Huge
International Rep
Contributor
- Mar 7, 2008
- 13,618
- 10,547
No one ever stopped watching rugby league because some random did a line...hell, they don't leave for drug dealers, gun runners, international terrorist links, rorting salary caps etc etc etc....if they use it as a pretext it's a lie. They leave because they were never there. Ifvyou like rugby league, you like it for life. Business men do shit for money alone, they only care about bottom lines. Clubs, they're different and it's the only real consideration, the game survives the petty shit.In this context, the issue isn't about them being role models for children. It's about them representing the code, their nations and their clubs. While you may not care about their drug issues, business men and marketing teams do, so I don't have an issue with them facing heavy sanctions.
That isn't to say the role model aspect doesn't play apart whatsoever. It does but not to the extent that others make out. When it comes to being a role model, off-field behaviour isn't as important as on-field behaviour where from my experience players have a tremendous influence on juniours. However, that's another story altogether, as far as this incident is concerned, these guys have made some poor life choices and they've got to face the consequences of their actions.