NRL boss Dave Smith must act on report dealing with Cronulla Sharks' 2011 supplements program

THE document dealing with the Cronulla Sharks' 2011 supplements program landed on the desk of NRL boss Dave Smith at least three weeks ago.

John Fahey

THE explosive contents of the document dealing with the Cronulla Sharks' 2011 supplements program landed on the desk of NRL chief executive Dave Smith at least three weeks ago.

It's understood Smith was sent the report on April 19, but there has only been silence from the NRL about the supplement program since.

When Smith has spoken out about the ASADA investigation, he has expressed frustration at the delays of interviews and the doping watchdog's desire to compel players to talk.

But from the contents of the document he has been given and previous briefings with the Federal Government, Smith won't receive any clearer summary of what is alleged to have happened at Cronulla between March and May 2011.

So who is the cause of the delay that's exasperating "every player and every club?"

The time has arrived for the only man who has the power to break this stalemate to act.

With the public now aware of the allegations, Smith and the NRL must make a call on its own response.

Remember, only the NRL can discipline the club. Not ASADA. Not the police.

To take the first step, the NRL needs to be assured there's enough evidence to support taking the matter further.

The current ASADA player interviews are stranded in a legal impasse over what questions can and cannot be answered. And even if they resume in the near future, there's no likelihood that any player will incriminate himself or his teammates.

The allegations now on the table are likely to be the only information Smith will see for some time. From his frequent conversations with ASADA, it's more than likely the NRL knows everything the drug agency do.

Now the document has been made public, Smith can no longer hide. Effectively, the team of independent investigators that Cronulla hired in mid-February have done the grunt work for ASADA and the NRL.

Before everyone's lips were sealed shut, they gathered information from all the major figures who were still employed by the club.

The resulting document presents a staggering timeline of inner-conflict and suspicion.

In the face of all this, does the NRL honestly believe that if everyone refuses to adequately co-operate with ASADA that the cloud of the "Darkest day in Australian sport" will just dissolve?

It's little wonder WADA president and ex-NSW Premier John Fahey took a massive swipe at the NRL's handling of the issue last week, accusing Smith of failing to show the same kind of leadership AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou has with the Essendon Bombers investigation.

"Information has been given to ASADA by the ACC (Australian Crime Commission) but it must make its own enquiries," Fahey said.

"It sought co-operation from rugby league and

from what I can see from the first interview the lawyers there prevented any answers being given.

"So much so, it seems little point in ASADA continuing.

"But the information is not going to go away and it means it will drag on much longer."

The reality is the NRL has known for the past three weeks what is alleged to have happened at Cronulla and should take its own steps to deal with it.