With most NRL teams finishing their seasons over the last month, it’s time for the players to celebrate ‘Mad Monday’ Perhaps this year, more than ever, they deserve the opportunity.
Many players have had to relocate, some have been without their family for an extended period, and just getting through the season unscathed might be enough of a reason to let their hair down.
Even though I know of few other professions where at the conclusion of a major project or significant milestone the team comes together for a big blowout, I have nothing against the concept.
But rugby league can’t seem to go a single year without some sort of controversy erupting during this period.
A couple of days ago, a video circulated on social media where it looked like New Zealand Warriors player Reece Walsh was speaking to police and was then taken away in handcuffs.
A remorseful Walsh fronted the media the next day and admitted he had been arrested, “was searched and I was in possession of a small bag of cocaine, which I had some of during the night”.
(Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
Then, on Monday, another video circulated on social media featuring Melbourne Storm players with a ‘white substance’ on a hotel room table.
The incident is under investigation and, according to the Storm, the club and players are cooperating fully with the NRL Integrity Unit.
But is anyone actually surprised?
This is the reality.
Rugby league is a microcosm of our society. That is why when we talk about alleged drug use, violence against women and other indiscretions, it is so important to remember that these players reflect the society in which we live; a society where drug use is rife (particularly of party drugs like cocaine) and in a country where there is a national emergency when it comes to violence against women.
These incidents do not happen in a vacuum.
I understand that there is a significant difference in seriousness level between allegations of violence against women and recreational drug use. I am simply using both as examples.
It also comes as no surprise to me that young men with plenty of time and money may be engaging in illicit drug use.
If this surprises you, ask anyone you know between the ages of 20-50 whether they have or know someone who has engaged in recreational drug use. It certainly surprised me when I realised just how widespread recreational drug use is.
The bigger question I have is why have clubs not sorted out their Mad Monday protocols?
It isn’t hard to put the players in a private space and ask everyone to put their phones in a box at the start of the day.
You would think, following the incident that involved the Canterbury Bulldogs a couple of years ago, that all clubs would have reviewed their protocols.
What concerns me more is that the Storm incident was filmed, potentially on the sly, and then distributed.
It’s unclear at this stage who was filming. Was it another player who then shared it with a mate who then shared it publicly? Was it a staff member? Was it a player who made the decision to share publicly? Or was it just a foolish error?
It sounds like there may have been a breach of confidence and that the people in the room were unaware they were being filmed.
In this situation, being filmed without consent is obviously not the fault of the players, but they have a role in making sure they surround themselves with people they can trust.
Given the prominence of social media, the fame some of these players have and the lure to distribute salacious content for money, clubs and players need to know the risk and be more careful than ever.
Players should absolutely be able to celebrate the end of the season but I want them to do so safely.
While the obvious answer is to act within the bounds of the law, behave themselves and not create challenges, this may be me taking a ‘holier than thou’ approach.
If the players are going to have some fun, then my hope is that they do so understanding the risks, particularly when it comes to people around them.
You never know when your ‘innocent fun’ is going to be captured on video.
scrum
Roar Rookie
I think the repeated record of dumb boofhead behaviour indicates the poor culture of the NRL
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
the behavior of taking photo's / video's of everything is embedded in the brains of the youth of today - too many boofheads who feel the need to post everything online. it is how most of them get caught - and it isn't only NRL / athetes doing it. Just because an NRL (or AFL / soccer etc) athlete does it, it does not mean that it is an NRL problem or embedded in that sports culture.
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
maybe Brent Naden took the video?
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
is that a gurgling noise i hear in the background Jacko? got the pizza delivery phone number on speed dial?))
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
the NRL need to get these twerps into their office, tell them covcaine is a dangerous drug as Souvalis has listed, tell them they have brought the game into disrepute, then the players can take some selfies as the NRL tears up their contracts
At work
Roar Rookie
Victimless crime
At work
Roar Rookie
What's the big deal really, literally nobody (apart from those caught) were hurt out of this. Young guys on big money enjoy the drug of choice for people with disposable money, shocked!
