The National Rugby League Integrity Unit "began interviewing key figures in the South Sydney scandal" amid concerns from the players’ union over the decision to reopen inquiries into the offseason hijinks of John Sutton and Luke Burgess in Arizona, according to Brent Read of THE AUSTRALIAN. The integrity unit "met Burgess as it began piecing together a more accurate picture of the boozy night in November that culminated in Burgess being charged with assault and disorderly conduct." Charges against both men "were later dropped." Despite the charges being dropped, Sutton and Burgess "were breached and fined by the Rabbitohs" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 2/13). In Sydney, Carayannis & Chammas wrote the integrity unit "will seek to speak to a host of key individuals who were part of South Sydney's trip to Arizona." Burgess, who now plays at Manly, "was among the first to be spoken to." Sutton "will be interviewed in the next few days." Much of the integrity unit's new investigation "will centre on claims Burgess paid 21-year-old bouncer Patrick Scruggs to request charges against him and Sutton be dropped." Rival NRL club officials "were mixed in their views over South Sydney's handling of the situation. Another club CEO described South Sydney's dealings as "dreadful," slamming the Rabbitohs for being "arrogant." One CEO said, "It's been dreadful. They've shown absolute contempt for the game" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 2/12). Also in Sydney, Phil Lutton wrote Brisbane Broncos coach Wayne Bennett re-ignited the issue of an NRL draft, saying that "moves need to be made to alleviate the immense and potentially damaging pressure on young players entering the code." He "reaffirmed his commitment to an external draft for NRL clubs." Part of that arrangement "would include the provision of set rookie contracts, where new players enter the elite level on the same financial playing field for their first few seasons." Bennett said that "would eliminate the relentless clamour for young talent, many of whom find themselves signed at inflated price-tags that only ratchet up expectations to perform in a merciless age of social media experts" (SMH, 2/12).
