Why the NRL's latest gag order could lead to a "slippery slope"

The NRL are set to introduce a gag order on club officials in order to strengthen the anti-tampering laws around player movement.

Clubs are not permitted to negotiate with rival players if they are more than 12 months out from the final year of their contract. However, the NRL are cautious of club officials and media personalities such as Phil Gould.

Gould raised eyebrows when he declared then Wests Tigers playmaker Lachlan Galvin as the most talented teenager he had ever seen. Galvin would later join the Bulldogs under controversial circumstances.

Under the NRL’s proposed rules, Gould’s comments would not be acceptable and could lead to fines, salary cap sanctions and potential deregistration.

SEN’s Andrew Voss believes there is too much grey area in the NRL’s proposal and suggested there were far more pressing matters in the game that need to be addressed.

“I don’t know what this anti-tampering and gag order will mean to people like Braith Anasta and our very own Greg Alexander,” Voss said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.

“Matty Johns is now a part owner of the Gold Coast Titans. What can he now say and not say around players?

“Let’s use David Fifita as an example,” Matt Russell replied.

“What if Alexander said that ‘there’s a good footballer in David and I think the best thing for him is to get out of the Gold Coast.’

“Does that breach laws? It’s a legitimate media comment (and) this could lead to a slippery slope.

“I don’t know how it can work. Will they be looking at every person in the media that has a role with the club?"

Voss responded: “It’d have to be a breach.

“The perception from the NRL of Gus (Gould) in the media was that he was inducing (Galvin) to come over to Canterbury.

“Does anyone not separate his roles with the media and with Canterbury?

“Braith Anasta would potentially cross the line more than Gus would with his role as NRL 360 host and a player agent.

“Alexander is on the board and is deputy chair of Penrith. Can I not ask a question to him about a player who could be off contract?

“I think it’s an overreaction (and) I don’t think it’s on the priority list.

“It’s not high on my priority list for rugby league.”