Master coach Wayne Bennett says he has no confidence in the NRL’s besieged Integrity Unit (IU) after the governing body backed down on its beefed up powers.
The NRL unveiled new investigative powers for its IU on Tuesday, including requiring players to hand over phone records on demand and a crackdown on the use of social media.
However, the IU later backed down on proposed measures to seize players’ phones and computers as part of their investigations into misconduct.
“I have lost total confidence in them,” Bennett said of the IU on Wednesday.
“You can’t come out one day with a statement and the same day you rescind the statement about what they are going to do with telephones and laptops and God knows what else.
“By the afternoon’s out they have changed their minds again.”
Under the IU’s “revised rules”, players will not be forced to hand over personal data, a move the Rugby League Players’ Association warned risked infringing upon civil rights.
“They are making a difficult job for us much more difficult than what it should be,” Bennett said of the IU.
“I can’t talk for all clubs, just the one here.
“We are so conscious about our image, so conscious about all the things we have to do and they need to help us, and that is not happening right now.”
The IU’s backflip comes after their botched investigation into the Arizona arrest of South Sydney players John Sutton and Luke Burgess.
Souths were hit with a $20,000 fine on Monday, but the players escaped suspension.
Souths coach Michael Maguire on Wednesday refused to weigh into the debate when told about Bennett’s comments, but intriguingly said: “Wayne’s obviously a big voice in the game”.
Maguire also declined to say if or not the Rabbitohs would challenge the fine before the Friday deadline.
An NRL spokesman said clubs were already required to inform the NRL when they knew a breach of the NRL rules occurred. But the revised code will require clubs and players to report to the IU any matter which it “reasonably suspects” may constitute a breach of the NRL rules.
However, Bennett backed the NRL’s appointment of a wrestling coach to work with referees and the match review committee. The main brief of experienced wrestling coach Milton Dymock will be to explain current grappling trends and predict new ones.
“I think that is a good idea,” Bennett said.
“The game is changing all the time and unless you are at the cutting edge you don’t realise things are happening until months later.
“And some coaches out there are quite sophisticated and have a fair bit of science behind them about how to grip someone by the finger or elbow or whatever.
“Unless you have a mindset for it you don’t see it.”
Von Neumann
Roar Guru
For all we know he meant to say I've lost faith in the media
Von Neumann
Roar Guru
The papers used to grill him hard for not saying much. Remember those days. Then people kept coming to him for an opinion. Then he released a very good book, and the guy is gold, just that we need to take his no faith with a pinch of salt Did you know he character referenced hunt for his trial? There's some vested interest. Maybe he thinks the NRL shouldn't sink the teeth in but help players more. That's legitimate and could be a useful tool, yes. But the media keep trying to corner the sport and its just a bit of a mess. The media talk about punishment. Maybe they should give room to let the NRL help the players as well. Though I guess its two different issues. To the media its all one for us supposed simple folk the readers To that end the IU could protect the integrity of its players. Hardly non Faith though
Jay C
Roar Guru
Bennett doesn't get goaded into press releases and public statements. Smoke and mirrors VN
Von Neumann
Roar Guru
In some respects, wayne is rightly entitled to his opinion, he may in fact be right that there is no case to have faith in the integrity unit (he's gone extremem here because I think he's trying to influence), but I dont think its directly the NRLs doing. Mistakes were made? But lost total faith hmm. Im not in his shoes. The public are fickle and emotional. But so, too, he's not in the Integrity Units shoes. You've got to admit the broncos are virtually clean skins. From his side, you'd have to say that its making it harder for them. This is sport, a closed system - so I honestly dont mind "spanish inquisition style things" internally. The more squealers you have the better. The more people saying "hey....dont dis god, yes he's there, don't say he's not, shhhh they'll get you...." The better. Nah its not cool to have your phone taken, is it, but hey, neither is it cool to drag the game down. I take it a compromise was reached. I hope it includes formal statements and non disclosure penalties. So allow me to take my broncos hat off, its basically glued to my head. ... ahem...... Under non disclosure maybe Andrew Gee should stay well away. So, of course, it may make it all a little bit too hard for Bennett. Hmmm __ They dont have any legal power, so to that effect you got to squeeze out the wrong doers with non compliance. Not helping? Then you must be hindering. Penalty. There should be a clear separation between church and state in our society, and so too the ARLC/NRL and the clubs. Bennetts views are welcome but should hold no weight. I think this is something he should have bit his tongue about. And then, the media should be separate mostly with all its opinion pieces. They've goaded him and heckled him into this.
up in the north
Roar Rookie
Uncle Wayne is merely deflecting attention away from his players, the older he gets he kind of reminds me of Joh with his line about feeding the chooks regarding dealing with the media. Pay attention to what he does not say.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
For ever and a day people were criticising Bennett because he didn't give his opinion on anything. Nowadays when he's asked a question he'll provide an answer. What a nark of a bloke.
Zedman
Roar Rookie
For ever and a day Bennett didn't want to be involved in the game outside of Queensland and nowadays he is telling everyone how they should be operating. I am expecting a phone call from him if I'm late for work. Some of the stuff he's commenting on is very minor and I think he's got the smoke and mirrors going.
Jay C
Roar Guru
Good onya Benny! Give 'em hell!