Tallis: Time for NRL to step in

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THE NRL needs to consider whether the time has come to punish clubs for the behaviour of their fans.

The league also must take stronger action for the way players talk to referees.

Everybody who was involved in what happened at ANZ Stadium on Friday needs to take responsibility for how their actions contributed to what was a disgraceful image for our game.

The players, coaches, club, fans and even the security need to look at what they did to ensure such an incident never happen again.

We don't want the hooliganism that plagues soccer in Europe infiltrate our game. We don't want teenage girls racially abusing players, as happened in the AFL last year.

We don't want the NRL to force clubs to play in empty stadiums.

CONTROL: Graham denies disrespect or any malice

BUZZ: Bulldogs' ref outburst way off track

CONSEQUENCES: Graham awaits outcome after outburst

James Graham is facing sanctions after his outburst at referee Gerard Sutton. Source: Getty Images

PLAYERS

The guys on the field need to realise that arguing with referees incites the fans. Yes, I have been guilty of arguing with referees in the past. And I was wrong.

As much as I thought I was right at the time, and on some issues I was right, I let my team down. Nobody who has ever argued with a referee has ever won.

I apologised to Bill Harrigan immediately after the Origin game whenI got sent off. I apologised to him for the fans too.

I met him at his house days later to ensure there were no issues moving forward. To this day it is something I am embarrassed about and wish never happened.

When you're out on the field, the last thing in your mind is how it must look to the little kid watching in the stands or at home on TV with his parents. At that level it's all about winning.

And the harder you try for something, the more passionate you get. That is what we saw with James Graham.

I love the passion and commitment he plays with. But he needs to accept he was wrong.

I truly believe Graham was only going for the ball when trying to charge down the field goal attempt.

But if you do that and make contact with the leg of a kicker, you get penalised. Simple as that.

I think more frustration came by the fact no players knew the rule that if you make a foul on a kicker taking a shot at field goal, it's a penalty 10m in front of the posts.

Again, if players think it's OK to abuse a referee, then the fans will too. The NRL needs to stamp out that behaviour.

The referees need to use the sin bin. If a player does not come out to them with respect and use manners, put them in the bin. It is time for zero tolerance.

Graham and David Klemmer need to accept what they did was wrong and apologise immediately for how they spoke to the referees.

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COACHES AND CLUB

One of the best things the NRL has done this year is ban coaches from talking about referees. It's a great message to send.

The coach can't call referees Voldemorts and think the fans won't feed off that disrespect.

The clubs need to support respect for officials from top to bottom. I know it's not all Bulldogs fans, but some of them show no respect to the law.

Punishing the club may be the only way to teach fans that this sort of behaviour won't be tolerated.

Is it time to take away competition points? Issue hefty club fines?

Like it or not, the way your members behave reflects as much upon your club as the behaviour of your superstar players.

A touch judge is hit by a bottle thrown from the crowd. Source: AAP

FANS

I want fans to be passionate, I love when they scream for their team.

But I hope they find every culprit from Friday on CCTV footage and ban them from coming to a league game ever again. It's a cowardly act to throw missiles at referees.

I've walked out of soccer games overseas where riot squads, horses, police armour tanks and water guns were waiting to keep fans separate.

What is society getting to?

This is sport. Yeah, it is tribal and you're invested in your team. You've loved your club since you were a kid and you want them to win. But it is OK to lose. There is always another game.

We all have a part to play. Parents need to talk to kids about what happened and explain that sort of behaviour is not acceptable in any game, at any level.

SECURITY

What is wrong with waiting to leave the field if the crowd are revved up?

If there is a contentious decision, security should wait in the middle of the ground with the referees until the crowd have dispersed. Or use a different exit.

It might seem an extreme measure, but it's better than putting our referees in danger.

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