This blog has been prompted by Walker's transfer to Moanly. I asked in one blog why Souths would let Walker go, a very good player and probably irreplaceable in their team. Someone replied that taking drugs was not his first offence and Souths has had enough of his bad behaviour.
Now I know he was fined but really, what message does that send to a re-offending player, and a well paid player as well. Particularly a young player with no responsibilities and who probably spends everything he earns. It means nothing to them and its a bit like the current juvenile system for minor crimes. No action is taken except a warning, one of many they usually get, and they continue doing what they were because they are not made to take responsibility.
This player has now swapped clubs with apparently no further penalty. What has he been taught? Nothing. Why is it that some players get suspended and others do not. Was there any further penalty imposed, other than a club fine, for the Souths players misbehaviour in Vegas? None that I can remember.
The NRL has to make these players take responsibility for their indiscretions. There needs to be a grading system based on the number of indiscretions and the seriousness of them committed by each player. The penalties need to reinforce to the players that they need to take responsibility for their indiscretions. Herein ends the rant!
PS Wonder what sort of penalty will be imposed by NRL if Paulo gets found guilty of road rage. Will be interesting. If NRL do something club needs to publically get into NRL comparing penalties imposed for different players and probably more importantly, players from particular clubs as some seem more favoured than others.
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The NRL players do not need any more scrutiny and accountability. They are young males who make mistakes like the rest of us. All young guys play up from time to time - boys will be boys - and the level of public scrutiny they receive now is more than appropriate for their stature and what they contribute to our society.
JBG unless they take responsibility for their actions, and this applies to everyone not just league players, they keep doing stupid things. Bird immediately comes to mind. There has to be some accountability!
But that's just me.