The National Rugby League "has been forced into an embarrassing backflip over plans to allow its integrity unit to confiscate mobile phones after outraged players complained about the governing body's new 'police' powers," according to Adrian Proszenko of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD.
Manly players Brett Stewart and Willie Mason "led the outcry after the governing body proposed sweeping new powers in future investigations of players and clubs." Under proposed new rule 48, the integrity unit "was given the power to 'take possession of or copy computer data (including that stored on smart phones).'" After a "stinging rebuke from its constituents," including the Rugby League Players' Association, the NRL "clarified its position on Tuesday afternoon via a media release, stating it did not intend to confiscate mobile phones as part of its investigations." While they may now not physically lose their handsets, the NRL "can ask players to provide anything stored on them." Should players refuse, they "can be hit with sanctions, most likely a fine." However that "could be more palatable than allowing officials to scrutinise some of their private communications" (SMH, 3/4). In Sydney, Christian Nicolussi reported unlike racing stewards, the NRL integrity unit "doesn't have the power to subpoena phone records if a player refuses to cooperate." An NRL spokesperson said, "If a player is up on an harassment charge, we’d need to prove someone was calling that person all the time. Or if a lewd photo was sent, we could ask a player to provide the SMS they had sent out. We don’t need the phone, we’re just requiring the data." Rugby League PA President David Garnsey said that "he had held conversations with the NRL about their investigative powers last year, but not once had the issue of seizing phones or computers been discussed" (DAILY TELEGRAPH, 3/3).
PRETTY IN PINK: In Sydney, Brad Walter reported the senior referee in each game this season "will have a soccer-style armband to signify he is the man in charge, but the days of NRL match officials wearing pink jerseys have gone as it is believed the uniform made it more difficult for the officials to be taken seriously."
In a bid "to make referees more accountable, one will be appointed as the leader of the team officiating at a match and he will wear an armband to make him easily identifiable." The uniforms worn by referees this season "will be blue or red" -- colors that the National Centre for Australian Studies lecturer Tom Heenan said "were more likely to encourage discipline" (SMH, 3/3).
