- Andrew Abdo has written to coaches around the NRL to issue a warning
- This year, the NRL are taking serious steps to clamp down on one regulation
Andrew Abdo has issued a warning to coaches around the league advising them via email that the NRL will be taking a tougher stance this season on club bosses talking about match officials.
In an email that was leaked to The Courier Mail, NRL CEO, Abdo, wrote generally to coaches around the league and told them that the NRL is going to be stricter this season when it comes to officiating comments made by coaches directed to referees.
Coaches were first banned by league bosses from talking about officials ahead of the 2015 season.
‘You may recall the club CEOs meeting during Magic Round last year where we discussed the public focus on officiating and comments by coaches that at times only serve amplify fan and media attention on what in many cases are simply differences of opinion,’ Abdo wrote in the leaked email.
‘The consensus at the meeting was the NRL should more strictly enforce the public comment rules in relation to match officials.
‘Please can I ask you to advise your head coaches and all club officials, that the existing public comment provisions of the NRL rules will be more strictly enforced in 2025.
Andrew Abdo has issued a warning to coaches around the league advising them that the NRL will be taking a tougher stance this season on club bosses talking about match officials
The 2025 NRL season is well underway but the league boss has warned coaches that any comments made during post-match conferences or interviews will not be tolerated
It appeard the NRL had relaxed its rules in recent years but will now be taking a stricter approach to clamp down on the matter
‘This includes, but is not limited to, post-match media conferences, radio and television interviews, and club or personal social media posts.’
The league had appeared to relax their stance in recent years but it appears they will come down heavy on coaches slamming referees in 2025.
No coaches have been under the microscope so far this year but the move comes after Penrith’s coach Ivan Cleary dodged a fine last year.
It came as Cleary took aim at the bunker after his side’s victory against Cronulla in the preliminary finals last year, branding a decision made by the video match officials as ‘terrible’.
Phil Gould, meanwhile, was handed a breach notice and a $20,000 suspended fine on appeal, after he called the game ‘stupid’ on 100 per cent footy.
