NRL Chief Executives re-enforce zero tolerance approach to racism and abuse of players

A meeting of chief executives of National Rugby League clubs has seen a re-enforcement of the game's zero tolerance approach to racism and abuse of players.

At a meeting in Sydney yesterday, all 16 chief executives gave their absolute support to players who have called out such incidents, with NRL Chief Executive Todd Greenberg stating "today was a timely opportunity to have a collective discussion about racial intolerance in our community.

“We agreed the standard you walk past is the standard you accept which is why we must call out racism in all its forms. The room congratulated players who had spoken out against racial intolerance in recent days. It will not be tolerated in our game.”

Approval was given for the NRL to launch a variety of capability development programs that clubs will participate in to develop future executive leaders across the game.

One example of this over the past week has seen Queensland Cowboys player Josh McGuire subjected to examples of racism, bullying and vilification through social media.

With McGuire currently suspended for on-field disciplinary incidents, his wife, Tanyssa, advised that the player has received “death threat upon death threat, countless threats of the most unthinkable things”.

She wrote on her Instagram page: “Mental health is constantly being spoken about within the NRL and yet what I am witnessing is the absolute bashing of a man who can only take so much before that thick skin starts to soften.”

Following the threats, McGuire is now seeking professional mental health support.

Sports psychologist and adjunct academic at the Australian College of Applied Psychology Dr Clive Jones said the use of social media had added psychological challenges many sports codes were grappling to overcome.

Dr Jones told the Townsville Bulletin “unfortunately it’s still at the reaction stage, at the moment it only kicks in when athletes have already been affected.

“There’s a heck of a lot of security at sporting events to keep athletes safe but those forms of security aren’t in place online.”

Yesterday’s meeting also saw the NRL progress work on the potential creation of trade window periods to enhance the player contracting process.