Blake Ferguson is the latest NRL player to be embroiled in an off-field situation after getting drunk the day before Origin camp.
Ferguson has no one to blame but himself for getting in this situation. Of course, being an Australian he has the right to a presumption of innocence.
However, his actions have been that of a player who has spat in the faces of his club, teammates and the game. Why, just weeks after narrowly avoiding being sacked, would he be out on the drink? He doesn’t deserve to be in the privileged position he is.
The problem with the NRL is that we forgive and forget too easily. Carney has had off-field drama after off-field drama but continued to find contracts at other clubs.
How was he rewarded after committing numerous DUIs, driving while suspended, drinking whilst injured and breaking a player enforced alcohol ban with the Dally M medal and a NSW jersey?
Okay, so he spent one year in the wilderness doing a normal job… A bit of hard work never hurt anyone! But he was welcomed back into the game too readily.
Two and a half months ago Dugan insulted his club and the fans with his infamous roof top drinking session. He was rewarded with a new contract and NSW jersey.
The message from the NRL, using these precedents, is a simple one: if you stuff up but are a talented player you will always find another club. There is no harsh punishment in there. It is time the NRL got tougher in their punishments.
It is still amazing that Robert Lui is playing in the NRL after beating up his girlfriend. In my mind no woman-beater deserves to have a contract in the NRL.
NRL CEO David Smith has said he won’t tolerate these off-field issues, and with the new integrity unit established hopefully things will improve. But the only way things will improve is if the penalties are harsher.
These off-field situations seem to all have one common denominator: alcohol. Now I’m not saying these players can’t have a drink, unless of course they are part of a booze ban. But, as adults, they should know when enough is enough, especially when they have had a history of off-field dramas involving the drink.
The players can’t plead ignorance to what alcohol does to them as they are repeatedly told these things during club organised talks and seminars. They can go out and have a drink with friends but they don’t need to get hammered to have a good time.
This issue is far more important than Gallen squaring up against Myles. This is about getting NRL players to realise the privileged position they are in and that continued off-field indiscretions will not be tolerated.
Allow me to draw a quick comparison. On Monday morning Dugan (who was reportedly drunk but didn’t break the law) and Ferguson were recovering from hangovers and Ferguson was eventually charged by NSW Police.
Also out and about on Monday morning was Nathan Merritt. The NRL and Rabbitohs veteran was at a school delivering a talk on anti-bullying. Now answer me, which of those three players is more deserving of an NSW Blues jersey?
The booze brothers or a level headed consistent player who doesn’t think he is bigger than the game? The NRL must get tough on these issues to prevent the game’s reputation from being further tarnished.
The game is resilient and will get through this, but if Ferguson is found guilty, his contract should be torn up and he should be prevented from ever pulling on an NRL jersey again.
No player is bigger than the game and the players have to know where they stand here. Playing for any of the 16 clubs in the NRL is a privilege, not a right.
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