The NRL's double standards in treatment of Caitlin Moran

‘Most reprehensible behaviour’ in rugby league? There’s a woman to blame for that

Caitlin Moran

Newcastle NRLW star Caitlin Moran has been fined 25 per cent of her season’s salary and received a one-game suspension for a social media post she shared following the death of the Queen last week.

Moran, a Gomeroi and Anaiwan woman, and an Indigenous All Stars and Australian representative, has been accused of causing “damage to the game” via the social media post, which Moran deleted hours after sharing.

Now given until Tuesday to respond to the notice from the NRL’s integrity unit, Moran’s also expected to be required to attend “education and training” for the breach of the NRLW Code of Conduct, regarding her “responsibilities as a player and the appropriate use of social media.”

Meanwhile, she’s become the centre of significant vitriol from commentators declaring she should know her place. Commentators who have more to say about Moran’s Instagram account, than they did about Manase Fainu, jailed for stabbing a church leader. Or Greg Bird, jailed for assaulting his girlfriend. Or Brett Finch, who pleaded guilty to charges of child abuse material last month.

For Ray Hadley, Moran’s post was “perhaps the most reprehensible thing ever seen connected to rugby league.” Sexual assault, recreational drug abuse, drug trafficking, violence against women, manslaughter? It’s a post about the Queen that tops it all for bad player behaviour. That behaviour just happens to come from an Indigenous woman, and it’s given some commentators the opportunity to talk more about women’s sport in the past few days, than they have in the past few years.

Then there are the examples of suspensions and fines occurring during the finals weeks in the NRL.

Taylan May was found guilty of assault two weeks ago, following an incident that occurred (and was captured on CCTV cameras) on the Sunshine Coast. The magistrate described May as “cowardly”, with the footage showing him assaulting an 18 year old after being triggered when the teenager started filming his teammate.

So what is the NRL to do? Take a quarter of his salary in response to their stated position that “rugby league is an inclusive game and has a proud and strong relationship with many communities”? No. May faces a two-game suspension – but he won’t have to serve it until the first two rounds of the 2023 season. That means the Penrith winger is free to play in the NRL finals. He’ll also be fined $7500, which is very far from 25 per cent of his salary.

As the NRL said in response to May’s punishment and its timing, “the NRL considered a number of factors including when the incident took place, the date at which the proceedings were finalised and the impact of a match suspension at this time of year,”

There were few such “factors” considered in the Integrity Unit’s statement regarding Moran’s suspension and fine, nor the fact she is effectively missing one-sixth of the season with a one-match ban. Rather, it declared that “regardless of any personal views, all players and officials must adhere to the professional standards expected of them and on this occasion, the public comments made by the player have caused damage to the game.”

A number of prominent First Nations people have noted the “double standards” and “disproportionate reaction” of the sanctions. There are now demands that the NRL apologise to Moran.

The Rugby League Players Union also slammed the decision, describing Moran’s punishment as “head-scratching”, issuing a statement that the fine, although suspended, is too severe, and is “another example of the inconsistent and disproportionate penalties handed down to players.”

“The lack of a clear and transparent framework puts players in an incredibly vulnerable position and leaves many within the game scratching their heads at administrative decision-making,” the statement read.

Moran has faced significant criticism for the post — which goes into abuse, trolling, racism and sexism – and will follow her career for years. The NRL had an opportunity to avoid the double standards, to consider the complexity of the issue, and the additional impact on a female player. Sadly, they chose the opposite.

×

Stay Smart! Get Savvy!

Get Women’s Agenda in your inbox