NRL Scandal: Schools Threaten To Ban Visiting Players

The NRL sex crisis has deepened since we reported on the story three days ago.

The ex-player at the centre of the scandal, Matthew Johns, has  been stood down from both his job with The Footy Show and his coaching job with Melbourne Storm.

Our opinion that the culture has to change from boyhood to stop this ongoing disrespect toward women has been covered by Crikey and radio current affairs program The Wire.

In a further sign that Australia is becoming more unwilling to support what appears to be an ingrained culture of misogyny and ‘gang bangs’ within Rugby League, primary schools may no longer play host to visiting football players.

The president of the Primary Principals Association, Geoff Scott, said some government primary schools felt it was “not currently appropriate” to host rugby league players because of the sex scandal that has shattered the career of Channel Nine TV star Matthew Johns (pictured right, with his wife Trish).

“We hope the clubs and rugby league will be able to take action to ensure that schools can invite rugby league players to schools again,” Mr Scott said, in an interview with Fairfax’s League HQ.

Catholic schools in particular have long been a breeding ground for the future  rugby league players.

But Dan White, the executive director of 147 Catholic schools in the Sydney archdiocese,  said serious misgivings were held over the Four Corners exposé of systemic mistreatment of women.

“People responsible for rugby league have to realise that organisations like ourselves are concerned that if this sort of behaviour goes on in the future we have to review our association with the code or club concerned,” Dr White said.

“Any sport not in keeping with the ethos and values of our school system over the long term runs the risk of being discontinued as the preferred sport in our schools.”

This could have the potential to blow apart the game. For the sake of fans of the sport, let’s hope they get on top of the issues that have plagued the game for years.