This is the fourth consecutive year the National Rugby League (NRL) season has started with a police investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct. Cronulla was investigated over an alleged incident in Auckland in 2002, while the Bulldogs attracted similar inquiries for separate incidents in Coffs Harbour in 2002 and 2003. In all cases, no charges were laid.

League players are deservedly under the gun at the moment for their off field behaviour to women. The night out on the town with the boys often involves the pack assault of women.

Leak's boofhead view is challenged by Catherine Lumby.

The response has been seminars, pep talks and team-building weekends to change the patriarchal culture of working-class men in rugby league.This follows the advice of the Playing by the Rules report released on December 20, 2004. This established the players' attitudes towards women, and its recommendations included educating players about their social and sexual conduct, promoting responsible consumption of alcohol and involving clubs at all levels in improving the position and treatment of women in rugby league.

This is a laudable attempt at culture change. As David Rowe points out in The Australian the masculist culture of rugby league is a :

"...homosocial world [that] has traditionally treated women with suspicion and, commonly, contempt. Feminising influences are seen from within this group as signs of weakness and encroachments on male territory tolerated only for specific purposes. One of these is sexual pleasure, sometimes, as research and court evidence reveals, with scant attention to the little matter of informed consent."

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