National Rugby League CEO Dave Smith, "who has needed a flak jacket rather than a suit of late," returned fire on criticism of his handling of the Paul Gallen case, according to Brent Read of THE AUSTRALIAN. Smith insists that "his duty is to win the war on player misbehaviour rather than score a resounding victory in the popularity stakes." Smith, who on Monday announced that the NRL had suspended A$15,000 ($13,000) of the A$50,000 fine imposed on the Cronulla and NSW captain over an offensive message on social media, continued "to come down strongly on anyone who threatened the game’s image." Smith: "At the end of the day, we’re trying to grow the game and we’re trying to make it more inclusive. ... Lots of little people watch our game and we have to set an example." Smith said he thought “99 percent of the people involved in the game did a phenomenal job. We have a wonderful set of values. It’s a great game that people love to watch" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 11/12). In Sydney, Brad Walter wrote the NRL integrity unit "is also in discussions with South Sydney about a ban on centre Kirisome Auva'a after he was convicted last Friday of assaulting his partner." Smith said Gallen had provided evidence to "mitigate" his penalty but declined to say what that was, although "it has been reported that he was suffering depression." In the case of Auva'a, Smith said that "the NRL was still waiting to receive details of his case from a Victorian court and defended the decision to allow him to continue playing after he entered a guilty plea last May." Smith: "Domestic violence is something we treat very, very seriously, it is not something that we want in our game and the facts of this case will come together and we will make a decision" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 11/11).
