NRL to introduce tough new penalties including match bans

In a bid to stamp out the controversy that has marred yet another NRL season, the game’s hierarchy will introduce a new raft of penalties including fines, automatic match bans, and registration cancellation. SEE PROPOSED THE PENALTIES

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The NRL will introduce one of the most stringent player penalty regimes in world sport as it tries to rid the game of off-field scandals and crimes.

For the first time in the game’s history a comprehensive “punishment matrix” will ensure consistent punishment of players.

The NRL is in the final stages of producing the new policy, with The Sunday Telegraph obtaining the draft document, which has been shown to clubs in recent weeks.

All 16 clubs have so far given the concept universal support and are now discussing the range of proposed penalties.

Canterbury’s Dylan Napa could have been hit with an eight game ban and fined 10 per cent of his salary after the “Big Papi” tapes surfaced. Picture: Dan Himbrechts

Months in the making, the punishment matrix has been designed and pushed through by the Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) in the wake of a train wreck pre-season where rugby league was plagued by high profile player scandals.

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The NRL’s Integrity unit will oversee the list of sins and their punishments, which cover a wide range of offences from sexual assault and domestic violence to public nuisance and revenge porn.

Any player found guilty of a sexual assault, armed robbery or a large commercial drug supply will automatically have their registration cancelled — effectively a ban from playing.

Other offences are grouped together, then placed in either low or high scales of seriousness and attract varying penalties.

“Low scale” offences are defined as being “low impact, low harm and small scale”, while “high scale” crimes are described as being of “high impact, significant impact and large scale”.

Some of the key punishments include:

■ Domestic violence or common assault charges face a minimum automatic five game ban and a fine of three per cent of a player salary. On the high scale that penalty jumps to a minimum seven game ban and 10 per cent salary fine

■ Common assault and affray is at least a two game ban and fine of three per cent of a contract.

■ Sharing lewd content without consent will result in an automatic five game ban.

■ A player will be suspended for at least three matches for any private property damage.

■ Each high scale sanction carries a maximum penalty of a player being deregistered or a 12 match ban and fine of 25 per cent of their salary.

Under the new penalties, incidents such as Todd Carney’s infamous “bubbler” antics would result in a suspension even without police involvement.

The NRL’s integrity unit will take into account police charges as part of any investigation of player off field behaviour, but players can still be punished under the new policy even if charges aren’t laid. So indiscretions such as Todd Carney’s “bubbler” antics would result in a suspension even without police involvement.

The penalties take away the power from clubs to impart their own punishments and who have long been accused of self-interest when dishing out penalties.

ARLC chairman Peter Beattie expects the matrix to be in place by the time the competition kicks-off next year.

“This is a very significant initiative for rugby league,” Mr Beattie told The Sunday Telegraph.

“This is about getting consistency in penalties across the game and making sure everyone understands what the rules will be.

“The commission and the NRL promised this year we would come up with consistency so everyone knows what the rules are. There are no excuses.

“The commission ticked this off earlier this year and now we are consulting with clubs. This shows how serious we are about player behaviour.”

An NRL spokesman said “the matrix would provide consistent guidance for all parties that may flow from certain off field offences.”

“It is going through a consultation phase with the RLPA and clubs to ensure broad agreement,” the spokesman said. “The matrix will set the standards for sanctions about off field incidents going forward and ensure consistency.”

Parramatta Eels player Shaun Lane was fined $17,500 after this photo of him surfaced.

Lane apologises for his Mad Monday. Picture: Brett Costello

Canterbury player Dylan Napa could have been hit with an eight game ban and fined 10 per cent of his salary because of the negative exposure the “Big Papi” tapes generated. He was fined 10 per cent of his salary this year but did not miss a game.

Parramatta back-rower Shaun Lane was fined $17,500 earlier this month after a photo emerged showing him in possession of a small plastic bag containing a white substance.

The new policy could have seen him banned for seven games and fined five per cent of his salary if it was deemed to be on the maximum end of the low scale.

The policy is an extension of the ARLC’s automatic no-fault stand-down rule introduced in March. Any serious indictable offence — which carries a minimum of 11 years imprisonment- still results in an automatic stand-down from playing pending the outcome of their criminal trial.

A player could still be stood-down for lesser offences. St George Illawarra star Jack de Belin unsuccessfully challenged the policy in court in May and dropped his federal appeal last week.

The NRL is also visiting clubs to gain a better understanding about any potential expansion opportunities.

Originally published as NRL to introduce tough new penalties including match bans