Todd Greenberg says women have walked away from game over scandals
When Todd Greenberg’s daughter’s mates told him they’d quit rugby league in response to a spate of sex scandals, he knew he needed to act, the Federal Court has heard.
NSW
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When Todd Greenberg’s daughter’s mates told him they’d quit rugby league in response to a spate of sex scandals, he knew he needed to act, the Federal Court has heard.
The NRL chief says female players walking away from the sport alongside fans and sponsors helped convince him to unveil a tough new policy he hoped might repair its tarnished image.
Mr Greenberg was giving evidence in Dragons star Jack de Belin’s legal bid to overturn his playing ban for rape charges, which has heard the “draconian” rule will ruin his career.
Facing a second day of grilling, Mr Greenberg insisted the new no-fault stand down rule was urgently needed to crackdown on poor player behaviour that was turning off women.
“I’m the father of a daughter who plays regularly touch football,” he told the hearing on Wednesday.
“And a number of her friends have shared with me … the conduct of players is the reason why they will no longer play.”
Mr Greenberg said it’s just one example of women who have left the code in the wake of a summer marred by domestic violence, drug use, leaked sex tapes and Mad Monday public nudity.
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He predicts the number of women playing league and touch footy across Australia won’t grow in 2019, the court heard.
Clubs have struggled to attract sponsors including Melbourne Storm and Cronulla, with the Sharks specially requesting a charity partner that fights violence against women, NRL chief commercial officer Andrew Abdo later told the court.
But Mr Einfield said the Dragons’ membership rates have risen over the past three years despite de Belin’s aggravated sexual assault charge.
During testy cross examination, Mr Greenberg conceded that salary cap scandals, controversial referee calls or alcohol and gambling advertising may have also disenchanted supporters.
But he said concussion concerns wouldn’t have the same effect.
Mr Greenberg argued referee dissatisfaction did not turn audiences off the game like sex scandals and then insisted he’s worked hard over the past two years to target betting ads to adult audiences only.
“That’s complete and utter balderdash,” de Belin’s barrister Martin Einfeld QC replied.
In February the NRL and Australian Rugby League Commission vowed to clean up the code with immediate bans for any player charged with an offence carrying a maximum prison term of 11 years or more.
Mr Greenberg insisted he was acting to ensure the game’s financial survival, adding: “Protection of the brand is paramount.”
“Perception goes to brand and reputation, which results in revenue,” Greenberg said.
“Rugby league is a big business — $500 million (in revenue) this year alone + which is distributed and goes back to stakeholders including players — of which there are approximately 500.”
But Mr Greenberg has also admitted he had no proof the unprecedented hard-line policy would curb off-field incidents before he introduced it.
De Belin listened to Mr Greenberg’s testimony while his former St George Illawarra teammate Mark Gasnier observed from the public gallery.
The day before the league unveiled its controversial provision, Mr Greenberg said he drafted de Belin a media statement declaring he would voluntarily stand down but that offer was rejected and he was benched.
St George Illawarra is ready to play the 28-year-old should he win the landmark case, however there likely won’t be a result before the club’s clash against Manly on Saturday night.
De Belin hasn’t run out for the Dragons since being charged and his criminal lawyer doesn’t expect him to face a trial until mid-next year.
“It’s going to be quite a long road indeed,” Robert Foster said when the matter was heard in Wollongong Local Court on Wednesday. “It’s quite frustrating for him.”
But the judge could hand down her decision in the civil case as early as Tuesday, and if successful de Belin could be eligible to play in the Dragons’ massive Anzac Day match against the Roosters on Thursday.
The NSW State of Origin player, who last week welcomed the birth of his daughter with partner Alyce Taylor, vehemently denies the allegations and faces up to 20 years in jail if convicted.
The Blues forward allegedly raped a 19-year-old woman inside a Wollongong apartment in the early hours of December 9 last year, while his friend and co-accused, Callan Sinclair, watched on.
De Belin’s ruling will have huge ramifications for the game after Mr Greenberg used his discretionary powers to bench Manly’s Dylan Walker and Penrith’s Tyrone May.
De Belin’s immediate playing future is not the only career at stake in the case with ARLC chairman Peter Beattie’s own leadership on the line.
The hearing before Justice Melissa Perry continues.