As weekend newspapers comment, new stories emerge on who were among those involved in a group sex encounter between some members of the Cronulla rugby league team and a 19-year-old woman seven years ago in New Zealand. One can only feel for those team members who were not in that room.

The sordid tale has polarised the community. Defenders of Matthew Johns, the celebrated player turned media personality, say enough is enough. The man has apologised, he privately admitted his role in the event seven years ago to his family, no charges were laid, the woman consented. Yet he is paying for it again. His career, and possibly more, is in tatters.

But another very strong reaction from the community has been plain, simple disgust: not only over the act, but over the broader issue of football and sporting culture. It has been festering for many, many years: rumours, allegations, scandals, inquiries, across a number of codes. While the NRL and others have implemented programs on behaviour and conduct, clearly more needs to be done. But what?

If nothing else, the week's unfolding revelations have triggered a broader debate. It has made men, women and young people question their own, and others', morals and values. It has been discussed on and off the playing fields, across codes, in schools.

We have asked, why do young woman put themselves in such situations, and how can they then remove themselves when it escalates?

Why do men, in groups, want to dominate one young woman and behave in such a manner?

For more, pick up a copy of today's Canberra Times