Gregor Paul: Rugby should clean up in Storm aftermath

Matt King won a premiership with the Storm. Photo / Getty Images

The timing is perfect. Just as rugby signed off on a massive broadcast deal that will help fund a new venture in Melbourne, rugby league in that city discovered it was sitting on dynamite.

No one in rugby will feel the slightest sympathy for a code that pillaged at will during the amateur days.

And for many in the 15-man game, what has happened at the Storm is comeuppance not only for historic grievances related to recruitment, but it is also comeuppance for a sport that has become morally and ethically bereft.

Rugby, while far from being squeaky clean these days, does at least try to adhere to core values of honesty, humility, respect, tolerance and compassion.

In Dan Carter and Richie McCaw they have two of the best role models any code could have and there are plenty more.

League on the other hand seems to be barely able to go five minutes without discovering yet another bampot in their midst. And it's not hi-jinks kind of stuff, either.

Alcohol is clearly a problem in the NRL. A big problem. Booze and league players have proved the most volatile mix in recent years with quite staggering revelations last year being made about Cronulla players involved in group sex.

Before that there was the Bulldogs scandal in 2004; Mark Gasnier's ghastly phonecall that same year; Greg Bird; Craig Gower; Willie Mason; Nate Myles; Todd Carney ... and even Alfie Langer.

What the Storm have done is confirm that league is a sport rotten to the core. Even the white collars in a blue collar sport can't be trusted now.

Rugby couldn't ask for a greater opportunity to not only establish itself in Melbourne but also within league's strongholds.

It's Melbourne, though, where rugby must pounce. Australia is the obvious growth market for rugby in the Southern Hemisphere and Victoria is virtually untapped.

There are corporate dollars to chase in a city with a rich financial services background. Even with such a strong AFL presence, an established and growing football culture as well as Formula One and the Australian Open, Melbourne can financially support a Super 15 side.

The Storm and the questionable culture of the NRL should make it that bit easier for the Rebels. Melbourne is a city with a burgeoning, educated, middle class and rugby is a sport with a culture and values that will appeal to those sick of NRL, and to a lesser extent AFL, boof-heads.

Surely rugby will be rewarded for its promotion of ethically sound, well-balanced young men?

The arrival of semi-articulate, polite, community-spirited Rebels players in Melbourne will help rugby win hearts and minds.

When the top end of a sport has respectful, courteous and inspirational people on show, it does much to persuade parents they should push their children in that direction.

League had its chance. It blew it. Now it's rugby's turn and all the sport has to do is be itself.