NSW rugby league coach Brad Fittler has called for the government to place age restrictions on mobile phones similar to alcohol, gambling and smoking.
Fittler emphasised his position was not coloured by the slew of sex video scandals which have rocked the NRL over recent months, but warned of the dangers of phones.
"We're fully aware of all the science and all the stats on phones - that they're incredibly, incredibly addictive," Fittler said on Tuesday.
"We don't allow kids to smoke until a certain age and we don't allow them to drink until a certain age, we don't allow them to gamble until a certain age.
"Nearly everything else that's addictive in society we restrict.
"But we seem to be willing to give kids at any age any phone and they can do whatever they like. The government could step up there, I'd say.
"It's at the stage where it'd be good if the government stepped in actually. They need to take the ball up and help parents."
Fittler was speaking at the announcement that the NSWRL had received $400,000 from the state government for a pilot program to run league clinics in culturally and linguistically diverse communities in western Sydney and Coffs Harbour.
Fittler, a father of two, is known to loathe mobile devices. During last year's NSW State of Origin series, he asked his Blues players to leave their phones in their rooms in an effort to encourage them to talk to and bond with their teammates.
"One thing I did see is when Matt Prior came in for the second (game), he didn't have access to his phone for a couple of days and it was startling how hard it was for him," Fittler said.
"And he spoke about how it was pretty stressful and how he enjoyed it and going through that process. It's alarming."
Fittler said he read and researched extensively on the topic and was mindful of the effects phones have on the user's mental health.
"Alcohol affects your health, but the thing we're finding out now is the (most important) health of all is mental health and our phones are having the biggest sway on our mental health," he said.
