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Bulldogs lead with tests
By Margie McDonald
December 21, 2004
TWO clubs have introduced random alcohol tests for players since the Bulldogs' sex scandal in Coffs Harbour in February.
The revelations come in the wake of yesterday's release of an NRL-commissioned report into players' attitudes to women, which identified alcohol as an "entrenched" problem in the sport and a contributing factor in attacks on women.
The Bulldogs and Brisbane Broncos have led the way regarding player education and responsibility with alcohol.
After the February 22 incident, when a number of Bulldogs players were accused of assaulting a 20-year-old woman following hours of drinking after a pre-season trial game, the club introduced a drinking education program during the latter half of the season.
"As part of that we have mandatory breath testing now in the recovery session after match day," Bulldogs CEO Malcolm Noad said.
"That's part of the workplace health and safety code we engineered through this year. We also have random breath testing in place at other times."
Police laid no charges in relation to the Coffs Harbour incident. The NRL fined the club $150,000 and suspended a $350,000 fine for bringing the game into disrepute.
The game endured further negative publicity after senior players misbehaved during a NSW Origin team bonding session in Sydney, during which St George Illawarra player Mark Gasnier left an obscene message on a woman's mobile phone.
The NRL released yesterday its commissioned report entitled Playing By the Rules which a University of Sydney research team, headed by Catharine Lumby, looked at player attitudes toward women and the broader issue of women's involvement in the game.
One of the 14 recommendations is that players, like many men in society, need better education and understanding of their social responsibilities and what constitutes sexual harassment or assault.
Although it found players were unanimous that sexual assault of women was wrong, interviews with coaches, players, club staff, CEOs, trainers and women involved in all aspects of the game found heavy alcohol consumption was "entrenched in some quarters of the league".
Brisbane chief executive Bruno Cullen said he felt alcohol abuse was an issue which could not be allowed to remain unadddressed.
"What we've done since the end of this season and up until now is we've re-written our induction manual and our code of behaviour," Cullen said. "That was introduced to the players before they started pre-season training three weeks ago.
"We're going to be not just randomly drug testing but also randomly alcohol testing, particularly for that day after the game, the recovery session."
He said the adjustment had been made in response to the Bulldogs and Origin players' misbehaviour.
"Certainly the events of 2004 made us all aware and conscious of what needs to be done and the importance of having it up in front of them (players) all the time."
Cullen, along with other CEOs and league management, said dry bonding sessions, pre-season or post-season tours were not the answer.
"You can never say to anyone, particularly in a sport like ours where brewers are our major sponsors, that something will never happen," ARL chief executive Geoff Carr said.
"But it's the responsible consumption of alcohol which is the key to it rather than the banning of it."
He cited the Kangaroos' recent nine-week tour of Britain, France and the US during which no players got into trouble.
"Players now, particularly after what has happened in the last 12 months, have got a real understanding of what their responsibilities are," Carr said.
Melbourne Storm CEO Brian Waldron dealt with drunken player-behaviour at AFL club St Kilda this season before taking up his NRL club post in October.
"It's about taking responsibility yourself. It's not about people standing there - clubs for instances - saying you must do this and you must do that," Waldron said.
"I drove this point at St Kilda and I'll do it here too. I think the NRL has nailed this issue on the head with this report and it's a good thing."
By Margie McDonald
December 21, 2004
TWO clubs have introduced random alcohol tests for players since the Bulldogs' sex scandal in Coffs Harbour in February.
The revelations come in the wake of yesterday's release of an NRL-commissioned report into players' attitudes to women, which identified alcohol as an "entrenched" problem in the sport and a contributing factor in attacks on women.
The Bulldogs and Brisbane Broncos have led the way regarding player education and responsibility with alcohol.
After the February 22 incident, when a number of Bulldogs players were accused of assaulting a 20-year-old woman following hours of drinking after a pre-season trial game, the club introduced a drinking education program during the latter half of the season.
"As part of that we have mandatory breath testing now in the recovery session after match day," Bulldogs CEO Malcolm Noad said.
"That's part of the workplace health and safety code we engineered through this year. We also have random breath testing in place at other times."
Police laid no charges in relation to the Coffs Harbour incident. The NRL fined the club $150,000 and suspended a $350,000 fine for bringing the game into disrepute.
The game endured further negative publicity after senior players misbehaved during a NSW Origin team bonding session in Sydney, during which St George Illawarra player Mark Gasnier left an obscene message on a woman's mobile phone.
The NRL released yesterday its commissioned report entitled Playing By the Rules which a University of Sydney research team, headed by Catharine Lumby, looked at player attitudes toward women and the broader issue of women's involvement in the game.
One of the 14 recommendations is that players, like many men in society, need better education and understanding of their social responsibilities and what constitutes sexual harassment or assault.
Although it found players were unanimous that sexual assault of women was wrong, interviews with coaches, players, club staff, CEOs, trainers and women involved in all aspects of the game found heavy alcohol consumption was "entrenched in some quarters of the league".
Brisbane chief executive Bruno Cullen said he felt alcohol abuse was an issue which could not be allowed to remain unadddressed.
"What we've done since the end of this season and up until now is we've re-written our induction manual and our code of behaviour," Cullen said. "That was introduced to the players before they started pre-season training three weeks ago.
"We're going to be not just randomly drug testing but also randomly alcohol testing, particularly for that day after the game, the recovery session."
He said the adjustment had been made in response to the Bulldogs and Origin players' misbehaviour.
"Certainly the events of 2004 made us all aware and conscious of what needs to be done and the importance of having it up in front of them (players) all the time."
Cullen, along with other CEOs and league management, said dry bonding sessions, pre-season or post-season tours were not the answer.
"You can never say to anyone, particularly in a sport like ours where brewers are our major sponsors, that something will never happen," ARL chief executive Geoff Carr said.
"But it's the responsible consumption of alcohol which is the key to it rather than the banning of it."
He cited the Kangaroos' recent nine-week tour of Britain, France and the US during which no players got into trouble.
"Players now, particularly after what has happened in the last 12 months, have got a real understanding of what their responsibilities are," Carr said.
Melbourne Storm CEO Brian Waldron dealt with drunken player-behaviour at AFL club St Kilda this season before taking up his NRL club post in October.
"It's about taking responsibility yourself. It's not about people standing there - clubs for instances - saying you must do this and you must do that," Waldron said.
"I drove this point at St Kilda and I'll do it here too. I think the NRL has nailed this issue on the head with this report and it's a good thing."
