Editorial: Big Mal solves a big problem for NRL

While we live in a society of laws and everyone has a right to a fair trial, playing rugby at a professional level is a privilege. Those under a cloud should not be on the field.

• Buzz: Meninga shows NRL the right way forward

Sometimes the most seemingly complex problems have the most obvious and straightforward solutions. For years now rugby league has struggled with what to do about the problem of players’ off-field behaviour, with the case of accused rapist Jack de Belin being only the latest example to confront the game.

The answer, as Kangaroos coach and Immortal Mal Meninga tells The Daily Telegraph, is a simple one: suspend de Belin, and any other players accused of serious crimes, until their matter comes before the courts and is settled one way or the other.

It’s an answer that is elegant in its simplicity, and one which Meninga himself has put into practice with his own players.

Mal Meninga has no tolerance for those who have been charged with sexual or domestic violence crimes stepping onto the NRL field. Picture: AAP

As he tells this newspaper: “Anything around domestic violence or sexual abuse is a no-no in society. The game has to say no too. Everyone is sick of it. Their time is up.”

It is a message that should be received far beyond the stadiums and locker-rooms of the NRL. While in our society there are multiple voices all vying for influence, our sporting heroes such as Meninga have a long record of being able to reach as many hearts and minds as anyone.

There will, of course, be those who protest that such an action would cut against the principle that even those accused of the most heinous of crimes are innocent until proven guilty. But in reality, there is no conflict. Every day our bail system sees accused criminals remanded into custody for weeks or months before the trials which may eventually clear their names. While players up on criminal charges would, understandably, rather keep playing, a suspension with pay is hardly akin to being locked up with loss of liberty until a matter is finally decided.

The NRL should listen to Big Mal. They could even call his doctrine the Meninga Rule in his honour. Because in delivering such a crisp and clear statement that also has the benefit of being 100 per cent correct, Meninga has gone a long way towards waking up game officials who are still in the process of considering legal advice before deciding what to do about de Belin’s future.

While we live in a society of laws and everyone has a right to a fair trial, playing rugby at a professional level is a privilege. Those under a cloud should not be on the field.

ON THE BRINK WITH BOATS

For some time now, it has been an article of faith, regularly repeated by Labor’s true believers, that there is not a cigarette paper’s difference between their party and the Coalition on the issue of stopping the boats.

If that’s the case, then we have to wonder what exactly they’re smoking in those roll-ups.

That’s because of the disturbing, yet entirely predictable, news out of Indonesia.

As an exclusive News Corp investigation reveals, the Indonesian people-smuggling trade looks set to return with local authorities on high alert for the reactivation of the deadly business, which is showing signs of coming out of hibernation thanks to shifting politics in Australia. According to the reports, would-be asylum seekers could be able to reach our shores for as little as $1500. Fishing ports on the north coast of Java have been identified as hot-spots for smugglers looking to buy boats of dubious seaworthiness for around $30,000.

No one — least of all Labor’s parliamentary delegation, which threw itself behind independent Wentworth MP Kerryn Phelps’ Medivac bill — should be surprised. Intelligence reports warned of a renewal of this deadly trade in the wake of a softening of Australia’s border protection stance, and the first signs are now appearing that these predictions are coming to pass.

But as if the “limited” (as its backers sold it) provision for the transfer of medical cases off Nauru and Manus Island did not do enough to reinvigorate the people smugglers’ business, yesterday Tanya Plibersek went a step further, suggesting that those medical cases who might be sent to Christmas Island should be brought to the mainland instead. Once here, of course, it would be all but impossible to remove them, which is where any reasonable observer would conclude Labor’s policy will eventually land. Good news for smugglers, bad news for their victims — and Australia.

The Daily Telegraph, printed and published by the proprietor, Nationwide News Pty Ltd A.C.N. 008438828 of 2 Holt St, Surry Hills NSW 2010, at 26-52 Hume Highway, Chullora. Responsibility for election comment is taken by the Editor, Ben English.