I would like to present two scenarios, and two punishments.
Scenario 1 – Player X is found to be driving under the influence of drugs, including cocaine. This player drove a car while disqualified as they had already reached the maximum number of demerit points for previous driving infringements. This player caused a collision, injuring three people, including a 4 year old girl who sustained a fracture to her hip/leg. The player then went on to fail roadside and hospital drug testing.
Scenario 2 – Player Y likes an instagram post criticising the training methods of his coach. He then unlikes the post, and releases a statement apologising and saying he has no issues with training methods and looks forward to continue working under said coach.
Punishment 1– Player is suspended for 9 games.
Punishment 2 – Player has contract terminated by the club.
Now I am sure you can see where I am going with this. The Broncos clearly have made decisions based on their playing roster and nothing to do with the indiscretions by both players. The NRL has a serious problem when it comes to these sorts of instances. If the players involved were switched, you can be sure that the punishments handed out would be different. There was a scenario at the very same club two seasons ago where Selwyn Cobbo told media outlets that Kevin Walters is “not the best coach, but he’s alright” which was similarly handled very differently. One can only assume both playing ability and the value of said player heavily weighed into the punishment here, or lackthereof.
The problem isn’t just with The Broncos though. They are simply using the system that is provided by the NRL, and who can blame them? There are countless examples of high profile players being dumped by clubs, only to be picked up by another team and the new side reaping all the benefits of having that player on their respective roster. Why should the Broncos sack Ezra Mam when they know that another NRL team will just pick him up straight away and they lose out. They’ll just accept the punishment passed down by the NRL and move on, as I am sure most clubs would.
To further add to inconsistency, we now have the media digging out Reece Walsh for posting a video online where he breaks precisely zero laws. If only there was this much media outrage after the Mam punishment was handed down…
Should the NRL look at deregistering players for serious off field issues to remove the burden that is placed on the clubs? Currently, they are in a bit of a no win situation.
