Yesterday it was confirmed by the Dragons that prop Paul Vaughan would be sacked following a party at his home on the weekend, which broke COVID-19 regulations.
Plenty has been written on this topic so far, but I decided to pen this because of how angry this breach and the behaviour of those involved has made me.
The decision by Vaughan to host this party and of the other players to attend speaks of a culture of entitled men, who not only think that they are above NRL rules but also rules imposed by the NSW Government.
Their behaviour demonstrated a lack of respect for their club, their fans, the other players involved in the NRL, the administrators at the NRL, and people across the country who are subject to lockdowns right now.
Players can be fined for their behaviour and will be subject to harsh words from their CEO and the NRL, but this is absolutely not enough.
How do we give these players a reality check? I don’t necessarily mean fining them more money, or banning them for more games, but some understanding about how privileged and lucky they are to still be playing footy when so many people have had their jobs impacted because of the pandemic.
You look at the list of players involved and wonder how some of them don’t know better at this point.
Think about Corey Norman, who was fined $50,000 for his involvement.
Corey Norman (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
This is a player who has been told that he is not wanted at the Red V next year. Instead of working hard and focusing on where his next contract is coming from, he decides to go to a party.
I would be extremely surprised if this didn’t mark the end of Norman’s career. Would you want him at your club?
Then there’s Jack de Belin, who has only just returned to the game after nearly three years, following confirmation from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions that the remaining sexual assault charges against him had been withdrawn.
To make it clear, on five of the six charges levelled against de Belin, two juries were unable to reach a conclusion.
On his return, de Belin spoke about the support club had shown him throughout the period. He received a standing ovation from some fans when he ran onto the field for his first game. Some even speculated that he should be in the conversation for selection for the NSW Blues.
After all the support the Dragons have shown him, including financially, this is how he repays them? Not only by attending a party which broke NSW and NRL protocols, but then hiding under a bed when police arrived trying to cover up his attendance (he later turned himself in).
I know what the argument in response to this piece will be: that compared to other discretions committed by players that this is small fries. I can absolutely understand that perspective, which is why helping these players to understand their privilege is the first step.
It’s not about punitive punishment, but rather making a meaningful change.
In the case of Vaughan, he has been sacked. But how effective is this punishment if another club makes the decision to sign him immediately? This has always been the challenge with player misbehaviour; the tough stance once club takes is immediately undermined if another club deems that player valuable enough to sign.
St George Illawarra have an opportunity to make meaningful change with the other players. The hardest conversation will be with their fellow players, who were not at the party. Were those players not invited? Were they brave enough to speak out and say that the party would be a breach? Are these players just not part of the ‘in group’? These are details we may never know.
How do the ‘party crew’ explain their actions? How does the team move forward given the lack of trust?
Perhaps the starting point is a conversation between the playing group and the coaching staff about the standards they expect of each other. Might I suggest that trust and commitment would be a good place to start.
Les
Guest
'punitive punishment' is a fun tautology for a lawyer to use...
Larry1950
Guest
TheBarry, don’t agree with you on quite a few things but you’ve pegged this guy perfectly. Trouble is, you can’t reason with a closed mind, look at the death rates of unvaccinated mostly Trump followers in those southern US states where it’s either an Illuminati plot, a mind control vaccine or 5G spreading the virus. Give up!
Kozz
Roar Rookie
Mate tell me how many women kill men every year?? It is gender-based violence...don't kid yourself. But I'll add my own epilogue to this comment: “If men were being killed at similar rates, martial law would be imposed – or action would be taken a lot faster at the very least, I have no doubt.” I say: If any ethnic group or profession or any specific group of people were dying at the hands of another group of people as women are to men...they would arm themselves & go to war.
Kozz
Roar Rookie
Australia's population has grown in leaps & bounds but the league community has stagnated for the reasons you have outlined.... such as far more multicultural areas. When most migrants step off the plane they already have a strong passion for soccer, maybe basketball, tennis etc. These are huge international sports. Cricket has no problems either as so many people are coming from the Indian sub-continent today & who have a great love for the game. But Rugby League is a different issue & we need to win over the new arrivals or their children over. This is not an easy task for what is a very tough & at times brutal game. Even the Anglo Saxon families who loved & dominated the game once upon a time are turning away from the game or are simply an ageing demographic. This is the dilemma facing the league bosses like PVL & why he is tinkering with the game to very mixed results & even more mixed reaction. Make it safer.... to help it grow at the grassroots....to sell the TV rights for a higher price...so we can pay the high wages of players, coaches etc ..because right now it is not a sustainable business. Perhaps PVL needs to work with the government to bring over more Fijians, Papuans, Pacific Islanders in general as part of a 'Rugby League skilled migration plan'...LOL. They are the one demographic who come here with an already embedded love for both codes of Rugby & take to these sporty like ducks to water.
northerner
Guest
"While attacking sports persons with entitlement, she conveniently left out that 50% of the people hosting the party were female." I was unaware that Vaughan's wife had an NRL contract . Get serious. This is an article about the Dragons. Why on earth should Vaughan's partner be responsible in any way for his failures to observe his obligations to the League and his club? She could probably be fined by the cops, but that's the end of the story for her. The rest is entirely on Vaughan and the rest of the team. Nice attempt at diversion from the actual issue of the article, though.
