NRL clubs want action on Tallis
CLUB chief executives yesterday called on NRL boss David Gallop to take action against director Gorden Tallis over his involvement in a bar-room incident last month.
"There was a question asked about whether the NRL or News Ltd were going to take any action in regard to his behaviour," said Parramatta chief executive Denis Fitzgerald after the monthly meeting of CEOs yesterday.
"Certainly David is not in a position to do anything there."
Former Australian captain Tallis, nominated to the board by News Ltd, publisher of The Courier-Mail, was accused of throwing a glass at a barman at the Regatta Hotel in Toowong on August 13.
"Everyone was interested in that because of the measures that are in place in regard to club players," Fitzgerald said.
"We'd like to think there's some . . . not only consistency; but the behaviour of directors should be at the very highest of standards if the board are expecting high standards from the clubs.
"I would think that our concerns would be carried forward to the NRL board and to News Ltd."
Other issues on yesterday's agenda included in-house drug testing, new tampering rules and the National Youth Competition.
Standardised testing is aimed at striking a compromise between the zero-tolerance policy that ousted North Queensland's Mitchell Sargent and the "three-strikes" rule at other clubs.
Players may be given a second chance after testing positive the first time in-house.
Newcastle and Brisbane are understood to be the only clubs still opposed to a national youth competition, and the clubs have reached the point of looking for sponsorship opportunities.
