For instance, six days before the biggest game of the season so far – the Gillette World Club Challenge – stars from Leeds Rhinos happily took part in a testimonial event for team-mate Matt Diskin, at the Frontier Club in Batley.

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They didn't just take part, they worked hard at it. When this reporter rang Jamie Jones-Buchanan on Monday afternoon, he was in the middle of rehearsals for his Jackson Five tribute performance, along with Kallum Watkins, Brent Webb, Rob Burrow and Keith Senior.

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Players from other clubs also featured in the RL Factor concert, a glorified karaoke at which some of the country's elite sportsmen were happy to show themselves up for a colleague – or an opponent – and of course, mingle happily with the fans.

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There aren't too many top rank sports in which that would happen.

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Throughout last week, players from both Leeds and opponents Melbourne Storm took part in a series of meet the public events to promote the showdown at Elland Road. And several of them also undertook numerous press, TV and radio interviews.

In two decades covering rugby league, most of that at Super League level, the number of times this reporter has been refused an interview by a player could be counted on the fingers of one hand.

Even after the most painful of defeats, rugby league professionals are generally willing to spare journalists a moment for a chat and a quote.
And usually they are pretty honest, willing to recognise their own shortcomings and reluctant to look for excuses or to blame others.

Rugby league needs all the publicity it can get and it would be a shame if players were to become shielded from supporters or the media.

In building up to big games, clubs and the RFL make an effort to grab column inches, something which is becoming increasingly difficult in the national papers, as they relentlessly cut the space they devote to the code.

Rugby league, then, should be prepared to take the rough with the smooth and become less sensitive to criticism.

There tends to be an outcry whenever a player voices a genuine opinion – for example that the Super League trophy should go to the team who finish top of the table or that the Magic Weekend is a waste of time.

The sort of things St Helens players come out with on an annual basis.

And of course if anyone dare criticise a referee, he'll be for it.

Press conferences are held after every Super League game. These are attended by the match commissioner, who will report anything untoward said by the respective team bosses.

Most coaches are aware of this and they'll often remark that they can't say what they'd really like to because they don't want to get fined – as Hull KR's Justin Morgan was last year.

Because of deadlines, coaches and players are required to speak immediately after games, sometimes – for TV purposes – before they've even left the field.

This often causes problems, Sky, for example, have had to apologise more than once when a four-letter word has slipped out.

After last Sunday's game, Rhinos centre Keith Senior could have told the media to buzz off, or words to that effect. He didn't. He agreed to be interviewed and, in the heat of the moment, he spoke from the heart.
His comments about referee Richard Silverwood were clearly unwise and quickly regretted. Once he'd had time to reflect, to consider the possible implications – and probably after calmer heads had seen what was said – a quick and full apology was issued.

Senior did the right thing by apologising. His remarks about Silverwood went too far, but it takes a big man to say sorry and the Leeds man deserves credit for that.

Rhinos have launched an internal investigation into what went on, but this reporter would urge them not to take action against Senior, who after all, gave honest answers to direct questions.

Freedom of speech is a hard-earned right in this country and, as long as remarks don't break the law, players and coaches – who are often criticised for bland, clichéd responses in interviews – should be allowed to voice an opinion.

It's then up to the public to judge if what they're saying is genuine, or sour grapes.

It would also be unfortunate if, because of incidents like last Sunday's – when the interviews took place directly outside the changing rooms – media access to players was more tightly controlled.

Leeds' response and possibly that of the RFL could easily be to restrict access to players after games.

In that case, many media outlets simply wouldn't bother and rugby league would lose vital exposure.

Players clearly need to be professional and they have to think before they open their mouth. Abuse isn't acceptable, but there's nothing
wrong with free, informed comment.

That's off the field, on it is a different matter. What wasn't widely reported from Senior's post-game interview was his acceptance of the fact he shouldn't have spoken out of turn to Silverwood, conceding the penalty which gave Storm a crucial lead, with 20 minutes left.

Leeds have been guilty of that before this season and were the worst offenders in terms of dissent in Super League last term.

Anthony Quinn's late converted try spared Senior's blushes to an extent, because it would have been a silly way to lose such a big game, had two points been the final margin.

Silverwood was poor on Sunday and, from the stands, he looked out of his depth and intimidated by the Aussie team.

It's all right for reporters and fans to think that – and even for players – but that's an opinion they can't voice while the action's unfolding.

The respect shown to referees on the pitch is something that's widely admired about rugby league. There are signs that is beginning to change and it's a trend that must be addressed.

And yes there is a contradiction here, dissent off the field could well lead to dissent on it. It is all about being professional on the field and keeping a sense of perspective outside the arena of battle.

****

Fortunately, nobody can stop reporters whingeing about referees, so here goes!

Why is it that whenever an English referee takes control of a game involving an Aussie team, he bends over backwards to see things their way? Aussie refs certainly don't show the same deference to the old enemy.

Had Sunday's game been a Super League fixture, Silverwood would have penalised Storm all night – and brandished at least one yellow card.

The only exception seems to be Steve Ganson, who is something of a law to himself.

He's by no means Rhinos' favourite ref' and they'd prefer to avoid him on most occasions, but from their point of view, he'd have been an ideal man for the World Club Challenge.