Mark Coyne will resign from his high-profile rugby league position on the ARLC if he is asked following a foul-mouthed tirade at Singapore authorities.
Coyne’s position on the independent commission appears untenable after he was fined $4000 after pleading guilty for swearing at police following a stand-off with a taxi driver six weeks ago.
While the episode is a black eye for the NRL, given they were this year forced to take a tough stance on player behaviour and introduce its controversial “no-fault” stand down rule following the summer from hell, it’s Coyne’s failure to report the incident which could cost him his job.
It took Coyne six weeks to report the incident to ARLC chairman Peter Beattie and said he did so because he feared a media circus would have resulted in a harsher sentence.
“I was learning a bit more about the Singaporean law over there,” Coyne said.
“There is a really strict process over there and if I had have self-reported the issue the media probably would have turned up and been involved in the legal process.
“I was warned over there by people who had experience that if there was a lot of media interest, it could have been quite detrimental to my case.
“I made a decision not to self-report for the best outcome for me and my family.”
According to court documents, Coyne hurled a string of expletives at a sergeant following an argument with a taxi driver outside his hotel.
He was arrested after failing to produce his passport, which he said he kept inside a safe in his room.
He has stood down from the ARLC and has offered to resign should the commission see fit.
“I was only charged on Tuesday and immediately after I let Peter Beattie the chairman know that I had been charged,” Coyne told reporters at Sydney airport on Thursday.
“The next day I pleaded guilty and let Peter know. At that stage I told Peter I thought it was best that I step down from he commission.
“When Peter gets back from his leave, I’ll get together with the commission. And if they believe I should resign, I’m happy to hand my resignation in.
“For me, the role on the commission has always been about what’s best for the game.”
The latest addition to the ARLC in February, Coyne had been considered a serious candidate to eventually succeed Beattie as chairman.
Coyne played 222 first-grade games for St George and St George Illawarra, six Tests for Australia, and 19 State of Origin games for Queensland.
He was responsible for one of the most iconic moments in Origin history after scoring the Maroon’s famous “miracle” try in game one of the 1994 series.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
If you go to a foreign country and only find out about their law when you act like a barbarian then you aren't very bright. Singapore was regularly featured in the media for its strict laws.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
It's tricky one, always held himself both on and off the field to a very high standard, but he is on the ARLC as a Commissioner, the top of the rugby league tree in this country. They set the structure of the competition, and no doubt expect high standards of those within and beneath. My feeling is his position is somewhat untenable, and I believe he probably feels the same, judging by his comments. It's such a damn shame ,as he was one of the favourites for the chairmanship of the Commission.
terrance
Guest
I reckon that original taxi fare is looking pretty reasonable and fair right now.
Insider
Roar Rookie
He is NOT REPRESENTED NRL . He was in his own PRIVATE TIME! Was he in Nrl business attire? You make me laugh,
Pete
Guest
What an ignorant narrow minded comment Insider who cares! he's representing the NRL as a commissioner and an ambassador to the game of Rugby League in Australia and overseas...sure glad your not involved in the administration of our game.
Insider
Roar Rookie
A nothing story, who cares what he did or didn’t do over seas,
Paulie
Guest
So true John a $4000 fine and I would say at least a five figure lawyers fee at least to get him off the cane lashings and prison time.
Pete
Guest
Your type of stupid comments is what puts our game down to low levels respect and professionalism is what makes a code great and proud not some highly paid administrator behaving without respect in a foreign country.
Succhi
Roar Rookie
With the recent issues at the NRL regarding alcohol, totally unacceptable for a senior official to behave in such a way. What will it take for these morons to get it?
no one in particular
Roar Guru
He broke the law and was arrested. Doesn't matter if we agree with the law or if he did it here it would be nothing. He failed to self report to the ARLC. One of his roles as an ARLC is to enforce that rule. He cannot sit in judgement of others for failing to do what he also failed to do. As an ARLC he must be held to a higher standard against those he passes rules and judgements against. What would happen if a player was arrested overseas and failed to inform his club or the NRL for seven weeks?
Brian George
Guest
Sure" why not allow admin officials a looser set of standards than the players? Stoopid is as stoopid does.
John
Guest
Jeez you'd have to be either very brave or very stupid to be trying to bribe your way out of something in Singapore. He would have gotten the lashes and prison time if that happened.
terrance
Guest
elvis, if he was from the Melbourne Storm, no doubt he would have understood the paper bag / gift card culture. Unfortunately, he was from the saints. No idea. Bigger no idea, why does he need the Commission to meet to tell him to resign? Protocols suggest that should have been done as soon as he was charged, but certainly at the time he decided to plead guilty.
Zavjalova
Roar Rookie
True... not worth losing his job over though.
Zavjalova
Roar Rookie
Keep him on. He’s done a lot of good work. Who cares if he swore at a bloke. Slap on the wrist and move on! Nobody cares.
Paulie
Guest
If he wasn't going off on a foul mouthed tirade in a drunken state to a Police Sargent and abusing a taxi driver it wouldn't of come to his outcome. Singapore has a strict policy on public behaviour and having lived over there it is one of the safest places in the world...zero dick head tolerance.
elvis
Roar Rookie
I'd be swearing too for being arrested for not having a passport on me. Should have paid the bribe straight up to get out of it.
Pete
Guest
Certainly acted in a very unprofessional way considering he is a commissioner of the NRL and representing the league code while overseas needs to have a good look at himself. The Singapore papers actually stated Australian Rugby administrator arrested for using foul language at Police officers while drunk and disorderly in a public place dear say he was spared the cane lashes as is the case for this behaviour in Singapore.