Before the NRL season was due to restart on May 28, it became clear that all stakeholders involved would need to come together and act assuredly and responsibly in the face of the COVID-19 crisis.
That includes the players.
However, after a week where Todd Greenberg stood down from his role as NRL CEO and the game continued to take blows from critics such as Peter FitzSimons and Queensland premier Anastasia Palaszczuk, the game has reached yet another obstacle.
Melbourne Storm star Josh Addo-Carr posted a series of photos alongside Rabbitoh Latrell Mitchell and Newcastle Knights player Tyrone Roberts-Davis after a recent trip away close to Mitchell’s property in Taree.
Mitchell, who has received unfounded criticism since his departure from the Sydney Roosters, posted a video message on his Instagram page on Monday morning to explain his actions.
“It was a little bit of a slip up, but Foxxy reached out to me because his cousins were going through a bit of stuff in Sydney, so he just wanted to get them culturally connected to the bush again,” Mitchell said.
And while Mitchell being on the front foot and publicly apologising is commendable, it still doesn’t offer a solution.
Especially after he publicly endorsed messages from his followers on his Instagram account stating, “shouldn’t have to explain yourself” and “shouldn’t have to apologise”.
Following the revelations, the NRL said they would investigate the matter and support any government sanctions handed down. And that is exactly what they should do.
Now, it may seem petty and unjust to discipline the players given that thousands of Australians are seen breaking the rules by frolicking at local beaches and even partying in their households. But the NRL does not have room to negotiate or sidestep on this matter. They must act quickly and justly.
If Peter V’landys, the NRL and all of its stakeholders are serious about restarting on May 28 then they need to send a clear message now.
Only yesterday the NRL sent out clear, strict biosecurity rules to each club, so a blatant breach should be met with appropriate punishments.
Not only would this send a clear message to any player thinking about bending the rules, it would also remind the state and federal governments that the NRL and the Australian Rugby League Commission are taking this issue seriously.
Rabbitz
Roar Guru
Maximum penalty for firearms offences in NSW is 14 years, so yes.
theHunter
Guest
I believe there are already penalties in place for people who breach the social distancing law and whatever the penalties are they should face them. Which I think is $11,000 fine. What these players employer (NRL or any other employer for that matter) should do is require them to get tested at their own cost and submit full reports of the medical examination and that should be it. People here barking about having them miss the season and all that are just too harsh. I understand there is a law that they have broken but the penalties for breach of this laws are also clear so why do you all feel the need to add on extra punishment when they can still be punished regardless? Besides I also believe the NRL stated something to the effect of letting the authorities deal with them appropriately which should be the case. At the most though, if there has to be additional punishment from their employer I would say at least a few games on the sidelines should be enough.
Walter Black
Guest
I am a storm supporter and had high hopes of winning the premiership this season before we go into something of a rebuild and even I agree with this. The NRL could have shown real leadership here and sent a strong message to government by standing these players down until the whole of society is freed from restrictions. When it is safe for fans to visit stadiums then it will be safe for these players to play again.
NRL supporter
Guest
The NRL are trying to get the games started with the governments support. Anyone who jeopardises that should be suspended. Mitchell, Addo-Carr, Robert-Davis and Cleary should be gone for the season. If anyone else can’t respect the law and creates an argument to stop the NRL going ahead on the 28th they should go as well.
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
WE should all heed the words of Channel 9's resident clown Sam Thaiday. This morning he was quoted as saying players should follow the guidelines & behave themselves. Now he is concerned about Mitchell's mental health if he is rubbed out for a while. Didn't Sam make the news a few years ago for an alleged unsavoury incident?
Walter Black
Guest
Does it carry a possible jail sentence of 10yrs plus. If so then you are right, absolutely they must be stood down.
Big Daddy
Guest
In all seriousness how can the NRL justify a May 28 start when they cannot control what the players do. If the NSW government were at all serious they would put a stop to it right now. But V'Landys will have a response saying it's just isolated and continue to proceed to get what he wants. This is no longer about football it's about public safety. He doesn't really expect nearly 1000 people to be isolated or some to be isolated and some not. Give it up now while you still have some credibility.
