THIS is the reason why the NRL needs to maintain an absolute zero-tolerance policy on players touching referees at all levels of the game.

While the NRL incidents from last weekend were nowhere near as serious as this disgraceful assault on a referee in Wyong, the message needs to be delivered from the top.

Hundreds of thousands of youngsters watch NRL on TV and at the grounds every weekend.

They have a tendency to copy what their heroes do.

Like when the Fifita brothers Andrew and David verbally assaulted a referee in park football last year.

Canterbury forward Dave Klemmer will face the NRL judiciary tonight on a charge of coming into contact with referee Ben Cummins at Penrith last Thursday night.

It follows his aggressive verbal confrontation with Gerard Sutton in the Good Friday game last year at ANZ Stadium.

It’s a shame rugby league heroes like Brad Fittler, Paul Gallen and Andrew Johns have said this week that Klemmer should escape a suspension.

It’s time we all took a more responsible approach.

OTHER NEWS: REAL ISSUE MISSED IN DANK DEFENCE

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