Gallop confident NRL sponsors will stay

NRL boss David Gallop believes sponsors will stick by the code provided the
governing body is seen to be doing its best to clean up the game's image.
The NRL was forced into damage control for the umpteenth time this season on Tuesday
following revelations Melbourne superstar Greg Inglis had been charged with
assaulting his girlfriend Sally Robinson.
Inglis' immediate playing future is up in the air ahead of his appearance in court
on Wednesday, but questions are now being asked as to how many more off-field
scandals the game's sponsors will put up with.
"We've been in constant communication with our sponsors over the course of the year
and certainly they expect to see action," Gallop said on Tuesday.
"But if they feel that matters are being dealt with appropriately then I'm confident
they'll stay on board."
The NRL said they would wait and see what occurred in court on Wednesday before
pre-empting any additional punishment on top of the indefinite ban imposed by the
Storm.
But no matter what action the NRL take, it may not be enough to appease sponsors.
Already this year rugby league has been dragged through the mud thanks to a litany
of scandals, starting with Manly fullback Brett Stewart - who co-starred with Inglis
in the NRL's advertising campaign at the start of the year - being charged with
sexual assault following a boozy season launch.
Nine Network personality Matthew Johns was stood down indefinitely from his media
and coaching commitments following the airing of a report into the group sex scandal
which occurred during his time as a player with Cronulla in 2002.
That incident prompted Aussie Home Loans founder John Symond, whose company pours
more than $1 million as a sponsor of the NSW Origin side, to put the NRL on notice.
" ... It's the minority creating these terrible incidents and we are demanding that
the rugby league gets their act together to ensure that this sort of behaviour
doesn't continue because this behaviour is the opposite to what any sponsor wants,"
Symond told ABC at the time.
Since then Sydney Roosters pair Sandor Earl and Jake Friend have been charged with
assault following a nightclub incident, their Roosters teammate Nate Myles suspended
for six games for defecating in the corridor of a Central Coast hotel, and
accusations of alcohol and drug abuse aimed at members of the Queensland team ahead
of Origin series finale.
Gallop said he was mindful of the hammering the game was copping from the mounting
list of atrocities.
"It's damaging of course, any one of these incidents is damaging but it's important
that the issues get dealt with appropriately," Gallop said.
"The game has dealt with a lot of off-field issues this season and there's no doubt
that that's frustrating and indeed disappointing.
"But the fact is individuals have to be accountable if they find themselves in the
headlines for the wrong reasons and we've seen a club take decisive action and
players are hopefully going to get the message that you won't be playing football
for a period if you find yourself in the headlines for the wrong reasons."