Phil Rothfield: Meninga shows NRL the right way

Mal Meninga always chooses his words wisely. He’s not into sensational headlines, and always prefers to talk up the game and its heroes. But today he has taken a strong stance on player misbehaviour and declared enough is enough.

• Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga says NRL bad boys shouldn’t play
• Editorial: Big Mal solves a big problem for NRL

Mal Meninga always chooses his words wisely. He’s not into sensational headlines, and always prefers to talk up the game and its heroes.

But today he has taken a strong stance on player misbehaviour and declared enough is enough. If you face sexual assault charges or allegations of violence against women, you’re out. No 18-month wait for the courts. You’re gone. See ya.

Kangaroos Coach Mal Meninga is taking a tough stance on player misbehaviour. Picture: Gregg Porteous

Big Mal is the game’s most respected figure. A recently inducted Immortal. The Kangaroos coach. When he speaks, you listen.

The game’s off-season of shame, with star players Jack de Belin, Jarryd Hayne and Dylan Walker facing sexual assault and domestic violence charges, is destroying the game.

When he took over as coach in 2015, Meninga wrote these statements on what the green and gold jersey stands for.

“Better people make better Kangaroos. We are inclusive and ensure the team always comes first.

Meninga says he wouldn’t consider selecting any player with criminal charges related to violence against women against them. Picture: Phil Hillyard

“We are committed to being the best we can be for our teammates and our country.

“We love the game, we love the jersey and we don’t want to let our mates down.

“We uphold the tradition of the jersey, its values and carry the aura of our predecessors since 1908.”

The NRL needs to replicate Mal’s words and his standards. The independent commission and the NRL executive have been shown the way.

Nothing short of zero tolerance for violence against women is acceptable.

Originally published as Phil Rothfield: Meninga shows NRL the right way