Noosa Duck
Roar Rookie
Now we have Nathan Cleary hosting a party at his place on ANZAC day ....you have to be kidding me....
souvalis
Roar Rookie
If they’re both facing ‘serious’ police charges over the firearms then consistency demands the stand down policy be enacted.
1.5 metres please
Guest
Get a life .
bazza200
Guest
These idiots need to miss a few games for their teams. The whole season is too harsh i say 3 games as that is significant amount. They aren't on my team i don't even know who they will play but i think 3 is fair.
Dayer
Roar Rookie
ty ND for the update on Addo "dumb" Carr in that case 12 weeks, i think the seasons too much but then again he is dumb and dumber. cheers
Jacko
Guest
Two Kiwi boys? Jayden Okunbor is a born and bred Aussie
Walter Black
Guest
Perhaps one of the reasons these two don't like our National Anthem is because they don't consider themselves a part of the Australian society. Certainly these acts show that what applies to the rest of the country does not apply to them. I cannot visit my sick daughter but those too can thumb their noses at our community rules and go camping. Shame
1.5 metres please
Guest
I wonder if the NRL will continue to run it’s simply the best ad . Perhaps Mitchell should be wrapping himself in a blanket with “Simply a Pest” pasted across the back . Seriously they can’t run that ad anymore without some serious editing, so what’s the cost of that ? Tens of thousands of dollars ? Them two kiwi boys would be shaking their heads after being deregistered , if these clowns get a $1000 fine and a few weeks on the sideline for actually breaking laws and creating such bad publicity .
Nick
Roar Guru
I think Phil Gould is an idiot, but I support banning them for the season too. The only way for NRL players to listen is to be more and more draconian until the point sinks in. JAC is possibly the dumbest person in the league. Ban him for a year with the condition he needs to go to night school.
Dan67B
Roar Rookie
Same crap different day. When will the NRL become serious with these blokes. Stop making excuses for dumb footballers and just act.
David
Guest
Correct me if I’m wrong but was also alleged they were riding on a beach at south west rocks which is about an hour from Taree so it’s seems they were also happy to leave the property and do what ever they wanted and put themselves above everybody else that stayed at home to help keep everyone else safe giving the environment we are all living in should be banned for the year then they might appreciate how good they have it
Noosa Duck
Roar Rookie
I am not know all Phil Gould, but my comment to my missus yesterday was that if V’landys is fair dinkum he will see that the three of them sit out the season. Whatsmore are you aware that Addo Carr has had 3 police cautions in the past 10 days (besides the $1000 fine in Taree) 2 for breaches of social distancing protocols and one for driving an unregistered motor vehicle, but it appears that the motor vehicle was not his. Not only that he is facing possible charges for using a fire arm whilst unlicensed, and Mitchell also for allowing him to use his shotgun. 4 weeks for breaking social distancing protocols and the rest of the season for being plain straight out dumb, so dumb Addo Carr posted it on face book for the world to see, seriously. Their actions may have given authorities sufficient reason to say that the game cannot be trusted to do the right thing and canned any prospect of having any sort of competition this season.
RoryStorm
Guest
It's very disappointing. Just what the NRL do not need. I know it's been really hard to stay at home unless you need supplies or a visit to your doctor but what were "all" of these guys thinking. I dare hazard a guess that no one would have even known about it if the Fox hadn't put photos of everything on his Instagram account I guess as a little bit of showing off. Hey look at me. But somebody saw the photos and dobbed them in. Good. The NRL have no choice but to come down on the three NRL players like a ton of bricks. The NRL must set a precedent here with something that's going to really hurt these guys. Not just a couple of thousand dollar fine and suspension for a month. How about something along the line of a six month suspension and a hefty fine. And, the three of them must spend the required fourteen days in quarantine. I don't want the Fox anywhere near his team mates until he's been deemed fine to train and play. Go hard at them V'Landy. Who knows what damage they may have done to our start up date now. There are family members who can't even go to a wedding or a funeral and these guys are out there having a good old fun time. And please, quit with the getting in touch with the earth and your culture. It had more to do with a bit of a piss up and a great time.