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By Phil Rothfield
THE Roosters' sponsorship crisis is a message to every player in the NRL.
For everything good the likes of Brett Kimmorley, Nathan Hindmarsh and Hazem El Masri do to promote the game, it only needs a handful of mugs to stuff it up.
For everything good the Storm, Eels and Bulldogs did to create arguably the greatest finals series ever, it takes only a couple of clubs to stuff it up.
When giant international companies such as Samsung start saying they've had enough, it becomes a threat to the pay packets of every player.
Don't for one minute think other companies haven't discussed the player behaviour issue in boardrooms around town and thought about doing the same thing.
I'm reliably told Telstra executives considered withdrawing their major sponsorship at the height of the scandals.
Eventually it will hit the players like a Fuifui Moimoi tackle and it will hit where it hurts most - in their wallets. Clubs simply won't have the money to pay them if more sponsors go.
Throughout the season, the Roosters have been too soft on players stepping out of line with some of the most disgusting behaviour, including assaults on women. The culture at the club is appalling and still no-one has stuck their hand up to accept responsibility.
It was Nick Politis' decision to sign Nate Myles and Willie Mason from the Bulldogs - and they've had trouble ever since.
Signing wayward star Todd Carney is hardly the right start for a club that desperately needs to go in a new direction.
What's needed is a phone call from Steve Noyce to Bulldogs CEO Todd Greenberg to borrow a copy of the blueprint Canterbury used so successfully this year.
It starts off by putting the club's image ahead of two competition points.
Get rid of the ratbags, no matter how much talent they have.
THE Roosters' sponsorship crisis is a message to every player in the NRL.
For everything good the likes of Brett Kimmorley, Nathan Hindmarsh and Hazem El Masri do to promote the game, it only needs a handful of mugs to stuff it up.
For everything good the Storm, Eels and Bulldogs did to create arguably the greatest finals series ever, it takes only a couple of clubs to stuff it up.
When giant international companies such as Samsung start saying they've had enough, it becomes a threat to the pay packets of every player.
Don't for one minute think other companies haven't discussed the player behaviour issue in boardrooms around town and thought about doing the same thing.
I'm reliably told Telstra executives considered withdrawing their major sponsorship at the height of the scandals.
Eventually it will hit the players like a Fuifui Moimoi tackle and it will hit where it hurts most - in their wallets. Clubs simply won't have the money to pay them if more sponsors go.
Throughout the season, the Roosters have been too soft on players stepping out of line with some of the most disgusting behaviour, including assaults on women. The culture at the club is appalling and still no-one has stuck their hand up to accept responsibility.
It was Nick Politis' decision to sign Nate Myles and Willie Mason from the Bulldogs - and they've had trouble ever since.
Signing wayward star Todd Carney is hardly the right start for a club that desperately needs to go in a new direction.
What's needed is a phone call from Steve Noyce to Bulldogs CEO Todd Greenberg to borrow a copy of the blueprint Canterbury used so successfully this year.
It starts off by putting the club's image ahead of two competition points.
Get rid of the ratbags, no matter how much talent they have.
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