NRL boss rejects double standards claim

Kirisome Auva'a of the Rabbitohs. Photo / Getty Images.

NRL boss Dave Smith says the league's reaction to South Sydney rising star Kirisome Auva'a's assault of his ex-girlfriend does not smack of double standards.

The same day the NRL maintained a tough stance and stood by their decision to fine Paul Gallen $50,000 - albeit with $15,000 now suspended - for an abusive tweet, Smith said they needed more information to decide whether to further sanction Auva'a.

Smith confirmed Auva'a had pleaded guilty in May over the drunken attack in which the Rabbitohs player hurled his ex-girlfriend into a wall. The woman suffered cuts and bruises in the January attack in Melbourne.

Auva'a, who has been linked to the Warriors, copped a $2000 fine and week ban from off-season training from the Rabbitohs earlier this year but played for the rest of the year, savouring South Sydney's NRL title triumph last month.

"I think they (Gallen and Auva'a) are two very different issues to be fair," he told Fox Sports TV when accused of double standards.

Auva'a avoided a conviction but was handed a two-year good behaviour bond and fined $3000 after pleading guilty to recklessly causing injury and criminal damage in a Melbourne court last Friday.

The NRL Integrity Unit spoke with South Sydney officials on Tuesday. But Smith said it may take days to decide Auva'a's fate.

"We are trying to gather all the information so we can make a considered decision," Smith said.

"We are very clear on what the findings of the court and judge were but the detail beneath that is quite important to the deliberation.

"And we are still waiting on some information from the Victorian courts. "Hopefully we will have that in the next day or two."

Smith on Tuesday said in a statement regarding Gallen's fine review that the NRL "must protect our brand and ensure we set a good example to children and other fans".

"So we will continue to be vigilant against any behaviour which brings the game into disrepute," he said. Smith could not see any parallels with Gallen and Auva'a's cases.

"The Souths player was charged in January, pleaded guilty in May and convicted on Friday," Smith said. "We are currently talking to Souths and considering all the facts.

"You have to be very careful (about) the balance between a criminal procedure, the individual's rights and our desire and obligations as a game to make sure we stamp hard on anything to do with domestic violence.

"That's an issue that is underway but ... they are very different (to Gallen's case)."

Former NSW winger Blake Ferguson has not played since his registration was suspended by the NRL for "repeated behavioural issues involving the abuse of alcohol" after he was charged with the indecent assault of a woman in June 2013.

He was eventually found guilty in December 2013.

"Domestic violence is something that we take very, very seriously," Smith told Fox Sports on Tuesday.

"Previous actions around players have demonstrated that.

"It's something we take very seriously as we try to widen the appeal of this game, make it more inclusive not less inclusive."