COMMENT
Think back, if you can, to a balmy night at Birchgrove Oval in
March. The sun sinks on the expanse of turf where the first games
of rugby league were played. Storm captain Cam Smith offers a
pledge.
"To be part of the game in this, its centenary season, is a special honour for every player in the game today, and we are very much aware of that," he tells the throng of about 600 guests. "It's a reminder to us that we represent not only our hopes and dreams and those of today's fans, but that we have been lucky enough to inherit something that is truly great - the greatest game of all.
"On behalf of today's players, I would like to pay tribute to the champions who dug the well, and I offer our commitment that we will in turn do everything in our power to pass rugby league on to the next generation in even better shape than it is today."
Smith, among others, is keeping up his end of the bargain. Greg Bird, among others, is not. The Sharks star has been stood down indefinitely as he defends allegations he glassed girlfriend Katie Milligan in the face during an argument on Sunday morning. While she had surgery at Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, he was sitting in Sutherland Local Court.
The matter remains before the courts and the Sharks aren't passing judgment just yet. But this is the roundhouse hit to the head the NRL didn't need, for Bird isn't just another player. He's the Australian and NSW Origin player. A supposed leader of his club. A giant of a game he continues to let down, like many before him.
Nothing has been proven but Bird has the form of Weekend Hussler when it comes to off-field drama. After Origin II this year, he was handcuffed by Queensland police. Just over a week ago, he was involved in a skirmish with a cagefighter.
It can no longer be in dispute and it doesn't matter which way the NRL wants to spin it: this centenary season has been an unmitigated failure.
Forget about the fundamental and systemic flaws that have driven Dragons captain Mark Gasnier, Sonny Bill Williams and platoons of others from the game in search of more money.
Earlier this year, former rookie of the year Tim Smith quit the Eels after one too many incidents involving alcohol. He's 23.
Last month, the Raiders sacked former Junior Kangaroos captain Todd Carney after one too many incidents involving alcohol. He's 22. Now Bird's career hangs in the balance and NRL chief executive David Gallop has indicated he could be banned from the NRL for life if the allegations are proven. Bird is 24.
These events continue to besmirch a code trying to celebrate its 100th birthday. Instead of talking about the fact the Roosters and South Sydney will feature in a rematch of the very first grand final played almost to the day on Friday night, the back page is loaded with headlines about a domestic violence matter.
The weekend has shown all that is good about this game - and all that is wrong with it. Titans halfback Preston Campbell played 43 minutes against Brisbane last Friday night with a broken jaw. Only the club doctor knew.
Knights captain Danny Buderus knew he would not be farewelling the game in the manner he deserved because of a season-ending injury. But he did not complain. No bitching or moaning about his fate. "That's the way it goes," he told his teammates in a text message. "I've had a pretty good run."
Buderus and Campbell have honoured the pledge Smith made at Birchgrove that night.
League is nothing without its players. It is too easy to forget about the physical toll on their bodies. But while nobody expects them to be superhuman people as well as superhuman athletes, an onus must fall to them to protect the image of the game.
As it stands, too few are continuing to dig the well.
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