Greenberg finally leaves witness box after lengthy grilling
NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg has been forced to defend the game’s decision to derive income from gambling and alcohol during his second day on the stand in Jack de Belin’s Federal Court hearing against the Australian Rugby League Commission.
Greenberg was on the witness stand on Wednesday, just metres away from where de Belin sat in courtroom 18C. On the third day of the case, it emerged the NRL gave the Rugby League Players’ Association just three business hours to lodge its response to its proposed new “no fault” stand down rule.
Previously, players who pleaded not guilty to alleged offences were allowed to continue playing while the matters were dealt with in court. Under the new policy, any player charged with an offence that carries a maximum prison term of 11 years or more will be automatically stood down.
Greenberg spent almost six hours on the stand before he was finally excused just after midday on Wednesday. During the grilling, he conceded that factors outside of de Belin’s charge had the potential to drive fans away from the code. These included refereeing blunders, lengthy video refereeing reviews, salary cap scandals and gambling and alcohol sponsorship.
De Belin’s barrister, Martin Einfled QC, pressed Greenberg on the NRL’s relationship with its wagering partner.
“We continue to have sponsored partnerships with wagering companies, but we have worked very hard over the last 24 months to reduce the exposure of their brand and we also worked very hard on ensuring that they market directly to those who actually use those products,” Greenberg said.
“Sports wagering is commonplace in professional sport.
“This is a sponsorship category we monitor very closely. There is an important clarity here to make your honour. We have partners with categories and we are respectful and work hard to ensure that those partners market and push their products in the right way and right manner, particularly around alcohol and gambling.”
Greenberg conceded there was no direct evidence in his affidavit relating to lost support as a result of off-field player behaviour. However, he gave an example involving his daughter’s touch football team.
“I have multiple examples. but to share just one,” Greenberg said. “I am a father of a daughter that plays regularly touch football. A number of her friends have made decisions that they have shared with me about the conduct of players and the reason they can no longer participate in the sport. That is a casual conversation I have had with many people over the last few months.”
It emerged that a total of 39,363 media articles referenced de Belin – who has pleaded not guilty to aggravated assault – between December and March. The NRL’s chief commercial officer, Andrew Abdo, confirmed that the NRL did not seek comparisons with other players or incidents.
The hearing continues.