New Canterbury chief executive Raelene Castle says rugby league is capable of leading the way in changing community attitudes towards women but that more needs to be done.
Castle was appointed boss of the NRL club on Wednesday and said she would not have been interested in a job in rugby league unless she felt the code had made significant strides in improving its culture.
Currently chief executive of New Zealand Netball, Castle is the first female chief executive of an NRL club since Liz Dawson headed up the now defunct Adelaide Rams in 1997 and early 1998.
“For me it is all about that determination to make a difference and help in those situations,” she told AAP.
“It is only early days for me and I’m not really on the inside yet.
“But from the outside I would say that if you went to any bar on a Saturday night there are some things that culturally we would say are not acceptable and I don’t think rugby league is any more or less reflective of that.
“The opportunity we have when we work with players (for) 40, 50, 60 hours a week is that we can change attitudes.
“We can work with them to show what it is to respect women, what it is to understand cultural diversity.
“We have an opportunity to make it even better. I would never say we can eradicate it completely because unfortunate situations can occur.”
However Castle said rugby league still had some work to do.
“When you are a high-profile player with a lot of money and a lot of profile that puts you in some very difficult situations, it is about being aware of those situations and making good decisions,” she said.
Castle comes from a rugby league background and has a strong connection to the Bulldogs.
Her father Bruce, a former Kiwis captain, was captain-coach of Wagga Wagga’s Turvey Park side when Bulldogs legend Steve Mortimer moved to Sydney.
“I have a real passion for the sport and a real understanding of it through family history,” Castle said.
Bulldogs chairman Ray Dib welcomed the appointment of Castle.
“Raelene was the standout applicant from a list of high quality candidates made up of sporting and business leaders from around the world,” Dib said.
“Her combination of business and marketing acumen coupled with her experience with high performance athletes was unrivalled.
“It is also a watershed moment for the Bulldogs with the appointment of our first female chief executive and we’re delighted to welcome Raelene to the club.”
NRL chief executive Dave Smith congratulated Castle on her appointment.
“First and foremost they’ve chosen the best person for the job,” Smith said.
“I’ve spoken to Raelene on a number of occasions and her credentials are simply outstanding.
“It is also worth acknowledging the significance of a female chief executive and the message of opportunity that the appointment sends to women in our game.”
Castle will begin with the Bulldogs on July 15.
She succeeds Todd Greenberg who has been appointed as the NRL’s new head of football.