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Like most rugby league fans, I’m sick to death of a small minority of players besmirching the game, and putting the code in the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
No one is perfect. We all make mistakes. But by the same token, we have to accept responsibility for those mistakes, and understand that there can be repercussions.
For NRL players who repeatedly bring the game into disrepute, it’s time there were serious repercussions for their actions.
I’m not suggesting for one minute that the NRL should adopt a ‘zero tolerance’ policy when it comes to players who misbehave off the field, nor am I advocating that each and every case shouldn’t be judged on its own merits.
However, it is time that the league took a greater stand against individuals who consistently cast a negative shadow over the entire game.
Enough is enough.
De-register said players for 12 months, and send a clear message that any frequent behaviour which negatively impacts the game will simply not be tolerated. These players must learn that they need the game a lot more than the game needs them.
A couple of years ago, some friends of mine decided to have a little wager during the pre-season of the NRL.
With an entry fee of $20, each was required to select a number, and at season’s end, the individual who came closest to that number won the kitty.
What figure were they selecting? The number of off-field incidents involving rugby league players over the course of the season.
The fact that the lowest number selected was 25, and that the winner was much higher than that, tells you all you need to know about the perception – and somewhat the reality – of NRL players’ off-field behaviour.
This season, Blake Ferguson has contributed over five incidents all by himself.
When you speak to people about their perceptions of rugby league players away from the field, you come across some common themes.
‘Drunks’, ‘boofheads’, ‘arrogant’, ‘idiots’, ‘tattooed twits’ and other such terms all get consistently mentioned. And one of the more common comments is always “I wouldn’t let my daughter date one.”
Yet, would you ever classify Cameron Smith that way? Would Anthony Minichiello fit seamlessly with any of those comments?
Greg Inglis? Brent Tate? Robbie Farah? In fact, would the vast majority of rugby league players deserve such labels?
No, but sadly, that’s the perception issue that NRL players unfairly have, due to a small minority of individuals that bring the game – and their fellow players – down with them.
Yet just as quickly as you’ll hear such derogatory phrases used to describe rugby league players, you’ll also hear from those defending them. So let’s dissect some of the ready-made excuses we hear when it comes to NRL players’ off-field behaviour, shall we?
“Boys will be boys”
An excellent defence. Insightful. Intelligent. Robust. Astute.
Lest my sarcasm-meter break, let us not waste any more time on this pitiful excuse, and move on to the next one.
“When I was that young, I was an idiot too”
OK. So you were an idiot when you were younger.
What’s your point again, exactly?
“Rugby league players are just a sample of the wider demographic of Australia”
Completely valid point.
It’s true that many other Australians find themselves in some form of trouble from time-to-time as well.
However, when the rest of the male population of Australia aged approximately 18 to 32, fail to turn up to work, hit their girlfriend, drink on a rooftop at 7am in the morning and put it on Instagram for their boss to see, are found guilty of carrying drugs, get caught speeding on a suspended license, punch a sponsor, drink drive or sexually assault a female, there are drastic repercussions above and beyond just the legal ramifications.
NRL players should be no different, especially repeat offenders.
“Past players were no angels”
Undeniably accurate.
They also weren’t paid as well as today’s players, who are now full-time professionals, and therefore are expected to act like professionals.
Past players also competed in a different era. Times change, and individuals need to change with them. It’s called evolution. Which brings us nicely to the next excuse.
“There is simply more media coverage today, especially with everyone having a camera on their phone, and social media”
This is absolutely true.
But how, exactly, does that justify acting like a dickhead? All it really means is that you stand a greater chance of getting caught if you do act like one.
Which, for any individuals with even half a brain, would indicate that it’s probably a wise move to behave, especially in public.
“Everyone does silly stuff when they’re drunk”
Again, this is not a false statement.
But individuals need to be accountable for their actions, even when they’re on the drink. Being intoxicated is simply not an excuse. If it was, there would be no drink driving law.
Seeming as almost every single off-field incident tends to involve alcohol, perhaps we should stay, and finish, on this very topic.
The fact is, across society, some people just shouldn’t drink.
For some, it’s because alcohol simply doesn’t ‘agree’ with them and can affect their personal life. For others, it’s because it can affect their professional life.
If you’re an athlete, whose career is judged by your performances on the field, and ability to stay healthy, perhaps it’s best if you stay away from a substance that is proven to detract from your performance, and your ability to recover.
And if you’re also a complete idiot when you’re drunk, then surely that’s the double-whammy?
Players should be allowed to have an alcoholic beverage in their own time. But when having a drink affects their ability to perform, or puts the players, their club, and the code in the headlines for the wrong reason, they need to be held accountable.
Perhaps part of that accountability should be not drinking at all.
If that seems drastic, please consider the following three facts:
• The Sydney Roosters currently have a booze ban in place.
• No Sydney Rooster has been involved in a high profile off-field incident recently.
• The Sydney Roosters won the NRL minor premiership on Friday night.
Join the dots.