Super League integrity committee : Thu Jun 22, 2023 11:43 am
Does Super League have an ethics and integrity board or committee presently? I know the NRL does, it has an Integrity unit which covers discipline and welfare issues with various powers to investigate players, staff and clubs and their behaviours. They have the power to prevent clubs registering players and to punish players for off the field incidents as well as providing a whistleblower scheme so anyone can anonymously air complaints.If we do have one, why do we never hear about it? If we don't, I think it's time we do. The Josh McGuire incidents are a classic example of a player who probably shouldn't be given a free ride into a new competition given his previous behaviour, the rumoured SL signing of Matt Lodge another eyebrow raising one, Ben Barba the same. The was also the case this week of a Warrington women's player who has been fired from her role with the Police this week over racist slurs, having previously been suspended for racist comments. Does the RFL have any powers to stop her playing?
Super League has always been a favourable destination for NRL players who misbehave, but we need some kind of filter to ensure we're not letting in players who will inevitably diminish the competitions reputation. We also need a stringent code of conduct so players know what is expected of them and also the repurcussions if they do not meet them.
Hopefully this is an easy one and someone says 'they already do'. But I can't see anything on the internet beyond gambling, doping and medical standards.