Rugby League is undoubtedly the greatest game of all. To say that I miss it is a huge understatement.
I miss the tries, the big hits, the crowds, the jerseys, even the referee errors. I miss literally everything about it.
That said, not even League has it exactly right.
Unfortunately, league is rather prone to a scandal. Some hilarious, some ridiculous and some unfortunately serious and life changing.
We take a look at 10 of the biggest Rugby League controversies and scandals of the century.
For obvious reasons, we'll avoid specifics where they're not 100 per cent well known.
Here is our top 10...
2. Sharks ASADA Scandal
In February 2019, The Sharks were whacked with a $750,000 for salary cap breaches dating back to 2013.
ASADA seemed to be the scandal that dragged on forever. From the moment the 'darkest day in sport' press conference took place, fans of each club waited for management to distance themselves. Club by club the media releases were made until there were a few clubs left to admit they were under investigation.
Fast forward and only one club was left standing, the Sharks. Along with the Essendon Bombers in that other code, they were dragged through the mud at every opportunity through their own doing. We'll never really know exactly what happened but disgraced sports scientist Stephen Dank allegedly provided banned substances to unknowing Sharks players.
Sponsors walked away, Shane Flanagan was stood down, then brought back by the club then suspended by the NRL. Sharks players were forced to fight for their futures, as too was the club.
Ultimately players were handed back dated suspensions for assisting in the investigation but this will never leave the club. It hangs over them even though they finished a distant last in 2004 and faced going under as a result of the scandal.
