After an endless war to get the 2020 season resumption approved, some players have broken the rules protecting against COVID-19.
At this weekend alone we’ve seen four players in breach of these rules, which could push back the season’s resumption even further or see it cancelled altogether, which would really piss me off.
The NRL need to be strict on the punishment for these players. However, even though the stripping of competition points has been threatened, the players did this before the NRL put their own rules in place. Sanctions should be strong but fair.
We all have our opinions on what’s appropriate. What’s mine? I would have said a $25,000 fine and a suspension from playing for the remainder of the 2020 season. Brutal but effective.
The NRL has settled on a $50,000 fine for Latrell Mitchell and Josh Addo-Carr, while Tyronne Roberts-Davis and Nathan Cleary have been fined $10,000 each. All four have received a suspended one-match ban.
The Australian population has done so well to lower the trend of this virus, and I applaud us for it, but for those who think it’s fine to break the rules, understand it will come back to bite you.
Think like this: in 30 days from now the game we love will be back. The NRL are putting their own restrictions on the players, but it’s not just to be harsh on them; it’s to protect them, the teams and the game itself.
When – and there will be a when – the worst of this pandemic subsides we can all look back and say it was worth it. And when next year we can go and attend games again, it will be a wonderful moment. I can’t wait to return to Marathon with my fellow Knights, and I’m pretty sure every Broncos supporter is eager to return to Lang Park.
The time will come. But for now we have to obey the rules, NRL players included.
Big Daddy
Guest
The trouble with getting into strife the NRL are pretty lame. It's always a fine with a per centage suspended and no match suspension. These days these guys will take a fine every day of the week. Weild the big stick with lengthy suspension and they may change their tune. Trouble is the clubs will say it's to hefty. They come out and say they did the wrong thing. I recall Canberra suspended Wighton before going to court but the clubs are weak and put winning before making ethical decisions.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Not a great fan of Paul Kent but I think he nailed it when he wrote that the NRL wants all of their big guns on deck for the season opener so no suspensions. Another player goes and the government has theu would look at league's restart again.
Rabbitz
Roar Guru
Sadly, these guys are a product of their environment. Rarely has anyone pulled them up or said no to them. It looks like Cleary might be in a bit more strife - he said the girls were only at his place for 10 minutes and he wasn't aware of any photo's being taken. Yet some more videos have, apparently, surfaced of his ANZAC day shenanigans. The old 'boys will be boys' thing has long since passed it,s use by date. As for lying about the circumstances of stupid efforts, that time had also had it's day and I think the suspended part of his punishment should now be activated. They seem to not get it. The world is watching and if they slip up it will get published and their livelihoods may well vanish with it.
Paul
Roar Guru
The disappointing aspect of this is the lack of thinking on the part of these players. None of these guys are boys, they're grown men, happy to accept grown men's wages, but equally happy to risk shutting down an entire industry because they acted before thinking. It's also not good enough to offer schoolboy apologies after the event, they need to think first and act second. How that message get's through to these guys, I have no idea, but hopefully it does to the rest of the players & staff, so we can all enjoy the 20202 season.
Jeremy
Guest
How is that Jayden Okunbor and Corey Harawira-Naera break no laws, merely breached the NRL's code of conduct and were deregistered, while Mitchell, Ado Carr and Cleary break the law, put peoples' health at risk, jeopardise the NRL's return, and only get fined?
The King of the World
Roar Guru
Sad but true. Hell, Justin Bieber got drugged up and rolled a car in a drag race and got nothing for it. Plus let’s not forget all the shenanigans Ozzy has pulled off.
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
Adrian you are right, but in the Western world if you are a well known elite sportsman or popular musician, you are given a hell of a lot of rope.