Yep, I know a lot of parents who don't want their kids to play league precisely for that reason. Rightly or wrongly, they look at the NRL as the measuring stick for all things: injuries, off-field behaviour, the whole thing. The NRL is the face of league, like it or not. I played league as a kid and learnt so much self-confidence, team work, courage, etc, etc. I quit when I left high school. Never reached any heights at all; but I sure am glad I played. Even nearly fifty years later, I can still remember scoring a try at Richie Benaud Oval, and burying my opposite number at Meadowbank on a cold,wet, Wednesday afternoon. I was a skinny kid with little confidence, but the game really helped me. I'm so glad I played rugby league. And nobody got badly hurt. But unfortunately a lot of parents don't see it that way. They look at the NRL and think, No Way!
