For players, some can stay out of trouble, whilst others can not. Some learn the easy way and work around their mistakes and flaws, whilst others are repeat offenders.
For Broncos fullback Dane Gagai, it is the repeat disciplinary breaches from him, albeit ones of a minor nature – that have led to the Brisbane Broncos informing him, that he has been released from his contract.
This comes just a few weeks after he signed a deal with the club to stay on until the end of the 2014 season – with Gagai being dropped from the Broncos feeder side, the Redcliffe Dolphins, for missing training.
“I told him today (Tuesday) he had a release from his contract,” Broncos coach Anthony Griffin said.
“His manager was also advised he was free to find another club.”
Despite being the cousin of Broncos fullback Josh Hoffman, and of former Dragons and Broncos winger Wendell Sailor – the Broncos club simply ran out of patience with Gagai.
“We haven’t sacked him. His contract hasn’t been terminated but he’s been told to find another club,” Griffin said.
“We’ve got standards and values and discipline and it would be easy to overlook them,” added Griffin of Gagai, who scored four tries in six NRL games for Brisbane last year.
“But this club is about building a really good environment and culture so I’ve made the call.
“It wasn’t an easy thing to do. He’s got bucketloads of talent.
“Right at the moment we probably can’t afford to lose him on the team sheet with Origin around the corner.
“The decision wasn’t made in reference to his talent, it was made more to his work ethic and attention to detail.