NRL will slam offenders to keep sponsors

NRL chief executive David Gallop is confident sponsors will stick by the game
through the current spate of off-field incidents, but has warned future
troublemakers face heavy punishment.
Sponsors have put the NRL on notice to clean up its act after a raft of scandals
recently.
Cronulla's major sponsor LG Electronics announced on Thursday they would not renew
their $750,000 a year deal at season's end, while some of the game's biggest
backers, Aussie Home Loans and Telstra, have also been reconsidering their support.
Gallop met Aussie Home Loans' founder John Symond on Friday and the company agreed
to continue its sponsorship of the State of Origin series.
But the NRL boss said Aussie, and all the game's sponsors, remained concerned and
wanted assurance players would be made responsible for their actions.
"Pleasingly John and his team see the fit for his company and the millions of people
that follow rugby league," Gallop said.
"But we certainly agree that there are issues that are of concern to Aussie and
their association with the game and we agree that our clubs and our players need to
be accountable for their actions."
Gallop warned players who continued to misbehave were putting the game's future at
risk and would be dealt with severely.
"Our players should not need any reminding that if anything further happens to
damage the reputation of the game, then the pressure to deal with that heavily will
be intense," he said.
Gallop said the NRL remained in daily contact with its sponsors, including Telstra -
which has ordered a review of its $12 million sponsorship - but was confident the
game could overcome its challenges.
"We've been in dialogue with Telstra, communicating to them on a daily basis and
demonstrating to them - I would hope - that our resolve is strong to remain on top
of these issues," he said.
"I've got great faith in rugby league.
"We saw another brilliant round of footy last weekend, but we have got some
challenges ahead of us and hopefully we get on top of those and people continue what
has so far been a brilliant season."
Meanwhile, Gallop said the NRL would most likely meet the financially-embattled
Sharks on Monday to discuss their future.
He said the club now had until then to table an explanation over allegations made in
a Fairfax media report this week.
The report said the club had paid $20,000 to former community liaison officer Jenny
Hall, who was accidentally hit in the face by Sharks' chief executive Tony Zappia.
A 'please-explain' will also be sought for Wednesday's revelation that former Test
forward Reni Maitua had failed a drugs test.