What’s in a name? Unique names mandated across NRL

ARL Chairman Peter V'landys has announced a change to the NRL registration rules to avoid having multiple players or coaches sharing the same name. The new rule may also extend to the NRLW and UK Super League, as well as wider administrative roles and accredited media personalities.

"As soon as I started promoting the NRL as an entertainment business we received a formal notice from Overbrook Entertainment, the agency representing Hollywood actor Will Smith, regarding the former Panthers and Eels player Will Smith" said V'landys. "It prompted a review of matching names across our whole competition, both past and present."

"We uncovered multiple instances where players and coaches are sharing the same name or a very close variation. It causes unnecessary confusion and it makes sense to address it."

"If an actor wants to join the Screen Actors Guild they can't have the same name as an existing actor. We're introducing the same rule into Rugby League for the sake of simplicity."

Players who refuse to change their names will face consequences, says V'landys. "Both the Bulldogs and the Sharks had a Sione Katoa last year - how confusing is that? Our first plan was to simply terminate one of the contracts, which is what we did, but this new idea is a much fairer way forward."

V'landys says the initial feedback from players has been mostly positive and proactive. "Mark Geyer's son is one example - his real name is Matt, but to avoid confusion with former Storm player Matt Geyer he's decided to take the name Mavrik instead. And fair play to him, it gives him the chance to try a name that nobody in their right mind would ever actually give to their child."

The review also uncovered irregularities that will be corrected. "We found that the Eels player Nathan Brown had an unfairly weighted judiciary record due to suspensions recorded against former Dragons player Nathan Brown being linked to him. As part of the deal in legally changing his name to Charlie Brown, we've applied a 300-point credit to Charlie's judiciary record which will be offset against any future charge."

"There are contractual issues that will be avoided by this rule change as well" says V'landys. "It's a little-known fact that Wakefield Trinity actually signed the young Queenslander David Fifita a few years back, but when David changed his mind on the deal he was able to send his much older and less talented cousin instead. The Titans player will now be known as Davithe Fifita and those sorts of loopholes won't be available to him or anyone else in the future."

Talks are underway to extend the new rule into other competitions and personnel, with the UK Super League seen as a priority to be addressed. "I almost choked on my Froot Loops when I found Cameron Smith had continued his Rugby League career with the Leeds Rhinos until I found it was a different person. Cameron doesn't deserve to have his magnificent record tarnished by any chance of confusion with some pommy nobody."

"And did you know there's a Matty Russell playing for Toulouse? Just imagine the confusion if the real Matty Russell ever commentated on one of their matches, or God forbid ever interviewed him. How could you tell who was talking to who?"

V'landys has also confirmed the new rule will be retroactively applied to the NRL record books. For example, former Bulldogs and Warriors captain Steve Price will now be known as Stuve Pruce to "recognise his links to New Zealand" while also removing any confusion with the former Dragons coach of the same name.

"The Titans winger Corey Thompson has also agreed to change his name to Cortana Thompson so the former Wests Tigers player can keep his name unchanged. I understand Cortana is now negotiating a lucrative endorsement deal from Microsoft, so there's another benefit there too."

V'landys is encouraging any promising young players who may be affected by the rule to start planning now. "Don't leave it too late - if you're literally the next Andrew Johns then get your NRL playing name figured out now. Just pick something that sounds cool, for goodness sake."

And what action was taken regarding Overbrook Entertainment and Will Smith? "We managed to placate them by moving Will to a club with an insignificant profile - problem solved."

Happy April Fools Day!