Chris Love
Roar Guru
Overreach? Gladys is being smashed for not going hard enough and it's people with attitudes like you that are the reason infection numbers continue to rise.
Chris Love
Roar Guru
Well it kind of is a gender issue but This is a very simple problem to understand. Jordan Petersen explains it very clearly. Men and women are on the whole more the same than they are different. But when it comes to temperament men are obviously on average more aggressive and more violent naturally. It’s been that way for ever. But it’s at the extremes where it really becomes apparent. When you get to that end of the bell curve you’re going to find more men than women capable of being extremely violent. It it’s not a matter of men being specifically more violent against women. You’re 2:1 more likely to die at the hands of a man if you’re a man than if you’re a woman. But sexist commentators like Mary and Lisa Wilkinson know this but chose to make this an issue of gender based violence then make it out to be a problem with all men. It’s not acceptable and needs to be called out.
Dusty does Danger
Roar Rookie
Cath I can tell you haven’t read many articles maybe that’s why your a guest. Having said that I can’t argue against your view about De Bellin. Those actions are not on, gives men a bad name and raises controversial headlines.
Dusty does Danger
Roar Rookie
Chris, I hear your point. I think many men and women are fed up with the sexist remarks coming from news commentaries denigrating all men based on the minority. I see recently a Brisbane man was knifed to death in his street by his ex partner in front of his child and neighbours because she didn’t want to pay child support. That was in the news for 24hrs. What about the guy who picked up his kids on Father’s Day and was attacked and killed by his ex wife in Ipswich. Recently the policeman murdered in cold blood by a women driver accelerating over him in a car. Violence is on the rise and it’s not just white men. Jails are swelling with women committing more and more heinous crimes. This is a society problem not based on gender.
Joey
Guest
Not sure how easy the fix is, Mary, when seemingly forever and a day, anything in the A-Z book of wrong-doing off the field, players have gotten away with it by using three words, deny, deny, deny. Gaslight everyone in sight and all will be fine. Last week was an exception, Dragons and Arrow, caught red-handed, no time to light the gas. Not sure it changes anything culture-wise unfortunately. Only seems like it’s telling players to be sneakier, cleverer, keep doing what you do, just don’t get caught. Because if not for that, you can still always deny, deny, deny.
Heyou
Roar Rookie
Second time today my comment disappeared. It’s either fate or it was scrubbed by the chip. I give up … for today.
Christo the Daddyo
Roar Rookie
Fair point!
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
"Is cultural change needed at the Dragons" - no, culture change at the NRL and arguably ALL professional sports - AFL, Cricket etc. Elite players get away with murder just because they can play sport. About time the Governing Bodies put their collective foot down & dished out harsh penalties, lifetime bans for "wife beaters" etc
Monorchid
Roar Rookie
In relation to Mr Arrow, I can't resist saying that I told you all so. I've no doubt it will happen again too.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
I lived in Botany Street, Hurstville one street up from Carlton, so I fit your profile of a typical Saints fan of the glory years. I came to Canberra in 1974 and my parents moved to Young about thirty years ago. The declining and ageing fan base is the reason they are now the St.George-Illawarra Dragons.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
Ramble On and The Battle of Evermore are my favourites.
Chris Love
Roar Guru
What is laughable is your absolute ignorance on this issue. Pfizer was the first shipment we received, landing at Sydney airport on the 15th of Feb. The PM and the old lady got their jabs on the 20th of Feb - 5 days later. The first AZ jabs didn't even arrive in Australia until the 28th of Feb with the first of them being administered on the 8th of March. Back then the blood clot issue was being down played with very few cases. Here's the advice from 8 April from the TGA. https://www.tga.gov.au/alert/astrazeneca-chadox1-s-covid-19-vaccine No need to try and re-write history to fit your grievances and create a false narrative.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
I agree, whether his actions were consensual or not, there is an appalling lack of judgement involved when he found himself in the compromised position he did.
Davico
Roar Pro
Oh, and I would not trust Greg Hunt with my dead relatives health!
Davico
Roar Pro
Yeah hesitency about AZ NOT Pfizer! He literally was sitting next to an elderly woman giving a thumbs up whilst getting a different vaccine!!! This is laughable! The whole reason why people were hesitant was because the Fed govt wanted to keep the borders shut as it was a quick fix and they bolloxed up actually getting orders of multiple vaccine suppliers, rather than just from their mates at CSL!