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The rugby media feeds on off-field incidents, particularly in the off-season, and can blow the incidents vastly out of proportion. Should the NRL change the way it handles off-field incidents to minimise the headlines?
Many years ago off-field incidents were simply swept under the carpet, but with increased media scrutiny and sponsor concerns this is no longer possible.
There is now a need for the NRL to handle these incidents in the same quick and efficient manner that the Match Review Committee handles on-field incidents.
So what constitutes an off-field incident? Presumably a normal parking and traffic fine does not count, but what about excessive speeding or dangerous driving?
Drunk driving is a maybe and driving without a license clearly does count. These cases may be able to be handled immediately by the league, with a set standard of penalties and the usual concession for a guilty plea so the matter is quickly over.
In the case of alcohol-related offences, counselling should also be required.
What about getting drunk without committing an offence, or the use of recreational drugs? Does it make a difference if the incident comes to light through social media or the press before being reported by the player?
Offences of a violet nature and sexual assaults clearly fall into a different category, and are more difficult for the NRL to handle quickly.
The recent alleged assault involving Dragons hooker Craig Garvey is an example. Allegations have been made by the alleged victim, but charges have yet to be laid by the police and the incident has yet to be fully investigated by the club.
The Dragons immediately informed the NRL and stated in an official release on Friday that Garvey has been stood down from all club activities following an internal investigation.
Presumably this means no training, but it is unclear whether pay will also be suspended pending any fuller investigation or review by the club. It is also unclear what breach of the club’s code of conduct formed the basis of the suspension.
If charged by police, Garvey clearly deserves his day in court to explain his position and then the court will decide the matter.
If found guilty he will be punished, but is the NRL justified in imposing additional punishment? And if found not guilty will the NRL or Dragons compensate him for any penalty they have imposed?
Knights prop Willie Mason was charged earlier this year with mid-range drink driving on his way to training but seems to have avoided punishment. Coach Bennett says the incidents are not good news, but no workplace is perfect.
“You don’t like the headlines, it doesn’t do anything for you,” he said. “You also have to understand that that’s part of it as well – you’re dealing with a lot of men, no workplace is perfect and ours is no different.”
So it is probably a case in the end that boys will be boys and these boys are very muscular and young and have a high public profile.
These incidents are inevitable and the NRL needs a quicker way of resolving them to dampen down the media frenzy and resulting damage to clubs.
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