NRL players will face the heaviest fines in the game’s history in a desperate bid to stop off-field scandals.
Under the plan devised by Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’landys and NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo, misbehaving players will be liable for fines of up to $130,000, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.
Players were told about the NRL’s intention to increase the maximum fine from $50,000 during recent club visits, which came after a spate of breach notices for COVID-related offences and improper conduct.
Under current rules a player can’t be fined more than $50,000, but the NRL wants the new figure established before the start of the 2022 season.
“The maximum fine hasn’t increased from $50,000 for a long time and we’ve been criticised for not having sufficient penalties,” V’landys said. “We haven’t introduced it yet as it is still in the consultation stage.
“The maximum fine may never get applied, but if you have a situation where you need it, you should have the right to apply it. Yet if the players don’t do the wrong thing they will have nothing to worry about it.”
The NRL is on track to hand out more than $1 million in fines for off-field player indiscretions this year.
In just the last month, it has fined Josh Dugan ($50,000), Adam Elliott ($10,000), Lachlan Lewis ($10,000) and Matt Lodge ($5000) for various offences.
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