Benji Marshall sent home after social distancing breach

Well there's the solution then - the pair of them should have ducked around behind the dressing sheds to ... greet together. The evil media will have had no cause to comment or report in that case.

I agree but many of the comments about Valandy's leadership were arrogant, abusive and very ignorant. Reasoned debate is crucial but those who didn't do that were called out by me and others during the break and I'm not afraid to remind them now either.

A lot of people were unsure about the barrel over obstacles approach. Admittedly the concerns have not eventuated, but that doesn't mean that some of the concerns aren't real

Ahhh it pays to have a bit of conspiracy theory going on. When in human history would anyone have believed a simple peck on the cheek to someone not even infected would result in such a fallout? Anyway, I'll feel better when Harold Holt runs out for the Sharkies this weekend.

Not at all. I'm concerned that the cure is now starting to be worse than the virus. By all means, send him home, do the relevant testing and if she is positive but he's not, it should be end of story for an innocent gesture. If he tests positive, I'm sure there will be more stringent testing of those he contacted after this incident, but why would he be additionally penalised through a fine, etc for this? I'm guessing, with over 500 people involved in the NRL, there will be at least 5 or 10 similar breaches daily. The only difference was, this one was caught by a camera

I recall when the NRL proposed to restart a couple of months back, the throng of critics were sure that the players would have no hope of following the rules. It hasn't quite been the disaster they were hoping for. Apparently the sky was certain to collapse, as well, because players wouldn't be maintaining social distancing when they resumed playing. I had a look this morning and the sky is still in place. Must be confusing for some but have they learnt anything?

Paul, will your stance change in the unlikely situation that the journalist reports positive to Covid-19???

I would have thought the issue is this: The NRL have promised to enact certain protocols to ensure they can restart their competition, the various govts have agreed, assuming protocols would be followed. In the last week we have seen two separate blatant breaches of these promises (and that's just what has been captured on camera). To blame it on the media is fairly ordinary. This is a news story. It has the potential to shut down the competition. I like Benji, and I still think he is a nice guy. But please, to suggest its a media beat up is probably a reflection of your bias.

Cut out the conspiracy theory nonsense. It has been confirmed that the kiss happened after he was stood down. The interaction occurred after the reporter (a personal friend of Marshall’s sent him a supportive text message in relation to his being dropped.

You're assuming "after". They knew well before. Second on the Dally M, best player all year? Plus they even got him to admit it and play the nice contrite guy? Please. They knew all along and so did he. This was the real reason. This is modern leadership. Delay, damage control, re-brand, sell, move on.

That makes him the perfect one to be made an example of. No skin off anyone’s nose, assuming there’s isn’t any further (unnecessary) penalty.

interesting just after he was dropped as well.

I hope some common sense prevails and Marshall gets a stern warning and nothing else.

It’s a sad sad world at the moment. Being a nice and human is a crime ? Fair dinkum give yourself an upper cut media.