If rugby league has any respect for women it would act

WHEN will somebody in rugby league's revamped administration do what is right to protect the code's image?

Ben Te'o

WHEN will somebody in rugby league's revamped administration do what is right, protect the code's image, and order Queensland to stand down Ben Te'o for Origin I?

Doing so requires courage, because Te'o is rightly entitled to natural justice.

But it is hard to argue he hasn't brought the game into disrepute in the past week.

In six days, Origin I kicks off. We should be celebrating the game's showpiece event. Instead, the code must digest images of a bruised woman with a fractured eye socket.

Queensland Police may now formally charge Te'o. It could happen today, tomorrow, or on Origin day. It may not happen at all, but the lingering uncertainty is damaging and the code's figureheads must accept the blame.

Incredibly, since Katie Lewis' allegations eight days ago, the NRL's integrity unit still have not interviewed her. Why not?

There are four key people involved to be interviewed - Te'o, Corey Norman, Darius Boyd and Lewis.

The need for due diligence is understandable, but NRL boss Dave Smith can end this mess today with one phone call to the QRL to ask Te'o be sidelined until the police investigation is complete.

If the code has any respect for women, it is the least he can do.