This is a direct result of opening the Pandora's box of "government interference in family".....ie, you can't smack your kids resulting in a generation of kids growing up with no respect for themselves, the law or anything else.
An entirely different thread!
Back to Fergie.......he's had his chance, he's blown it. Move along here, nothing to see other than an inane grin on a pseudo French internet nuisance.

The governing body sometimes has to step in because clubs have consistently shown a complete inability to think beyond the short-term aim of winning games next season.

The NRL has shown with the massive fine its hit Gallen with and other actions that it is taking a much harder line with players than it has in the past. They're doing it because too many NRL players get up to gross and/or criminal activity, only to get away with it because their club (or another one) needs them.

Every close season since I've been in Aus its only been a matter of time before we hear about assaults, public drunkeness or worse amongst NRL players. The game has a dire image in the press and amongst the general public because of it.

I have no problem with a couple of high profile idiots to be frozen out of the game if that's what it takes to get the message across to all players that such rubbish won't be tolerated.

The governing body sometimes has to step in because clubs have consistently shown a complete inability to think beyond the short-term aim of winning games next season.

The NRL has shown with the massive fine its hit Gallen with and other actions that it is taking a much harder line with players than it has in the past. They're doing it because too many NRL players get up to gross and/or criminal activity, only to get away with it because their club (or another one) needs them.

Every close season since I've been in Aus its only been a matter of time before we hear about assaults, public drunkeness or worse amongst NRL players. The game has a dire image in the press and amongst the general public because of it.

I have no problem with a couple of high profile idiots to be frozen out of the game if that's what it takes to get the message across to all players that such rubbish won't be tolerated.

Agreed.

We are in the business of selling elite entertainment - the relative skill of an individual is pretty important in that proposition.

I don't share the view that Ferguson is a world beater that some on here are touting - people are quick to moralise and equally quick to forget - he would not have anywhere near the impact the likes of Monaghan, Bird etc have had.

You appear to be unfamiliar with the modus operandi of 'Monsieur' Jean Capdouze ...

How would an indigenous australian (and not a very nice one), running around in the South of France ever be classed as "one of their own"? Of all the rubbish I've ever read on here!

The woman in league thing is bollox - a number of players have had instances of 'allegedly' assaulting women and that includes the best player in the world Greg Inglis. I bet there isn't a poster on here who would not welcome Greg Inglis to their club. Haven't seen Gutterfax condemning him!!

As I said people are quick to jump on the bandwagon and equally quick to forget.

Like it or not our players become role models, kids wear shirts with their names on the back, crowds chant their names, their images adorn newspapers and magazines.

I find it hard to afford that kind of adulation to a player who's been convicted of the type of crime we're talking about here. There's definitely something not right with our game offering the likes of Ferguson as heroes for young children who can't understand or don't know the background to that players crime.

Have you ever seen Blake Ferguson play? I have, and I share the view of thousands of fans, including Nicholas Polites, that he is a devastating attacking force, more potent than even his friend and former fellow troublemaker Joshua Dugan. He is certainly more potent than Joel Monaghan and Gregory Bird, talented though they both may be. As a centre Blake is at the same level as Sam Burgess is as lock forward. In other words, Blake Ferguson is an exceptional talent.

All the more reason to prevent him playing again as he will definitely become the hero of young kids which given his crime is just wrong!

Let him take a course in general building, website design or some other industry where he can earn an honest anonymous living.

As a side note to this, Ferguson was found guilty of a sexual assault but DOES NOT have a criminal record for it. There would be no reason to prevent him gaining a UK visa, therefore Catalan would not be the only club in for him.

As I said for Carney, we shouldnt be a dumping ground for players who's behaviour isnt good enough for the NRL. We arent 2nd choice and we shouldnt present ourselves that way.

Saying that, sports governing bodies taking a stance on moral judgements is never going to work out well for the governing body. When they attempt to 'make a stand' and talk about how players are 'role models that need to behave in a certain way' they are simply talking themselves in to a one way street of puritanism. When they say one thing is acceptable and ban a player, the unavoidable inference is that anything that doesnt result in a player ban is acceptable. We then get further and further and further down that line banning players for lesser and lesser offences.

Easy way out of it is simply to say, we have a legal system to deal with players behaviour outside of the sport. They deal with that.