Furious NRL boss says stop the rot

NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo has urged club bosses to make sure players and officials toe the line following a spate of breaches in recent weeks, the latest leading to potential financial sanctions against Shaun Johnson and Kevin Proctor for failing to adhere to the game’s judicial code.

Abdo spoke to club chief executives on Wednesday, his frustration understandable as he addressed a slew of incidents which have resulted in the NRL handing out fines en masse.

While he acknowledged it was a difficult time for the code and their clubs, he also spoke about the need for the game to present itself in the best light heading into the finals.

There could yet be further repercussions for Proctor after he spoke out prior to fronting the judiciary on a biting charge.

His accuser Johnson is also under the gun after he posted a missive on social media in Proctor’s defence.

It didn’t help – Proctor will miss four weeks after being found guilty. The integrity unit was on Wednesday night still weighing up whether to fine the pair.

Head of football Graham Annesley defended the decision to send off Proctor, insisting referee Henry Perenara had made the right call.

“Even if Kevin had been exonerated last night, I don’t believe referee Henry Perenara had any alternative but to take the action he did based on the circumstances he was confronted with,” Annesley said.

“He had a very irate Shaun Johnson verbally claiming to have been bitten, combined with high-definition video evidence from the bunker, that at the very least supported Shaun’s claim on a prima facie basis.”

Proctor’s future remains in limbo, although it is understood the Titans have begun talks over an extension beyond the end of this season. His teammates want him to stay.

“Absolutely – it’s guys like him who build sides,” prop Jarrod Wallace said.

“I think having him here definitely makes us a better team. The club really needs to look at locking him down.”