Racing's former top cop Ray Murrihy has applauded the NRL's decision to ban mobile phones from dressing rooms, but has urged the governing body to take the next step and give itself power to seize electronic devices from players who it reasonably suspects of integrity breaches.
As revealed by Fairfax Media, the sheds will be a phone-free zone on game days, in a move aimed at shutting down potential communication between players and punters.
Manly was the first club to implement a game-day phone ban after engaging retired racing steward Murrihy to review its integrity protocols.
The other 15 clubs will now follow the lead of the Sea Eagles, the common denominator in at least two games being investigated by NSW Police's organised crime squad for alleged match-fixing.
Murrihy welcomed the NRL's new protocol as an important first step, and hoped the next would be to ensure it had full access to players' phones and electronic devices on demand.
"I applaud it [the phone ban] – it's something we recommended back in July to Manly and they have implemented those changes," Murrihy said.
"It's too easy for valuable inside information to be conveyed out of dressing rooms. There's a whole myriad of matters that can affect exotic and spread betting. Allowing people access to a phone can lead to temptation from an integrity point of view.
"I [would] recommend further that there should be the ability to seize phones and examine them, phone records, financial records and those sorts of things as well.
"That's what racing has done for a number of years – they are pillar stones of the armoury of stewards. Otherwise you are investigating matters with your hands tied behind your back.
"A couple of the other major codes have introduced that in recent years as well. From that point of view, I [hope] that is taken up."
Murrihy is no stranger to the NRL, having been engaged to assist the governing body's probe into betting irregularities during the infamous Cowboys-Bulldogs match in 2010 that resulted in Canterbury forward Ryan Tandy being convicted of match-fixing.
On Murrihy's recommendation the Sea Eagles implemented a series of further safeguards, including the installation of CCTV cameras and the tightening of protocols regarding post-match dressing room access.
The confiscation of phones and other devices, when justified, is the logical next step, he says.
"I have discussed this with the NRL and while it has been met with some resistance, the bottom line is that if the players have nothing to hide, they have nothing to worry about," he said. "It's pleasing to see that at least one of the recommendations has been implemented."
At least one player doesn't agree, with Gold Coast hooker Nathan Peats tweeting on Thursday: "Now how am I going to listen to music before the game. I think it's stupid, player doesn't come off injured & message some 1 to put a bet on."
The Rugby League Players' Association has been consulted about the new game-day protocol and supports the move in principle, although the details must still be worked through.
"We share the NRL's commitment to protecting the integrity of rugby league," said the RLPA's general counsel Tim Lythe.
"There are a range of matters we are discussing with the NRL to improve measures to combat integrity risks facing our game but, from the players' perspective, those measures need to be balanced and in response to credible threats.
"If players are to be bound by the rules and suffer sanctions for non-compliance, then those rules need to be agreed with the RLPA."
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