BY CURTIS WOODWARD

@woodward_curtis

Rugby league is the beast the used car salesman keeps you away from. You keep looking back over your shoulder and he keeps blocking your view. What is it about this car?

You look at a couple of others but you are entranced by this worn out muscle car with an ever so slight glint – sitting away in the corner.

“I’d like to give it a test run,” you smile.

“You’re on your own kid,” he throws you the keys, “I’m not getting in that.”

You happily take the keys and slide into the driver’s side. You fit perfectly in the seat. This is your car.

And then all hell breaks loose. You turn the key and listen to your brand new best friend spit and sing, she’s twitching to get out of the lot. Then you realise why the salesman had refused to come with you.

Rugby league has never been easy to drive.

You indicate left and it veers to the right. It accelerates when you want to break.

This is a demon machine possessed.

But a monster like this isn’t for everyone and that’s why NRL CEO Todd Greenberg and the ARL Commission recently went out and bought a family van that everyone can enjoy.

It drives beautifully.

There is, however, a problem.

Despite their best intentions, they’ve left one group out in the street.

It was great to see the NRL come out and make such a tough stance against players that commit sexual assault or other violent crimes.

Now the van drives straight.

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The NRL were embarrassed no end by the Dylan Napa videos. They fined him and warned about future fines and suspensions for players in leaked sex acts.

They were so desperate to stand for something real and historic that they went too far. Of course, protect the brand at any cost but doesn’t that mean protecting the players from the criminals releasing these videos?

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Without our players, there is no game and no teams for us to support.

Since the NRL’s announcements, several more leaks have occurred out of the Penrith Panthers club.

There will be dozens more across the league.

When will those leaking the videos be punished?

Isn’t protecting a player’s basic human rights protecting the game?

We’ve skewed too far.

It’s okay for the media to defend a pedophile priest but footy players having sex is bad?

Shame on you, naughty footy players.

Rugby league will pulverize itself into oblivion if it doesn’t stop the leakers.

And then there will no game left to support.

@woodward_curtis