NRL behaviour ‘a parent job’

Rugby league legend Billy Slater believes there’s little more the NRL can do to educate its players amid yet another off-season of scandal, arguing education ‘‘is a parent job, not an NRL job’’.

An NRL independent commission will this week decide if St George Illawarra’s Jack de Belin will be made available to start the season after he was charged with the sexual assault of a 19-year-old.

De Belin’s case is one of several alleged instances of unacceptable off-season player behaviour including a sexual assault allegation against Jarryd Hayne, an assault charge against Dylan Walker, Ben Barba’s lifetime NRL ban and leaked lewd videos of Dylan Napa.

Slater said the game needed to address ‘‘respect issues’’ but didn’t think the NRL could do much more to effect change.

‘‘I don’t know if the NRL can do any more than what they’re doing in terms of education and the policies they put in place,’’ Slater told Macquarie Sports Radio. ‘‘I was educated when I was a kid; this is a parent job, not an NRL job.

‘‘The NRL does a great job to reinforce that information. When you grow up, you get values and respect instilled in you; that’s where it all comes from.’’

Slater’s comments come amid reports the NRL will offer salary cap relief to clubs if they are forced to stand down players facing criminal charges.

If de Belin is stood down, he would remain on his full pay of $600,000 until his court case has been finalised, which could take as long as 18 months.

Slater retired at the end of the last season after 319 first-grade games, as well as 31 appearances for Queensland and 30 Kangaroos caps.