A SENIOR Manly official has undertaken counter-terrorism courses as rugby league moves into a murky and uncomfortable era of increased security.

And The Daily Telegraph understands rivals NRL clubs are also looking at employing a global sport security firm based in Qatar.

The fear of a possible terrorist attack at rugby league matches heightened after a suicide bomber blew himself up outside Paris’ Stade Francais nearly a fortnight ago.

Sea Eagles football manager Charlie Haggett, a former police superintendent, has written a detailed player safety and security paper, which covers counter terrorism along with lower-scale dramas including drink spiking, fan misbehaviour and issuing players personal safety guidelines.

“I have been to quite a few lectures on counter-terrorism and terrorism issues that no longer say this might happen, it’s more when this will occur,” Haggett said.

“That seems to be the common theme in this day and age. For any organisation to think they don’t need to do anything until something happens, that’s putting your head in the sand and ignoring the issues that are happening around us.

“The paper has been written from the minor issues right up to the most severe issues, including working with venue security, police and government, and in the case of something like France where we end up with a terrorist attack or major siege issue at a sporting venue.

“We have steps and processes in place from the team and player perspective and how the incident would be managed. We want to be on the front foot. It’s an area I am very passionate about.

“But there is certainly no intelligence (of an attack) at this time that we’re aware of and we know the Australian Government and law enforcement bodies are right on top of security issues in our country.”

media_camera Haggett discusses counter-terrorism plans with Andrew Cooke, a sports security expert.

Asked could a terrorist attack strike rugby league, Haggett said: “We need to understand that it’s a possibility. It’s more about awareness. We have to keep living normal lives. We don’t want to be alarmists but it’s more about being prepared. We hope it never does happen.”

Haggett has identified a need to have global vision on safety in sport and has started working with security expert Andrew Cooke, director of security operations at the Qatar-based International Centre for Sports Security, which works with Governments and International Olympic committees.

“We do have to be prepared. With what happened in Paris, it highlights sport is at risk, there’s no doubt about it. Within Australian sport, we are a little bit lax because of our culture,” Cooke said.

“We have to have structures and governance in place at board level, football organisations and stadiums, were they there can be 80,000 people watching games and be broadcast worldwide. Terrorism is at the top scale but there are general risks that involves sporting teams.”

Haggett wants to monitor player movement into and out of grounds, hotels and training venues.

“You’ve only got to imagine a disgruntled supporter punching one of the players in the face and breaking a nose,” Haggett said. “It’s the same with security at hotels.

The thought of someone getting into a team room and drink spiking could be disastrous. It’s a real issue these days we need to be on top of. We want players to be on the lookout for anyone who might be aggressive or intoxicated.”