In one of the most important days in recent rugby league history, the NRL finally proved its worth and came down hard on player behaviour and front office scandals, setting a huge precedent for the future.
After an offseason from hell with dozens of players and clubs misbehaving and bringing the game into disrepute, NRL CEO Toddy Greenberg said that there was no other choice than to act in a stern and resolute manner.
“We cannot afford to ever have an off-season like this again,” NRL CEO Todd Greenberg said.
“I would hope that the sanctions being handed down today will remind clubs and players that there are significant consequences for not complying with the standards and rules we set for our game.
Greenberg stated that these new policies provide the game with a ‘unique’ opportunity to rid itself of past discrepancies and to start over, aiming to prevent any more bad behaviour.
Criticised in the past for being too reactionary and passive, these past few days show how the NRL and the Australian Rugby League Commission are acting on the front foot trying to prevent this in the future, and for that, they should be applauded.
Players such as Jack de Belin and Dylan Walker have both been stood down until their court proceedings are finalised, as part of the NRL’s new no-fault stand-down policy. Other players such as Bulldogs’ Dylan Napa and Cowboys’ Scott Bolton have had their salaries been fined by 10 per cent and five per cent – respectively – while Bolton has also been suspended for ten weeks.
While some will argue that the presumption of innocence should see players such as Walker and De Belin unsanctioned, that time is now over.
The past years have shown that the NRL will continue to get burnt and look foolish until they finally make a stance. They must protect their image and these scandals that continue to plague the offseason must stop. The NRL have found a viable and correct solution to try and end that and it must be continued.
Clubs such as the Cronulla Sharks and Wests Tigers have also received punishments from the NRL in regards to their involvement with salary cap breaches over the past years.
The Sharks have been fined $750,000, with $500,000 being discounted because of self-reporting, and will also have $350,000 deducted from their salary cap over the next two seasons. The NRL has also continued to deny the registration of premiership-winning coach Shane Flanagan’s contract.
The Tigers have also been fined $375,000, for failing to disclose an ambassador agreement with Robbie Farah when he finishes his career and for misleading the NRL in relation to an application for cap relief. Their salary cap has also been reduced by $319,500 per season for the next two seasons, while CEO Justin Pascoe has been suspended for six months for his involvement.
These punishments signify a new and, hopefully, positive era for the NRL. As the sporting community was trying to recover from cricket’s ‘sandpaper-gate’ scandal and cheer on the Australian cricket team, scandal after scandal involving players and clubs alike continued to destroy the reputation of rugby league in Australia.
While misbehaviour and misdemeanours have always plagued the NRL and its branding image, these new rules and policies will finally set a positive precedent for the future, notifying players and clubs that acting out is not viable.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
They got the chest puffing right but pity about the rest of it.
Taree Raider
Guest
Greenberg is your stereo typical example of upper management which flourishes in these times. He does not appear to care about anything other than how he looks, the perception is greater than the fact or action. The only time he acts in any way that most 'real' fans want is if it makes him look better or there is no other option. The latest statement about the Sharks 2016 'Salary Cap Compliance' is typical. On the grand final they were compliant? Really? He takes us all for fools. If the Sharks were doing the wrong thing at any time during 2016 premiership stripped. Simple. No its all about perceptions. What's best fort him, sorry the game. Player behaviour should be addressed, it detracts from the sport. It should be addressed solely by the NRL, not the clubs. Imagine that your star player does something not acceptable, as a club would you stand them down & lessen the chance of success or cover it up? The NRL Integrity Commission should be the ruler of fact, not the Club. The NRL should also dish out the punishment. After all they are the real employer of every player. As for all the rubbish about punishment not being a deterrent . Speed limits are the simplest example. I know that I can drive at 110km/h on the freeway. I also know that if I choose to drive at 130km/h no one can stop me from actually doing that speed. But I also know that if I get caught at that speed I will be punished/fined/demerit points/licence taken depending on my past behaviours. Pretty simple really. I accept that I don't get caught ever time but the risk is all apparent to me. NRL players have to stay within the limits of acceptable standards. I don't want a group of private school pretty boys taking over our game. But by the same token I want tough, decent, respectful blokes who play to the rules. They have to do it on the field, also in life.
