Former NRL legend Steve Mortimer says footy players shouldn't take all the heat for series of embarrassing scandals – claiming that 'young ladies looking for a little bit of notice' are also to blame

  • League legend Steve Mortimer says players aren't fully to blame for scandals
  • Says young ladies 'looking for notice' also to blame for ongoing sex tape dramas
  • Controversial comments sparked outrage ahead of International Womens Day 

By Kylie Stevens For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 07:53 EST, 7 March 2019 | Updated: 07:53 EST, 7 March 2019

A rugby league legend has sparked public outrage by claiming NRL players shouldn't cop all the blame for a spate of off-field scandals that have recently rocked the code.

Former Canterbury Bulldogs champion halfback Steve Mortimer has come under fire for his views on the ongoing sex tape scandals by claiming young ladies trying to attract players' attention are also to blame for the drama.

His comments come after Penrith Panthers player Tyrone May became the latest player to be stood down by the NRL this week following his arrest over two sex tapes involving two women.

Penrith Panthers player Tyrone May (pictured) became the last player to be stood down by the NRL this week

Penrith Panthers player Tyrone May (pictured) became the last player to be stood down by the NRL this week

'When you go out you've got to look after each other and rather then try crack onto the girls or whatever, do what you have to do and then go home,' Mortimer told the ABC on Thursday night.

'Obviously they're human beings as well, but look I just think it's not just the players I think it can also be the young ladies that are looking for a little bit of notice, that "I'm being taken out by a certain great rugby league player" and I think that's wrong.'

Mortimer admitted to not knowing the answers to fix the problem, but called for NRL clubs to have more ambassadors to 'settle the players down.' 

Steve Mortimer's  controversial comments coincided with International Women's Day

Steve Mortimer's  controversial comments coincided with International Women's Day

'Today I went and saw a bloke that I absolutely respect in the game of rugby league, and won't say who he is, but he showed me this on his iPhone and I just could not believe it that they were having sex,' he said. 

'I just thought, how embarrassing is that to yourself and it should never be done. Should never be shown that way.'

Mortimer's controversial comments ahead of International Womens Day on Friday sent social media into meltdown.

'I used to love the league. Not any more. I will never watch another game at the stadium or on TV whilst the disgusting misogyny of its culture & players continues unabated,' one former fan tweeted. 

Dylan Napa (pictured) was fined $50,000 after he was recently caught up in a sex tape drama

Dylan Napa (pictured) was fined $50,000 after he was recently caught up in a sex tape drama

Another added: 'Steve Mortimer should not ever speak to the media.'

There was some support for Mortimer, who won three premierships with the Bulldogs in the 1980s and led the NSW Blues to their first ever State of Origin series win against Queensland in 1985.

'Kind of have to agree with Steve Mortimer here. It doesn’t excuse any form of violence on a woman but young ladies who encourage these brawny blokes to pursue them all the way into bed, need to take some responsibility for the (predictably bad) outcomes,' one man tweeted. 

'I just think it's not just the players, I think it can also be the young ladies that are looking for a little bit of notice,' Steve Mortimer, pictured with wife Karen, said

'I just think it's not just the players, I think it can also be the young ladies that are looking for a little bit of notice,' Steve Mortimer, pictured with wife Karen, said

Sydney Rooster NRL player Daniel Mortimer also jumped to the defence of his famous uncle.

'People commenting to Steve Mortimer’s interview comment. Watch the actual interview! Not the ridiculous heading Fox NRL Live and ABC News and have put on it. Clearly does not solely blame “young ladies”,' he tweeted.

May, 22, has been charged with disseminating images and recording images without consent and will appear in Penrith Local Court on May 1.

Tyrone May (pictured) was charged with disseminating images and recording images without consent. He's not allowed to play for the Panthers until he appears in court in May

Tyrone May (pictured) was charged with disseminating images and recording images without consent. He's not allowed to play for the Panthers until he appears in court in May

One video allegedly showed him performing a sexual act with a woman at Coffs Harbour in February 2018.

