The National Rugby League will make no attempt to sweep the Bulldogs scandal under the carpet at its gala launch on Wednesday night.

NRL chief executive David Gallop confirmed the scandal - which has engulfed the club and the game - would be broached at the season kick-off in Sydney.

"We won't be going ahead with our launch avoiding this issue," Gallop said.

"It will certainly be something we will touch on.

"There's no sense in not touching on it given the shadow it has cast over the game.

"It will be referred to. There's no doubt about that. We are not going to pretend it hasn't happened.

"There's some great things to expect on the field in 2004 but having said that this has cast a big shadow over that and we'll be acknowledging that."

Gallop will make a speech at the launch and it's expected the NRL boss will make reference to the activities of the past eight days.

A number of Bulldogs players are under investigation over the alleged sexual assault of a woman in Coffs Harbour just over a week ago.

Police have moved their operations to Sydney as they prepare to interview players and take DNA samples.

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