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After a break for State of Origin the Roar and Against debate is back and this week the focus is match-fixing in rugby league.
It comes as Benji Marshall supported a push to give the NRL access to players’ bank and phone records to assist in any investigations.
Each week two writers will go head-to-head, and will only have a maximum of 250 words to get their point across in the debate.
It will be up to you, in the comments section, to decide the winner. That winner will stay on to take on a new challenger and new topic. That challenger can be anyone, including any commenters who throw their hat in the ring.
To debate this week’s topic, Roar rookie Warren Peace takes on Roar guru, Taking it one week at a time.
AGREE
Warren Peace (Roar Rookie)
Match-fixing is a reality of the NRL we don’t like to address unless we absolutely have to, much like drugs. Fixing would be rarer than drugs, which is why we don’t hear about it as often, but again, like drugs, we only hear about the cases they catch – far fewer than the actual incidence.
It’s almost understandable: you’re in a financial bind and get offered tens of thousands of dollars. You don’t even have to throw a match, just give away a dumb penalty.
Of course it happens, it happened to Ryan Tandy in 2010. Do we honestly believe he’s been the only bad egg since John Elias and co. in 1994?
Match-fixing is happening – you’re naive if you think it’s not.
Giving the NRL access to players’ accounts won’t stamp it out forever. But waiting for the cops to begin an investigation before you know anything has happened is borderline negligent.
Yes, the vast majority of players are innocent. But the vast majority of people aren’t terrorists, yet we all still go through airport security – and are occasionally put through unjust embarrassment in the process.
There would need to be checks and balances with the system, ensuring any information with no bearing on match-fixing could not legally be revealed.
But three match-fixing investigations since 2010 tells us that the NRL needs to get on the front foot regarding the issue.
Want to be a footy player? Great, we’ll make sure you’re well paid. But we’ll need to see your bank accounts too.
DISAGREE
Taking it one week at a time(Roar Guru)
A renowned scholar once said “life finds a way”. Actually, it may have been that nerd from Jurassic Park. Either way, the bloke had a point that is very pertinent to the issue of match fixing in rugby league.
Introducing measures around transparency of players’ financial records will not resolve the issue, but simply force dodgy bookmakers and underworld figures to become more creative in their endeavours.
And what about the issue of personal privacy? The rugby league community has more trouble keeping secrets than a prison snitch, yet players are expected to entrust the governing body with the security of their personal details?
The leaking of information to media outlets can have damaging personal consequences (as Kieran Foran well knows).
Despite their public profile, even rugby league players are entitled to some privacy.
If a player is suspected of match-fixing then a proper police investigation would take place in any event which would include search warrants. Until they are suspected of a crime, players should be treated the same as every other law-abiding citizen.
If the NRL is serious about tackling this problem, it needs to stop throwing buckets of water onto bushfires. Take the time to formulate a holistic approach which includes comprehensive education, life skills training and, if needed, some degree of personal financial oversight.
But most importantly, the game needs to officially sever ties with gambling institutions.
Friday night footy!
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» Essendon vs Hawthorn: Friday Night Forecast
» The mid-year All Australian team: Rose and Ryan compare notes
» The June internationals Talking Points: Now that’s a centre pairing!
» Ben McCalman and Will Skelton unlucky to miss Wallaby selection
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