Rugby League Players’ Association (RLPA) Chief Executive Officer, Ian Prendergast, has provided the below statement in response to reports involving Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs players:
“We acknowledge that the actions of certain Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs players on Monday were not in-line with the values that we expect of our members,” Mr Prendergast said.
“We share the disappointment of other stakeholders regarding the impact that these incidents can have on the perception of the game and players, particularly given all of the impressive things that players are doing, on and off field, and the positive direction that the game is heading in.
“Given the emotion involved around incidents such as these, it’s important that we all take a deep breath and put things into context, while working through the process in a measured way.
“We’re also concerned about the intrusive nature of the reporting involved here.
“The players we have spoken with are embarrassed about their behaviour, which was out of character.
“However, while we accept players have stepped out of line on this occasion, they are entitled to let their hair down at the end of a tough year.
“I’m sure many of us have had nights that we’re not proud of.
“These guys will now have to live with the consequences of their actions in the cold hard light of day.
“Let’s hope we can now all focus on the exciting NRL finals series and the inaugural women’s premiership that kick off this week.
“We will continue to monitor the situation with the Club and NRL, while seeking to ensure that the players involved are properly supported and treated fairly.”
