The National Rugby League (NRL) has taken decisive disciplinary action against four of the competition's most influential player agents, issuing substantial bans and financial penalties for breaches of its official codes.
Substantial Sanctions for Accredited Agents
On Thursday, the league confirmed that agents Mario Tartak, Matt Desira, Nash Dawson, and Chris Orr had all been found to have violated the NRL's Accredited Agents' Code of Conduct. The quartet, who manage high-profile stars like Reece Walsh, Dylan Brown, Josh Addo-Carr, and Benji Marshall, were initially served with show cause notices back in June.
The final determinations resulted in varied punishments for each individual. Mario Tartak, agent for Josh Addo-Carr, received the most severe penalty: a 12-month suspension and a $25,000 fine. The NRL alleged he communicated with an underage player without a parent or guardian present and entered into an improper commercial arrangement with two NRL clubs.
Altercation and Non-Reporting Lead to Further Bans
Reece Walsh's representative, Nash Dawson, was suspended for nine months and fined $15,000. His sanctions relate to an alleged physical altercation with fellow agent Chris Orr, said to have occurred after the 2024 Australian Secondary Schools Rugby League Championships. The league stated Dawson breached both the Scheme Rules and the Code of Conduct.
Chris Orr, who manages Parramatta Eels star Dylan Brown, was sanctioned in connection with the same alleged incident as Dawson. He received a somewhat lighter penalty of a six-month suspension and a $10,000 fine.
Benji Marshall's agent, Matt Desira, was also handed a six-month ban and a $10,000 fine. The NRL alleged his sanctions were due to "non-reporting and dishonesty" following police charges and court proceedings brought against him.
League Upholds "High Standards"
In a firm statement, the NRL reinforced the expectations placed on accredited agents. "Under the Accredited Agents' Code of Conduct, Accredited Agents are required to operate with high personal and professional standards," the league said.
In a separate but concurrent development, the NRL also issued a breach notice to Melbourne Storm forward Shawn Blore. Blore had pleaded guilty to common assault related to an incident outside a Sydney restaurant and received a six-month good behaviour bond in court, avoiding conviction. The NRL stated he would be given an extended period to respond to the notice due to the time of year.
This sweeping crackdown underscores the NRL's ongoing efforts to police the conduct of registered player agents and maintain integrity within the sport's professional ecosystem.
