‘Faces of the game’ Week 3

Another year and another ‘face of the game’ for the NRL in trouble. Yesterday it was revealed that Bulldogs player and 2012 Dally M Medalist Ben Barba has been stood down by the club for behavioral issues. The full story is yet to be released about what he has actually done, but the reports so far say that alcohol and gambling are at the forefront of his problems, as well as joining a hard partying group from Cronulla. It just seems to me that the title of the face of the NRL is cursed, whoever it is seems bound to get into trouble. Off the top of my head i think of Brett Stewart with his sexual assault case, causing the NRL to scrap their entire pre season campaign which featured Stewart. Benji Marshall just a few years ago was also labelled the ‘face of the game’, but was accused of assault just a few hours after the official season launch.

It makes me think that putting one player on a pedestal is too much, especially in what is supposed to be a team game. Not only does it seem to always end badly for the player, but the NRL surely has to be getting the message that this sort of marketing isnt working. I cant think of who the ‘poster boy’ is for the AFL, Super Rugby and T20 Big Bash.

I understand that having a young star as the centre of the marketing campaign is going to raise a lot of interest in the game, but despite how good someone like Barba is, maybe 22 years old isnt old and experienced enough to handle being at the centre of attention. Even though he is retired now, i think that someone like Nathan Hindmarsh, an established, representative player who was in his early 30s could have been a better choice if there really is a need for one player to face the game.

The thing that annoys me the most about this is how the press relays the stories onto the public. Reading a report of Barba’s partying online at the moment, the effect that this will have on the odds offered for the Bulldogs season is mentioned a couple of times and there are quotes from bookmaking representatives. Nothing from anyone in a position to help Barba, or shed light on what has actually happened. Makes it seem that the odds for his team drifting out are more important than helping an obviously troubled young star. Interestingly it will probably be the same media mediums which accuse the NRL of not educating their players, not showing any responsibility for the actions, or being able to help troubled individuals.