NRL backs away from nude player shots

The NRL has distanced itself from a provocative fundraising calendar which reveals a glimpse of Penrith winger Nick Youngquest's genitals.

The Naked Rugby League calendar was released in Sydney on Wednesday, with sales to help raise funds for the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Some of the NRL's biggest stars, including Australian Test representatives Johnathan Thurston and Justin Hodges, are photographed nude in the publication, which is being marketed as the "most provocative calendar ever released by an Australian football code".

Many of the shots leave little to the imagination, but it is Youngquest's revealing pose - in which one hand is placed partially over his genitalia - that has caused a stir.

The NRL said it had nothing to do with the calendar and did not endorse it.

"It's certainly not anything that we are aware of. It's not a publication we endorse," NRL chief operating officer Graham Annesley said.

"We have a very close association with the National Breast Cancer Foundation ... but the nature of the publication is not anything that we would have approved to be associated with the NRL.

"The nature of that particular shot (Youngquest) is not something that we would have been associated with.

"It's pretty clear that they have gone out of their way to make sure that they haven't used any NRL intellectual property. They have done that obviously so that they haven't had to contact us about it."

A National Breast Cancer Foundation spokeswoman said the organisation was not behind the production of the calendar, but confirmed it would benefit from its sale.

Youngquest, who features as the June pin-up boy, said he would be disappointed if people judged him over the nude shot.

"It is for breast cancer, so if it affects my image, I would be pretty disappointed by it," Youngquest said.

"I don't think anyone would be that shallow to let that happen.

"It is for a good cause, so if it stirs any controversy, so be it."

As for what the photograph showed, Youngquest joked: "I think it might be 100th of it."

Others to join Youngquest, Thurston and Hodges in baring all are New Zealand Test players Paul Whatuira and Brent Webb, as well as Ben Ross, Amos Roberts, Ashley Harrison, Riley Brown, Stuart Webb, Greg Bird, Michael Witt and Liam Fulton.

A 13th image, taken from behind, features an unidentified footballer who wanted to remain anonymous.

Youngquest said he didn't have to do much preparation for the shoot, given that he regularly removed his body hair.

"I am always clippered up, so it was all good," he said.

"It was towards the end of the season, so our bodies were in the best shape. It got done at a good time."

The images were taken by celebrity photographer Pedro Virgil, who described the calendar as "tasteful".

"It is provocative in the sense that the guys are naked ... but in this case it is tasteful," he said.