El Diablo
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https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/bo...ticism-of-his-manly-team-20180505-p4zdlm.html
Why is the NRL in a different league?
We like to keep the NRL and its officials on their toes, but NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg must have finished last week shaking his head at the way rugby league is treated compared to its sporting competitors.
Greenberg has come under fire from some media commentators for urging players, coaches, fans, officials and media to talk up the game.
Greenberg had every right to think his rival codes were headed for ruin as a series of scandals unfolded during the week.
In the AFL, chief executive Gillon McLachlan admitted he had no problem with clubs paying money to keep issues quiet.
It followed the revelation that one club reached a confidential settlement with a junior staffer who claimed a club figure sexually harassed her. Given the abuse he copped for allowing Matt Lodge back in the game, Greenberg would probably be forced to stand down if he admitted he was happy harassment claims be kept confidential. But McLachlan’s comments hardly raised an eyebrow.
Former AFL premiership-winning coach Mark “Bomber” Thompson then faced court charged with a raft of drug matters, including two counts of trafficking ecstasy and trafficking methylamphetamine.
It was portrayed in the Melbourne media as a tragic story of someone who had failed to bounce back after the ASADA affair at Essendon. You can only imagine the kind of coverage it would receive in Sydney if it was a high-profile NRL coach.
In rugby union, Waratah Nick Phipps was thrown out of a hotel after urinating on a bar. He copped a $4000 fine and it was all over 24 hours later.
Compare that with Mitchell Pearce, who copped a $125,000 fine, an eight-week suspension and months of publicity for his antics in a private home.
In the A-League, two officials from Melbourne Victory ran on to the field and physically manhandled Sydney FC player David Carney during last weekend’s semi-final. If that happened in the NRL it would probably attract a life ban. The two A-League officials got four weeks!
But it didn’t take long for the long knives of rugby league to come out again. Dally M judge Ruan Sims broke the rules and had to stand down. It was a minor breach, but Sims managed to attract front-page headlines.
The critics laugh off the negative headlines as part of the soap opera of rugby league. But try telling that to Greenberg, who has to try to sell the product to sponsors, supporters and mums who are reluctant to let their children play the game while it is portrayed in such a negative light.
Why is the NRL in a different league?
We like to keep the NRL and its officials on their toes, but NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg must have finished last week shaking his head at the way rugby league is treated compared to its sporting competitors.
Greenberg has come under fire from some media commentators for urging players, coaches, fans, officials and media to talk up the game.
Greenberg had every right to think his rival codes were headed for ruin as a series of scandals unfolded during the week.
In the AFL, chief executive Gillon McLachlan admitted he had no problem with clubs paying money to keep issues quiet.
It followed the revelation that one club reached a confidential settlement with a junior staffer who claimed a club figure sexually harassed her. Given the abuse he copped for allowing Matt Lodge back in the game, Greenberg would probably be forced to stand down if he admitted he was happy harassment claims be kept confidential. But McLachlan’s comments hardly raised an eyebrow.
Former AFL premiership-winning coach Mark “Bomber” Thompson then faced court charged with a raft of drug matters, including two counts of trafficking ecstasy and trafficking methylamphetamine.
It was portrayed in the Melbourne media as a tragic story of someone who had failed to bounce back after the ASADA affair at Essendon. You can only imagine the kind of coverage it would receive in Sydney if it was a high-profile NRL coach.
In rugby union, Waratah Nick Phipps was thrown out of a hotel after urinating on a bar. He copped a $4000 fine and it was all over 24 hours later.
Compare that with Mitchell Pearce, who copped a $125,000 fine, an eight-week suspension and months of publicity for his antics in a private home.
In the A-League, two officials from Melbourne Victory ran on to the field and physically manhandled Sydney FC player David Carney during last weekend’s semi-final. If that happened in the NRL it would probably attract a life ban. The two A-League officials got four weeks!
But it didn’t take long for the long knives of rugby league to come out again. Dally M judge Ruan Sims broke the rules and had to stand down. It was a minor breach, but Sims managed to attract front-page headlines.
The critics laugh off the negative headlines as part of the soap opera of rugby league. But try telling that to Greenberg, who has to try to sell the product to sponsors, supporters and mums who are reluctant to let their children play the game while it is portrayed in such a negative light.
