THE Broncos' hardline approach to restoring their off-field reputation claimed its first victims this week - the entire Toyota Cup under-20s grand final side.
The team was banned from having its scheduled "Mad Monday" team functions as punishment for the behaviour of a handful of players.
The tough stance was in keeping with new NRL coach Ivan Henjak's vow to turn around the club's culture after three first-graders were embroiled in sexual assault allegations last month and captain Darren Lockyer was caught on video tackling a bar manager.
"It's common knowledge we've taken a bit of a battering about our image," Henjak said.
"It's important we learn from our mistakes and put plans in place so it doesn't happen again."
schmix said:I like the idea of punishing the whole team for a few guys' mistakes (to an extent, of course). Hopefully it will make them all look out for each other and keep themselves in line.
Culhwch said:schmix said:I like the idea of punishing the whole team for a few guys' mistakes (to an extent, of course). Hopefully it will make them all look out for each other and keep themselves in line.
That's more or less why I thought the Alahambra three should have been stood down from the Storm game - if they were truly devoted to the team, then letting down their teammates like that would do more to curb their ways than any fine or stern talking to...
badav said:Culhwch said:schmix said:I like the idea of punishing the whole team for a few guys' mistakes (to an extent, of course). Hopefully it will make them all look out for each other and keep themselves in line.
That's more or less why I thought the Alahambra three should have been stood down from the Storm game - if they were truly devoted to the team, then letting down their teammates like that would do more to curb their ways than any fine or stern talking to...
I think there was more than 3 there that night getting shitfaced who let down the team and i also think the club knows that if they dropped all those players that the season was over.
Hammo said:If he was a Bronco and these policies were in place, after this weekend just gone, Andrew Symonds would never be playing again!
THE Brisbane Broncos have effectively grounded their entire playing roster for next season by preparing to implement the strictest anti-alcohol measures in rugby league history.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal Brisbane's 10-point plan for next season, which includes scheduling Sunday morning training sessions to prevent weekend benders.
Brisbane's get-tough stance on boozing players comes after a two-day conference on the Gold Coast where incoming coach Ivan Henjak showed he will not tolerate any social ill-discipline. Broncos players will be told this week about the club's new stand against boozy behaviour.
Three Brisbane players - Sam Thaiday, Karmichael Hunt and Darius Boyd - remain under police investigation for alleged sexual assault at a Brisbane nightclub, while skipper Darren Lockyer is alleged to have tackled a bar owner in a separate incident.
While Broncos chief executive Bruno Cullen denies the club has a drinking culture, the radical reforms indicate a deep concern about player behaviour.
The Broncos' anti-booze rules include:
PLAYERS to be stood down from first grade for failing to follow the rules;
NO booze at all between Sunday matches and Friday night games;
SUNDAY morning training sessions;
SATURDAY night curfews with a limit on the amount of alcohol consumed and the time players spend drinking;
TOTAL drinking ban for players with soft tissue injuries;
FAMILY members to be encouraged to attend social functions;
RECOVERY session on Saturdays after Friday night matches; and
POSSIBLE total bans depending on how side is performing.
Cullen said of the tough new guidelines: "We won't ban drinking per se, but we will have control over when they should drink and how much they should drink. If we play on Sunday and again the following Friday night, there will be no drinking in a five-day turnaround.
"There will be an emphasis on player recovery. We don't want any players drinking until they have been assessed by the medical staff, all have had a substantial meal and rehydrated completely.
"It's about putting responsibility back on to the players.
"They will know what's required and what the punishment will be for not adhering to the club rules."
In a revealing interview, Cullen also spoke about his relationship with Wayne Bennett. "Wayne and I have been friends for well over 20 years - not the sort of friends that meet every weekend and go and have a beer, lunch or BBQ together," he said.
"It would be silly to say the Roosters story (in 2006) didn't put some strain on that relationship, but we got over that fairly quickly."