NRL chief Todd Greenberg has told Federal Court that his daughter's touch football teammates are among the women who recently turned away from rugby league due to a spate of scandals.
Greenberg on Wednesday finished testifying in Dragons forward Jack de Belin's fight against the NRL and ARLC to have his current playing ban overturned.
De Belin, who has pleaded not guilty to rape, was the first man subjected to the NRL's 'no-fault stand-down' rule ratified in March.
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The policy sees any player charged with a crime carrying a maximum jail term of at least 11 years automatically suspended from taking the field.
Asked for evidence that negative player behaviour was deterring women from associating with the game, Greenberg referred to conversations he had with his daughter's friends.
"I'm the father of a daughter who plays regular touch football and a number of her friends have shared that the conduct of players is the reason they will no longer play casually," Greenberg said.
"And that's in conversation over the last few months."
In response, de Belin's legal team argued there is a cocktail of factors that causes fans to detach from the NRL such as the performance of officials, concussion concerns, and gambling and alcohol promotion.
Greenberg claimed the NRL has "worked hard" to market betting offers towards "those who can use them".
De Belin's barrister Martin Einfeld QC retorted: "That's complete and utter bull."
Einfeld also grilled Greenberg about the NRL's partnerships with alcohol companies.
He put to Greenberg: "In maintaining those sponsorships you are encouraging the people who see those logos to use those products."
Greenberg replied: "In some ways, yes, but there are some restrictions. Alcohol is involved in many of the off-field issues we have with players, yes … including violence."
In defending the NRL's decision to implement the no-fault rule, Greenberg produced 500 emails from fans to the governing body, the majority of which were supportive of the decision.
Greenberg on Tuesday conceded he had no proof the no-fault policy would reduce serious off-field incidents.
The NRL's case also copped a blow when Justice Melissa Perry declared the code's Net Promoter Score (NPS) was mostly irrelevant to the decision to stand down de Belin.
The NPS - which measures how likely someone is to recommend the game to friends and family - was a key part of the NRL's argument.
When de Belin was charged in December, the NRL's NPS score dropped six points to minus seven while the game's score among females plummetted 15 points to minus 12.
NRL chief commercial officer Andrew Abdo took the stand following Greenberg.
Melbourne Storm chairman Bart Campbell – who strongly advocated for de Belin to be stood down – will also give evidence.
De Belin's aggravated sexual assault case was mentioned in Wollongong Local Court on Wednesday morning, though he was excused from attending.
The NSW Origin lock's lawyer Robert Foster said the matter "is not likely to be listed for trial until mid next year."
A decision on de Belin's playing status from Justice Perry is not expected this week.
