The player’s union continues to oppose the NRL’s ‘no fault’ stand-down policy in the belief the hardline measure isn’t adequately addressing the issue of off-field player behaviour.

The governing body introduced the rule in the hope it would placate sponsors and stem the spate of incidents that resulted in the last preseason being dubbed the “summer of hell”. However, the game’s stars continue to bring the game into disrepute with monotonous regularity.

Manly hooker Manase Fainu (centre) is under house arrest after being hit with three charges relating to an alleged stabbing at a church dance. Credit:Louise Kennerley

In the space of a few weeks, David Fifita and Nelson Asofa-Solomona were involved in separate incidents outside the same nightclub in Bali, former Souths star Sam Burgess has been issued with an AVO after an altercation with his estranged father-in-law, Josh Dugan was reportedly involved in a nightclub fracas in Queensland and Manly hooker Manase Fainu is under house arrest after he was charged with stabbing a man at a Mormon church dance.

The Rugby League Players’ Association is in mediation talks with the NRL after claiming the introduction of the stand-down rule breached the terms of their collective bargaining agreement. If the parties don’t resolve the matter it will be sent to arbitration, with an outcome expected before the start of the 2020 season.