mushi
Roar Guru
I’m not sure you’ve met too many 20 something guys that like a beer if you believe that they will assess the risks so astutely.
mushi
Roar Guru
I think you've fundamentally misdisagnosed the decision making process here. That kind of improvement seems a fanciful leap in logic.
mushi
Roar Guru
And what have they actually done? Outside of the stand down (which as you say only happened once they were forced into action) the broader plan is the same as before. It also comes at a time when another club has shown to be engaging in deliberate fraud. You can't develop a positive culture at the player level when you're cultivating and encouraging fraud and deception at the management level. Mind you suits Beattie who over saw a fraudulent cabinet in qld. Greenberg's greatest contribution to rugby league will be his resignation.
Big Daddy
Guest
And the ones that do take a cab either do a runner or threaten the driver. I've had personal experience with that. When they are full of ink very hard to handle.
Paul
Roar Guru
Peter, the stats put out by the various police forces tell the tale. Lots and lots of accidents still happen because people drink & drive, despite tens of millions being spent on advertising to warn against this type of action. Do some do the right thing, for sure, but are there plenty of others who do the wrong thing, for sure as well.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
I was going to write this a while back MP but you get so sick of pitchforks coming at you you get a bit tackle shy in a manner of speaking. Hopefully there can be some deterrent in minor cases but there have been no cases of rape in the NRL so far so how can you deter players from doing something that they aren't doing?
Peter Piper
Guest
So you are trying to tell me that no one has curbed their drinking because they are driving, that the idea of a designated driver is complete fiction and that no one has ever handed their car keys over and got a taxi instead ?
Gray-Hand
Roar Rookie
It won’t stop it completely, but it should see a reduction. Say that instead of now where apparently 96% of NRL players film and distribute an average 10 recordings per year of themselves and their teammates engaging in group sex activities, it might knock it down to 70% of players only distributing 6 recordings over the course of a year.
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
"Criticised in the past for being too reactionary and passive" These latest changes by the NRL are reactive not proactive and a direct response to being backed into a corner after years of passive leadership which also extends to many of the clubs across the NRL who have also been slow to react with disciplinary action to enforce standards. Passive management (or leadetship) means avoiding action until mistakes or problems can no longer be ignored. That is precisely what the NRL and Greenberg and Beattie have done. Despite months of scandals they have kept their heads in the sand hoping that the problem would go away while the problems compounded until the pressure finally became so great that it FORCED them to take action. That is not strong and decisive leadership, it is weak leadership, and weak leadership is an oxymoron.
Paul
Roar Guru
not if the player has enough dopey mates egging him on, Grey Hand. People do some incredibly stupid things under peer pressure. If it's not sex tapes, it'll be something equally dumb
Gray-Hand
Roar Rookie
It will probably have an effect on players recording themselves having sex and then passing it on to each other. That’s not a spur of the moment impulsive act of grubbiness, there are so many individual steps involved that there is plenty of time for even the stupidest NRL player to remember the consequences before finally hitting ‘send to all’.
Paul
Roar Guru
" Over time that starts to sink in". Sorry Peter but that's not the case. We've had drink driving deterrents and punishments for at least the past 40 years, yet there are still thousands booked ever year for exactly the same offence. Ditto with the offences in League where often alcohol, drugs, peer pressure or what ever are involved and a person's reasoning goes clean out the door. Guys might know before and after committing an offence, but its the DURING where rational thought seems to have a holiday.
Peter Piper
Guest
Maybe deterrent in the moment NO, but it sends a very clear message about consequences and how antics such as these can ruin a fantastic career. Over time that starts to sink in.
peeeko
Roar Guru
i rarely agree with you but in this case you are correct. you think Scott Bolton would have refrained due to a possible NRL penalty? you think the Penrith players making those videos thought "hey, if these go into public circulation, nothing will happen"? if Walker, Hayne and DeBelin are found guilty, they have a lot bigger problem than no footy? a NRL suspension would have been no deterrent for them if they did what is alleged.
Max power
Guest
Yeah because NRL punishments are the big deterrent. You really think when these misdemeanours happened the players were thinking there was going to be no punishment by NRL ? Not playing football is the least of JDB concerns. His NRL standing down is about his 7th biggest issue and no deterrent what so ever