NRL: A day in the life of David Gallop

NRL chief executive David Gallop predicted 'one hell of a ride' this season but thought it would be on the field. Photo / Getty Images

NRL boss David Gallop must dread answering his phone - especially in March.

Just when it seems the dust has settled on one NRL scandal, another rears its ugly head.

This time last year the start of the competition was overshadowed by drugs charges facing Newcastle Knights pair Danny Wicks and Chris Houston. A year earlier it was the frontman of the NRL television campaign, Manly's Brett Stewart, being charged with sexual assault and suspended from playing for drunkenness.

Just when it appeared Aussie Rules players had assumed the mantle of Australian sport's buffoons, more problems have emerged to have Gallop considering changing his number.

The betting scandal which erupted towards the end of last year involving Canterbury Bulldogs forward Ryan Tandy has expanded in the past week to see well-known league identities, including a players' agent, charged with attempting to defraud betting agencies.

It doesn't end there. Last season's Dally M winner, the award for the best player in the competition, Todd Carney, has been fined A$10,000 ($13,664) and ordered to undergo alcohol counselling by the NRL after he was charged with drink-driving.

And now, the player chosen to be the face of this season's campaign, New Zealand test captain and Wests Tigers star Benji Marshall, has been charged with assault after an early morning fracas outside a burger joint.

The NRL had staked the game's image on the clean-cut Marshall, who had been living up to that earlier in the night as host of a child cancer fundraiser, hoping to avoid the off-field embarrassments that have hamstrung the competition.

Marshall was only too aware of the "curse" that came with being the face of rugby league, telling reporters at the season launch: "I've had a pretty clean image and I want to keep it that way."

While Marshall has said he will vigorously defend the charge, the damage has been done - and that image, and, invariably the image of league, has been tarnished once again.

At least Gallop can count on no rorting of the salary cap this year.

Melbourne's heavy punishment last season has surely dissuaded any other club from pushing the financial envelope - after the Storm were caught stuffing it full of cash and gifts.

Cash is one area where the NRL has had to play second fiddle to the AFL and Gallop will be hoping a new television deal will fill the coffers enough to prevent stars following Karmichael Hunt and Israel Folau to play aerial ping-pong.

With so much happening on the periphery it is easy to forget that this is not some badly scripted soap, but a professional sporting competition.

Gallop, and the NRL, are undoubtedly hoping for a season with more action on the field than off it, but, given the events of the past week, the chief executive may see trouble ahead.

At the season launch, before Marshallgate erupted, he displayed alarming prescience when he said: "Get ready for one hell of a ride in 2011."

He is no doubt already buckled in.

- NZPA