NRL chief executive David Gallop has denied that off-field dramas have tarnished rugby league's centenary celebrations in the wake of Greg Bird's assault charge.
The Sharks star has been charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm on his girlfriend, Katie Milligan, who remains in Prince of Wales Hospital where she is expected to undergo surgery for cuts to her face and a fractured eye socket.
The Cronulla star's career hangs in the balance after he was stood down by the Sharks on Monday pending the outcome of the allegations.
It is the latest in a long list of incidents this year that have moved league into the headlines for the wrong reasons.
Among the other incidents to rock the game in 2008 are:
Raider Todd Carney was sacked for allegedly urinating on the head of a man at a Canberra nightspot;
Parramatta's Jarryd Hayne was shot at after an altercation in Kings Cross in March;
Eels halfback Tim Smith quit the club early this year after a string of alcohol-related incidents;
Bulldog Reni Maitua and Wests Tiger Benji Marshall were among others involved in incidents at nightspots.
Bird has figured a string of incidents this year, including his involvement in an altercation with a cage fighter earlier this month and being handcuffed by Queensland Police in Brisbane after State of Origin II.
Despite the seemingly non-stop controversies plaguing the game, Gallop yesterday said they had not dampened the celebrations of a hundred years of rugby league.
''The centenary's had some fantastic highlights,'' Gallop said.
''Rugby league has had drama for 100 years as well so it's just part of what we've had to deal with every day.
''The vast majority of players do the right thing, but when there's an incident like this it certainly has the ability to tar everyone with a brush that they don't necessarily deserve.''
Gallop praised the NRL clubs for the way they had handled the controversies.
''Of course these types of incidents are alarming but it is important that they are dealt with appropriately and I believe that the clubs in recent years have acted very responsibility in these types of situations,'' Gallop said.
''It's just a reminder that we need to continually keep our education programs under review and make sure that there are penalties in place to not only punish the wrongdoer but also send a message of deterrence to others.
''By and large, clubs have done that over the past few years.''
Bird was granted strict conditional bail after spending Sunday night in police custody charged over an incident at his Cronulla apartment. He is due back in court on October 8 three days after the NRL grand final.
He is unlikely to play again this season. But Cronulla coach Ricky Stuart yesterday paved the way for his ''good mate'' to return to the club if he was found not guilty.
When asked if he would welcome Bird back, Stuart said, ''I'd say yes, if he's found not guilty.
''Everybody from me, to you, to the Pope has to be given a chance of showing that they're innocent and that's the position that he's in now.
''But unfortunately, it's not my decision.
''It's a decision for the club and for Tony Zappia but we're showing a lot of compassion towards both people who were involved in this.''
Stuart yesterday named Sharks captain Paul Gallen at lock in place of Bird for Friday night's clash against Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval, with Adam Peek coming into the starting line-up.
Tigers coach Tim Sheens tipped the incident would galvanise the side.
''He'll use this to try and gel them,'' Sheens said of Stuart.
''There's no doubt about it, I already read that in what they're saying.'' AAP