In recent times, some exploits from National Rugby League (NRL) players and on occasion, Rugby Players have embarrassed the game. Those men’s actions publicly did not portray the values and morals of their clubs, fans or fellow players. Of course, it occurs across all sports but all too often in the case of Rugby League. Is there a case for the NRL pre-season to finally be about the sport?
Time and time again, a season launch is crushed or has to be re-planned for when an individual whose intended role in any one season launch has been terminated when public behavior or a sinister incident throws planning ‘into the waste bin’. And the frequency that it happens is in the spotlight yet again only a month before the 2016 season begins on the first weekend in March.
In particular, the latest incident involving Sydney Roosters play maker Mitchell Pearce is still in the headlines for all the wrong reason [again] The particulars are that Pearce celebrated Australia Day (the national holiday on 26th January) as many people do. It’s just, he partied a little too hard. Pearce was caught on camera in a compromising position and his behaviour was well below the norm. Specific details are as much of the issue, but it is the repeated nature of the incidents that must have NRL board members tearing out their hair.
In most instances, alcohol is considered the main risk to a young players public relations and persona. Their actions, and in too many public cases, their misdemeanors are all too often exaggerated behavior (as in the Pearce case) and those persons actions can destroy any good feeling that the sport of Rugby League had attempted to build. It’s not that footballers are more likely to be publicly intoxicated or violent towards women, it’s the environment and the prevailing culture that influences them most. Historically, football clubs have been male dominated where alcohol is the social norm. This is where the greatest risks arise. The game tries hard to come down hard, but the case needs to be argued “where are the Sportsman that fans can admire today?” The actions of a few, damage the reputations of the many.
Sports Events Guide has looked back on several instances of poor public behavior undermining a season launch, and it reads like a bad soap opera:
- A boozy night out in Arizona in 2015 cost the Rabbitohs $20,000, John Sutton his captaincy and Luke Burgess his image after it was revealed that the two were involved in a scuffle with a bouncer in Flagstaff while on a pre-season training trip
- Ben Barbar was pulled from 2013 season launch duties, when his private life compromised the family values of the NRL. Alcohol and late nights only reinforced the inadequate selection (at the time) and only when Jonathon Thurston was called in did the NRL manage to keep it’s head above the mire
- Benji Marshall faced assault charges the day after he helped launch the NRL’s 2011 season. Then, he was the pride of rugby league, the face of the 2011 season. The next day, his reputation was in tatters after being charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm after a night out that ‘turned bad’
- In 2009, the NRL suspended Manly fullback Brett Stewart for four weeks for being intoxicated at the club’s season launch. Like Marshall, Stewart was also the “face of the game” to promote the 2009 season and the NRL was forced to withdraw his image from its advertising campaign
- In 2002, Canterbury Bulldog players were alleged to have sexually assaulted a woman at a coastal resort following a pre-season trial. The woman alleged the incident occurred in the pool area of the hotel where both she and the Bulldog’s squad were staying.
Well, that makes for some bad reading, so let’s look at the positives.
The controlling body have made improvements, introducing club protocols such as the ”Fair Game – Respect Matters” charter which reminds coaches of their profound influence on boys and young men. Their ability to promote respectful relationships. It inspires senior players to be positive role models while the NRL continue to monitor the behavior of players and management. Maybe they shouldn’t have to? or maybe, is this their role?
It might now be that the body looks hard at the sport in itself–at all the tradition, family connections, club loyalties, the morals and values that bring people into the sport. That is the message that should be promoted. The good, positive values and then use players to support that. Publicity to match the essence of the game, rather than only the idols. The threads of the sport, rather than the ‘jewels of a crown’ that may be tarnished too easy.
You have to hope that this new season launch goes trouble free. This weekend is the NRL Nines tournament in Auckland where all the clubs will feature in a high-tempo form of the game. A fun weekend for fans and for players too, it kicks off a month long build-up to the season start proper. The National Rugby League (NRL) season commences Thursday March 3rd when The Eels host The Broncos.
Let us hope that between then and now, there are no new headlines that have executives and board members tearing at their hair.
“Main photo”
