NRL scandal-free in 2017 for now, how long will it last?

TODAY we begin a rolling NRL scandal count for 2017. Undoubtedly, rugby league lives on scandal, breathes it like oxygen, so it’s time to keep count.

Mitchell Pearce fronts the media after his infamous Australia Day incident. Picture: Adam Yip

SSSSSSHHHH.

Can you hear it?

The tick ... tick ... tick ...

That constant, unmistakable sound of rugby league waiting to explode.

Ready to light up the Australian sports landscape in a display all bubblers, bar fights and boardrooms with all the integrity of a Lance Armstrong autobiography.

So how long have we got?

For by the time you pick up your copy of The Telegraph tomorrow morning, the NRL landscape should still be — fingers crossed — completely free of scandal in 2017.

A cleanskin.

Mitchell Pearce fronts the media after his infamous Australia Day incident. Picture: Adam Yip

Headed through its first day whiter than a Napisan commercial.

But again, how long will it last?

For this year, it took just 26 days before ... BOOM!

Rugby league deflowered by one Rooster, a puzzled pooch and some lowlife nark desperate to publicise a private gag.

And as a result, everyone gasped.

So appalled by the antics of a boozy Mitchell Pearce that it seemed obvious he be fined $125,000, stripped of almost everything — captaincy, Origin jersey and eight NRL matches — then sent off to a Thai rehabilitation clinic to dry out.

Roosters halfback Mitchell Pearce was fined and suspended for his pre-season antics last January. Picture: Adam Yip

The worst crime in over 100 years of footy, apparently.

But, in truth?

Well, by the time December rolled around, that Pearce saga no longer rated a mention in the year’s top five atrocities.

Flat out even making the top 10.

And for proof, have a look back over your shoulder.

Behind us, a rugby league bunfight where the code slipped into a chaotic whirl all match-fixing claims, Andrew Fifita armguards and Eddie Hayson betting accounts.

Eddie Hayson with his public relations advisor Max Markson at their September press conference to address NRL match-fixing allegations. Picture: John Grainger

Benny Barba got high. Kieran Foran fell low.

And as for the Parramatta Eels ... well, they could fill six of the top 10 scandals themselves.

Take Semi Radradra, whose court case is still pending on domestic assault charges.

And playmaker Corey Norman, who bagged the wonderful trifecta that is drugs, consorting and sex tapes.

There was Anthony Watmough’s knee. The resignation of an entire board.

And all being before we get to the Slipperies being docked 12 points for salary cap cheating while also, inexplicably, being unable to re-sign Jarryd Hayne.

So now again, we wait.

Tick ... tick ... tick ...

And of course, the explosion will come.

Sharks prop Andrew Fifita was fined for the message he wrote on his wrist strapping which revealed his links with one-punch killer Kieran Loveridge.

Has to when you have 400 young men — many of them fuelled by testosterone and cash — learning to make their way in not only rugby league, but the world.

And to be fair, the vast majority are wonderful ambassadors, brothers, role models, sons, fathers and husbands.

But still, you know it’s coming.

And so in a nod to this wonderfully, err, erratic truth, The Sunday and Daily Telegraphs will tomorrow begin a rolling scandal count for 2017.

You know, a bit like those “Days Without Injury” signs in a country slaughterhouse — only with shorter odds of going back to zero.

For, undoubtedly, league lives on scandal.

Breathes it like oxygen.

Don’t believe us?

Eels winger Semi Radradra leaves court in Parramatta on November 30 after missing a prior court appearance. Picture: AAP

Well, consider that in 2016 — which culminated with the largest city broadcast audience ever for an NRL grand final — the game also gave us the Foran drama, Manly’s alleged match-fixing saga and Fifita controversially missing the Kangaroo tour and Clive Churchill medal over his links to one-punch killer Kieran Loveridge.

James Roberts got loose at the Normanby. Barba got high on more than a grand final win.

Eight Emerging Maroons did their best to help NSW by getting punted from Origin.

NRL star Kieran Foran is attempting to restart his career with the New Zealand Warriors after a disastrous stint at Parramatta.

Warning notices for “consorting with criminals”? Yep, at last count there were five of those, too.

Thrown into a year in which Dragons coach Paul McGregor was done for DUI, Eels chairman Steve Sharp axed, even World Cup CEO Michael Brown forced to quit over a telephone tirade.

Throw in too some wonderful headlines involving Dragons in a nightclub brawl, porn in a Gold Coast high school and Aeroguard in a drunken Manly Sea Eagle’s mouth.

Remember, too, Pearce wasn’t even the most penalised Roosters in 2016, with recruitment guru Peter O’Sullivan dumped following revelations of his links to Hayson.

Gold Coast Titans star Jarryd Hayne speaks at Robina High School.

You know, the same former brothel owner who in September called a press conference to deny any involvement in NRL match fixing.

But still, that was this year, right?

And tomorrow, we start again.

Tick ... tick ... tick ...