London Panther
Roar Rookie
Thanks Tim. Given Souvalis above suggested (and I have no reason to not believe him) that possessing even a small amount of cocaine was a potential 15 years in jail then it looks like this could come into effect. Of course, we know if this goes to trial there is no chance of them seeing a custodial sentence, but if it was taken to trial, and it took 12 months to find a court date.... Now, my knowledge of the legal system is based on US court-room dramas, so have no idea how realistic this is as a scenario.
Rob
Guest
Both Munster and Smith have suffered significant concussions and like you Geoff I thought similar when hearing this. They’re really abusing their body from the top down in more than one way. Where are the people that care about these boys? Not the people in the room I’d suggest.
fr4d
Guest
That was meant to be "fingerprint database". My brain and fingers don't work that well together.
fr4d
Guest
What is really dumb is that people worry about "Government" surveillance, but seem to be fine with Google/Apple/Facebook etc knowing everything. e.g. Apple probably have a fingerprint difference way larger than the AFP - they have everyone with an Iphone with a fingerprint reader. And now the newer phones have facial recognition unlock? At least the government claims to have our best interests at heart (schools, roads, hospitals...). Private companies only goal is money. Who do you think is more motivated to misuse what they know about you?
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
The no-fault stand-downs only apply if the maximum potential prison sentence is 11 years or more.
mushi
Roar Guru
Um okay. I never get how people could be so naive to believe those in charge of surveillance would never misuse it.
The PTA has disbanded
Guest
I really don't get why people have such a big deal against government surveillance. If you are doing nothing wrong, you have nothing to fear and the government is honestly not wasting a single resource on you. The government only focuses their attention on those who are doing the wrong thing, or planning to do the wrong thing. People never seem to properly estimate the scale of resource that would be required for a government to maintain active surveillance on the entire citizenry.
Rob
Guest
Prescription (pharmaceutical)drugs kill far more people every year than illegal drugs from my understanding. How many footballers are given pain killers? Alcohol related violence and illness is probably up there with the most costly to society. Sadly I think you would be very shocked how many people are doing the party drugs. Many of todays generation regard it as illegal as partying at Kings cross in the early 60’s and 70’s.
Succhi
Roar Rookie
Mad Monday was a concept when players had full time jobs, would party on after bowing out of the comp - and take Monday off work usually, then back to work Tuesday. If you won the comp maybe Wednesday. If it is important to NRL players then go and play in a local comp.
Gray-Hand
Roar Rookie
It’s certainly not victimless - there is a direct line of supply to some of the most violent criminal organisations on the planet who utilise torture, murder, slavery and corruption of public officials and institutions as part of their business practices. A good person should not use cocaine. But the victims are many steps removed from these two idiots and their irresponsibility as end users. The tens of thousands of dollars these guys are going to get stung for far exceeds their minuscule level of complicity in any harm caused by the illegal drug trade. Current sanctions in the NRL and wider society for drug use and possession are sufficient.
Angela
Roar Rookie
Mobile phones and social media are the work of the devil. The days of privacy are over. If it's not an anonymous bystander taking happy snaps of private moments or spreading lethal rumours and comments all over social media, it's government agency surveillance checking our every move. We're not quite up to China - yet. But it's coming. Young people who have grown up with all the technological goodies rely on them as much as they rely on the air to breathe. They don't seem to have any idea of the downside and as it's highly addictive (I honestly think cocaine is less harmful) they can't imagine a minute of their lives without their toys. Leaving aside the fallout from incriminating photos, I'm sure social media/mobile phone addiction is contributing to mental health problems in a big way.
London Panther
Roar Rookie
I didn’t know about the prison sentences Souvalis. Does this mean that if they were to be charged (and this is purely speculation on my part at this time) then the no-fault stand-down policy would be in place until their court appearance? If so, things suddenly become a lot more serious for recreational drug taking by NRL players.
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
Cam - was a clubbie who rowed surf boats many years ago- training 7 days a week, morning rowing, arvo weights. After Aussie titles, someone'd hire out a fenced footy oval or something where everyone can get hammered drunk with no harm to the general public. Typical gutter journalism mate trying to sensationalize everything with their BS reporting. Like if Munster happens to walk out of a pub the same time some sheila is who he doesn't even know & some POS journo will have the headlines of "Munsters mysterious girlfriend" blah blah. the clubs have to do it smart - rent out a room somewhere & black out the windows