Roy Masters is a Sports Columnist for The Sydney Morning Herald
Accusations that NRL clubs are not taking mental health seriously, hiring recently retired, unqualified players as welfare officers in order to satisfy undertakings to give them jobs, is incorrect, says the NRL.
Australian, Queensland and Storm captain, Cameron Smith, will join the RLPA as a board member, adding further authority and status to a body growing in membership and credibility.
Post truth may well be the Oxford Dictionary's word of the year but rugby league has operated in this universe for decades. The code has been well ahead of the Trumpites and Brexiters in  disdaining facts and appealing to emotion when presenting arguments.
A covert push for John Quayle to become ARLC chair became overt on Thursday morning when multi-media's Matty Johns declared on Triple M radio that the "Canon", after a 20-year absence as boss, should replace John Grant immediately.
A cost blow out at Rugby League Central is the underlying reason for the revolt against the leadership of ARLC chairman, John Grant, with the rebelling clubs convinced an inner circle is running the game.
Oscar Wilde, the 19th century foppish English playwright made two visits to the US city, rejecting its art and architecture with a snort, dismissively declaring: "Must we go to Chicago to be educated?"
The 2017 AFL season does not start until Thursday March 23 with an MCG match between Carlton and Richmond, yet the Storm's first home game on a weekend is a round five Saturday match against the Panthers on April 1.
John Coates, who is chairman of the IOC Legal Affairs Commission, as well as being President of the Court of Arbitration for Sport, will need all of his lawyerly skills to redraft the ARL Commission constitution to satisfy the 16 NRL clubs, NSW and Queensland Leagues, as well as the incumbent commissioners.
Of all the reasons cited for the Sharks releasing fullback Ben Barba, one has been overlooked. The Broncos paid most of his salary for the 2015 and 2016 seasons. Next year, the Sharks would be required to fund his entire playing contract.
Up to 10 player managers, representing most of rugby league's elite players, face possible criminal prosecution and NRL de-registration, following a joint NSW Police/Integrity Unit investigation into the Parramatta salary cap breaches.
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