The Gold Coast Ttitans and the NRL have a big decision to make regarding whether to allow the players caught up in the cocaine scandal to take the field before their court cases have an outcome.
All players pleaded not guilty to the charges and there is talk of them wanting to play as soon as this weekend.
The NRL needs to make a stance on drugs in our game, especially after taking over administration duties of the Gold Coast Titians. Greg Bird, Dave Taylor, Kalifa Faifai Loa, Beau Falloon and Jamie Dowling should not be allowed to play until all charges have been cleared in court.
If the players are found not guilty they all should be welcomed back, but to play before then would be taking a soft approach by both the NRL and the Titians on the issue of drugs in our game and the community.
Sponsors of the Titans and the NRL should also be consulted about this decision, it affects their image as well as the image of the game. This shouldn’t be about whether it is fair on the players involved, but more about how much damage it will place upon the NRL and its sponsors.
Furthermore, facing charges such as supplying drugs means it isn’t in the players’ best interest to make their comeback either; they should be focused on their court cases.
99 per cent of rugby league players stay away from these sorts of issues, the problem in the game are the one per cent who seem to find trouble wherever they rear their heads. Although the players in question are innocent until proven guilty, they still managed to bring the game into disrepute by associating with the wrong crowd and putting themselves in a situation where drugs were widely available.
It seems that the other 99 per cent of NRL players have common sense with whom they associate, and know what is expected from them as representatives of the NRL.
Society has a problem with recreational drugs, it’s not just the NRL’s problem. But this isn’t a debate about whether drugs are acceptable or not, it is about how the NRL should handle this situation for the good of the game. The NRL should be protecting the game and its integrity, not the 5 per cent who continue to make bad decisions.
It is an unfortunate situation for all parties, but until we have an outcome within the court system, a proper action cannot be made.
Reckon you can pick the winning team? Build your own dream team with Draftstars daily fantasy and compete on any match. For great odds on the NRL head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
Melbourne have lost star fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen to an ankle injury in a nailbiting 22-20 win over the gallant Gold Coast. The rugby league…
The game was on the line with only two points in it, but Bunker ruled the Gold Coast player stripped out the ball giving…
Just a week after Api Koroisau was denied a similar try, the Bunker confirmed a try to the Gold Coast that surprised everyone -…
After his goal-kicking heroics a few weeks ago in Canberra, the commentators joked he must be a "sideline specialist" after missing this penalty that…
Anzac Round is done and another NRL touchpoint is ticked off amid the onward march of the 2024 season. It helps to see things…
Did it take three attempts? What about seven? What about thirteen? The Des Hasler era is up and running at the Gold Coast Titans…
