The Roar
The Roar

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Opinion

Should NRL players automatically miss a season after they've been sacked?

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Editor
27th August, 2021
20

Another week, another NRL player making headlines for the wrong reasons. It’s the gift that keeps on giving.

Wait a minute, we got three this week, didn’t we? Adam Elliott, Curtis Scott and Josh Dugan. Oh! It’s like being on a game show and winning the bonus round!

I love my footy with a passion, but it is becoming harder to continuously defend some of these boofheads.

Usually, it goes like this. Once said boofhead has stuffed up, the crocodile tears follow with a stereotypical apology. The NRL comes in with a punishment, and then the club brings in their own penalty. Usually it’s monetary, possibly a suspension thrown on top. But for the special ones, it’s a torn-up contract.

And what is the first question that circulates once a footy player has been sacked? Who is going to sign him next?

This – as Peter Griffin would say – really grinds my gears.

Why does a player who has done something so bad that his club has no other option but to show him the door, then get to go play for another team straight away? Why does another team get to reap the rewards while the original team has to suffer? How does jumping from club to club teach the troubled player anything?

Should footy players automatically miss a season after they have been sacked?

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Curtis Scott had his contract terminated this week by Canberra. The debate now is if he will end up at the Dragons, the Tigers or overseas next year.

Curtis Scott of the Raiders looks dejected

(Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)

He is a great player that won’t have any issues finding a new team, but shouldn’t he be made to stop, reset and re-evaluate?

We saw Paul Vaughan sacked by the Dragons after the infamous BBQ, and next season he will be running out for the Bulldogs. He will no doubt make a huge impact to their forwards, and that must really hurt the Red V fans. Vaughan has had two COVID breaches. Wouldn’t a full year on the sideline teach him he is not above the law?

Over the years there have been many footy stars who were sacked by their clubs for off-field incidents. I can’t name them all – I’m only allowed a certain number of words per article.

Some were signed by new clubs for the following year, while others were forced to take time away from footy. In Todd Carney’s case, he had both.

Carney has been in and out of trouble for most of his footy career. But my God is he a talented footy player. Dally M medals, top point scorer awards, Provan-Summons Medal winner – he should have been remembered as one of the greats. This unfortunately won’t be the case.

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He was sacked by Canberra at the end of the 2008 season. He already had a colourful resume but was ultimately let go after an incident in a nightclub and then failing to agree to the conditions put in place by the club. He was also de-registered for a year.

Todd Carney playing for the Blues.

(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

He was signed by the Roosters for 2010, but again found himself on the outer after not following an alcohol ban placed on him.

He was picked up straight away by the Sharks for the following season. Then he had that incident.

Had he been made to miss another year between the Roosters and the Sharks, could that have helped him get onto the straight and narrow?

Josh Dugan is another one like Carney that should – but won’t – be remembered for his on-field talents. After a few off-field incidents he was also sacked by Canberra.

But because of how good he was, clubs wanted him none the less. He joined the Dragons for the rest of the season and stayed for another four years.

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After more off-field issues including his drinking session with Blake Ferguson during Origin camp and getting kicked out of an RSL, Dugan found his way to Cronulla. He was plagued with more issues, including getting kicked out of a nightclub after being involved in a fight.

As we know this week Dugan was charged for breaching COVID protocols – for the second time this year – and incoming Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon has told Dugan he won’t be getting another contract with them for next season.

But will someone else snap him up?

Josh Dugan

(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Dylan Walker was released from his final year at Souths in 2015 after being involved in a prescription drug scandal.

Later that year he was signed by Manly. Walker has since found himself in the headlines for alleged domestic violence.

Am I expecting too much from these players? Or should the clubs take responsibility and stop rewarding the troublemakers because of talent?

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One club who did just that was the Roosters. Back in 2010, they terminated Jake Friend’s contract after a drunken incident with a taxi driver. He was forced out into the world to work and have a good hard look at himself.

Roosters owner Nick Politis said in an interview last year: “I cared about Jake a lot, but he needed to learn, so I sacked him, and told him he had to go and get a real job. He didn’t know at the time, but my mission was to father him through, make sure he was a better man for the experience”.

After learning his lesson and being welcomed back, Friend went on to win three premierships with the Roosters, co-captain his beloved Tricolours and represent Queensland and Australia, and he was respected by all in the game.

With no more off-field incidents, Friend will deservedly be remembered for everything he did on the field.

I can only imagine the career some players could have had if they had an Uncle Nick in their corner.

What do you think Roarers? If players are sacked from their club and made to sit out for a year, would it make a difference?

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Would it help them turn things around, or will some players just never learn? Or are the clubs just as much to blame for the players feeling invincible?

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