NRL: Keeping NRL's bad boys in line

Melbourne Storm player Greg Inglis was arrested for assaulting his girlfriend. Photo / Getty Images

The 2009 NRL season started with a bang. Actually, several bangs, as Todd Carney went on a drunken rampage in provincial New South Wales, smashing up a phone store and jumping on the roof of a car.

From there it was pretty much downhill in terms of off-field behaviour. Alleged sexual assaults, violent attacks on women, destruction of property, drug-dealing, drink-driving, steroid abuse, racism, public urination and even defecation were the badges of shame the boy scouts of the NRL managed to pin on the game's chest.

So far the game has survived - even thrived. But that situation won't last forever, conceded the man whose job it is to sweep up the carnage and deal with the pubic relations fall-out.

"The real potential if you don't deal with it appropriately is that parents who are making decisions about what sports their kids will play will look to other codes," NRL chief executive David Gallop said.

"Fans are prepared in some respects for there to be incidents from time to time, but if you don't deal with it appropriately they will be put off, as will your corporate support. There will be a knock-on effect years later when people decide to put their kids into another sport."

In fairness to Gallop, he has taken stern action, de-registering the likes of Carney, Greg Bird and Brett Seymour until they have shown signs they are keen to change their ways.

That said, having that particular trio all return to the competition at a time when it is still struggling to clean up its act hardly appears ideal.

"You don't necessarily want to cast guys adrift when football might be one of the only stabilising things in their lives," he said. "Equally there needs to be consequences for poor behaviour and a deterrent factor to others.

"Of course we would hope the guys you have mentioned in 10 years' time are regarded as guys who had issues but turned it around. The clubs that have taken them on have been quick to remind them and us that they are on tight contractual provisions that won't tolerate issues of bad behaviour again."

Gallop and his administrators will be praying for a sea change this year, but the signs are not overly positive.

The season started with a Carney blow-up. The new Roosters fullback was let off with a no-harm-no-foul ruling when he set a man's trousers on fire for a prank. Newcastle's drug scandal has claimed young forward Chris Houston, while the sexual assault charges facing Manly fullback Brett Stewart and Greg Inglis' alleged assault of his girlfriend are still to be resolved.

"Realistically, when you have got 500 young blokes they are going to make mistakes from time to time," Gallop said.

As for Gallop, there is a long pause when he is asked if the string of fires he is forced to douse are wearing him down. "There are a few speed bumps along the way in this job but there are lots of good things about it as well. I still consider it a very privileged job to have, through the good times and the bad."