The other allegedly showed him filming a sexual act with another woman at Kingswood in May 2018, police alleged.

He was stood down under the NRL's new no-fault policy announced last week, which was implemented after a raft of players were accused of serious criminal offences including assault and sexual assault.

Fellow Penrith players Tyrone Phillips and Liam Coleman are still the subject of a club and integrity unit investigation after allegedly appearing in videos.

The NRL fined Queensland Origin star Dylan Napa $50,000 last week after several lewd sex tapes dating from five years ago were leaked online.

NRL's summer from hell 

September 4 - Pictures are published of Canterbury players dancing nude during their Mad Monday celebrations. The club was fined $250,000 and players Adam Elliott and Asipeli Fine both pleaded guilty to wilful and obscene exposure.

September 30 - Former Parramatta star Jarryd Hayne is alleged to have sexually assaulted a woman after travelling to her home in the Hunter region of NSW on NRL grand final night. He has been charged with aggravated sexual assault and has pleaded not guilty.

October 1 - South Sydney's Greg Inglis is charged with speeding and drink-driving while returning from an indigenous rugby league tournament in Dubbo. He was stripped of the Australian captaincy and handed an 18-month good behaviour bond.

October 13 - Parramatta's Jaeman Salmon is charged with drink driving after a traffic accident in which he flipped his car and hit three parked vehicles. He was convicted and disqualified from driving for six months. He has also been stood down from playing in round one and fined $10,000.

November 24 - Wests Tigers player Zane Musgrove and Penrith's Liam Coleman are involved in an alleged incident at a Coogee hotel n Sydney's east. The pair have pleaded not guilty to indecently assaulting a 22-year-old woman.

December 2 - Newcastle prop Jacob Saifiti suffers a broken leg after being knocked out in a fight outside a pub. He was not charged by police but is fined $25,000 by his club.

December 6 - Manly's Dylan Walker is charged with common assault following an alleged domestic violence incident at his Dee Why home in Sydney's north. He has pleaded not guilty. His partner has retracted her original statements to police in which she claimed he pulled her hair, causing her to fall.

December 13 - Jack de Belin is charged with the aggravated sexual assault of a 19-year-old woman. He has pleaded not guilty.

December 21 - Six Cronulla lower-grade players are involved in a scuffle at the Cronulla Sailing Club. The nightclub banned the entire Sharks playing group. The six players were all fined.

December 25 - Brisbane's Myles Taueli shatters a man's jaw with a coward punch only weeks after being drafted into the Broncos' top 30 squad. He has been convicted of assault, jailed for two years and has had his Broncos contract torn up.

December 26 - Newcastle's Tautau Moga allegedly slaps a taxi driver. He has been charged with common assault and will appear in court on March 21.

December 30 - Wests Tigers utility Michael Chee Kam is alleged to have punched a ride share driver. He has been charged with common assault.

January 7 - Scott Bolton pleads guilty to common assault after grabbing a woman's upper thigh at a Sydney bar. He was given a 12-month good behaviour bond.

January 11 - The first of three lewd videos involving Dylan Napa emerge on the internet, all of which show the Queensland prop engaging in a sexual act.

January 15 - A video emerges of Corey Norman watching on as a man snorts a white substance off a plate. Norman was sanctioned by the NRL for the video in 2016.

February 1 - Ben Barba is sacked by North Queensland after the club views CCTV of an alleged domestic incident at a Townsville casino. He has been handed a life ban by the NRL.

February 20 - Brisbane's Haas is stood down for four games and fined $20,000 for failing to comply with an integrity unit investigation. 

March 1 - The NRL investigates sex tapes involving Penrith Panthers player Tyrone May. 

March 4 - The league's integrity unit investigates another sex tape allegedly involving another two Penrith Panthers players.  

 - AAP

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League great Steve Mortimer claims young ladies looking for notice are also to blame for NRL scandal

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