder charge clamp down,mergers,expansion to 14 teams,to 16 teams,and now applying the rule book for fights (10 minutes) is hardly going to break the bank. Code in crisis,the sky is falling in.You can set your clock by it.An admin makes a tough decision without fear or favour for the future health of the game,shame shame ,and shame. The decision would have involved more than just D Smith,he happened to be the final messenger,and like traffic fines and tax bills the postman is never popular when he delivers same. When Dally Messenger was asked to play the professional code,no doubt one of the vital questions äre you good with your fists?" Of course ball playing ability ,athleticism and tackling ability have some importance".
Terry
Guest
I love the thoughts of how tougher the old days were. No they were filed with cheap thugs who stiff armed, king hit, bit and kicked each other. Thats not tough.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Think most rl fans who follow rl in the Uk are aware of that point Clipper.