Quote: cadoo "The RFL have to set a precedent for this type of cheating. As mentioned, the credibility of the game is crucial - especially to a sport like RL - and even more so to a competition like the Championship One - and further more so to a small part-time club like Doncaster RL.
Sean Long and Martin Gleeson's punishments were small-scale. It wasn't good enough. The RFL need to set down the ultimate marker and make it a life ban.
If the games core values can be undermined to this degree, and all it amounts to is a 12 month suspension and a little fine, then something is terribly wrong.
If it was a life-time ban for such an incident - do you honestly think that a player would risk his entire career for a few hundred quid?
Ah the old rlfans prerogative - I'll make up quotes from you in my argument.
Go on - where have I said this?'"
I apologise if you thought that was an accusation. My point was that there countless times when rugby league gets bad Pr and credibility without someone breaking the rules and it goes relatively unpunished, which surely has a worse impact on the credibility of the game than if the RFL dont ban Leaf for life like you are advocating. I was merely using Cockayne as an example.
And yes, of corse players would risk their careers for a few hundred quid. Just like Hock risked the law and career taking drugs, Newton and Barnett among others risked taking performance enhancing drugs, Gleeson doing .... well. Long and Gleesons bans were a joke, but this guy is part time at a club the equivalent of Tranmere rovers in the football league. Thats not a dig at Doncaster and i dont condone what he did, and feel sorry for Donny fans, but dont think this warrants the punishment you are asking for.