If it is true that there is a division between “rugby types” and “leaguies” then the news of the last few days will have the so-called leather-patch brigade calling for more Bombay Sapphire.
I think, though, that the truth to the assertion that people will be happy about this news lies somewhere towards a more moderate conclusion.
True sports fans will be aghast at reports that Brett Stewart was arrested by police and is alleged to have sexually assaulted a teenage girl. Certainly a proportion of people will be delighted that rugby league has taken another crushing body blow, but my sense is these are in the minority.
Most will be sad. Sad for Stewart, who – if the reports are true – is a deluded thug close to beyond repair, horrified for the victim, and more broadly terrified for the game. If the Bulldogs’ Coffs Harbour episode was a thundering right, then the allegations against Stewart could prove to be the killer blow to the temple of the game as it falls to its knees.
Innocent until proven guilty is the mantra, but knowing more than a small amount of the working end of such matters, the better approach is more often that where there is smoke there is fire. And even more tellingly, if the police can strap the investigation together and if the victim holds her nerve, Stewart is on thin ice.
The news could not come at a worse time for the game. News Limited hacks (of which Iain Payten is not one) and Channel Nine and Foxtel buffoons, together with the army of media vested with a financial interest can pretend that the Greatest Game of All will rise above this latest horror.
A game, however, that chose to align itself to the corporate dollar so heavily some twenty years ago, and which indelibly cast its lot in with the big end of town during the Super League war. Now, it is bleeding financially having been first weaned and now cut from the poker machine teat, and will be quickly running out of corporate friends with the necessary muscle to take the ball up during the looming financial hard times.
It is churlish to observe that there is a delicious irony for opponents of the game that such an insidious industry as gaming – that for years supported the game – is now being taxed to maintain the dwindling coffers of the government of the geographical power base of the game.
Northern Hemisphere Rugby football codes of both variety do pose a threat to the adult talent, but the more clean-cut and infinitely better administered local non-rugby football codes pose a far heftier threat at the doorstep. Mums and dads will hesitate before handing their youngsters over to a game that at the top level has criminal associations.
But the greatest threat is to the loss of support of decent, hard-working fans who must surely be tiring of the obscenity of mid-twenty-year-old males acting as though they are Gods.
As a wide-eyed boy playing for the De La Salle Orange under-eights I never would have known that the game I love would come to this.
As an aside, I have posted regularly on this site under the name of a flightless bird but I have chosen to submit this article in the raw given that its contents may well anger some and concern others and those people might be entitled to know the author of such apparently controversial thoughts.
Andystath
Guest
I think the private/public school debate in relation to off-field behaviour is Bullshit.As I said earlier TonyClubCollaroy is drawing a long bow,one aspect that isn't being factored in is a fair percentage of League players are educated a catholic secondary schools and Karmichael Hunt the alleged Bronco pack rapist attended ACGS(Churchie)a prominent Brisband GPS school,so there goes that argument Tony.Also AFL is everymans game in the Southern states and the most vilified player of all Mr Ben Cousins was educated at the prestigious Wesley College Perth,so much for private schooled players having better manners/public behaviour and being taught how to treat women,its all a load of bollocks.
Crosscoder
Guest
Tonyclubcollaroy. Memo;The vast majority of rugby league players are responsible and law abiding.There are 400 players alone in the NRL and similar numbers in the under 20s,and the numbers roll on in the other grades.There are a few just like in the real world(which you seem to ignore). Please don't carry on about the private school breeding gentlemen.I attended one and the same,and sorry to report that some of the ones I have encountered have DUI convictions,and of course the teacher problems of late at Knox is hardly a new phenomena.Alleged sexual assaults at others,where a couple of students were expelled for sexual assault(Trinity G).I could name others.The late Peter Jackson who attended a well known ru private school in Qld,alleged sexual assault aginst one of the teachers,His wife mainatined this lead to his depression. Many years ago i attended a club rugby union match at Hurstville oval,involving Randwick and the old St George.The grog flowed freely and even during the game some of the language in hearing distance of women ,would make a wharfie blush.Yes sirree the private schools breed 100% gentlemen. The martians have landed I tell you,get out of your ivory tower.
TonyClubCollaroy
Guest
True Tah Cheers mate..I thought they were wankers too .... so rest assured I am not a shore old boy ...lol I think your perception is fairly strong too..but at the other end ....and like your perceptions will change too !!! ;-) ... I am fine with that ......so give me a break with your high and mighty point of view, your bias is clear (from uni I guess, but I am sure the shore boys were not nearly as interesting as you hoped they would be :-))...............boring and predictable my friend. I guess as has been done for more than 100 years, GPS schools will produce more Tahs and Wallabies for you to watch play rugby, relax no need to thank me, just enjoy the game ;-)
True Tah
Guest
TonyClubCollaroy, jesus you make it hard for people to change their perception of private schools as a bunch of elitist wankers...for the record I went to both a state and a private school (not GPS), and having dealt with plenty of Shore wankers in my uni days, Im glad they want to stick to themelves.
oikee
Guest
I woke up this morning and i was finally fast. :) Wait, i seem to be slowing down again. :(
oikee
Guest
Do you really want to know what the real problem is? Nerds, guys who invent these Norton anti-virus programs and have a built-in slow down your computer system. Then they create a system called "Finally Fast" so you have to buy that to speed your computer up again. What we all should be doing is saying to the Broad-band suppliers that if my computer slows down you can stick your broad-band where the sun dont shine. Now if everyone did this the broad-band mob would have to give you free finally fast. Or just tell Norton or whatever other sneeky anti-virus mob wants to slow your computer down, to bugger off. :)
Calexico
Guest
Colin N - I went to Public Schools as well and also preferred playing and watching Union. I think the situation in the ACT is vastly different to NSW and QLD though - the public clubs here have always had strong support at the junior level.
oikee
Guest
Settle down, look like i have said , and i wont bring up the Billionaires boys club because if we had to start a war between Private and state it would go nowwhere. My father was a private school boy who attended the best schools in queensland. Now i am not going to knock him but, he is the biggest pig and slob and does not know what manners are, and his hygiene is non exsistant. Now, i am the opposite, why, because i worked in a food factory where hygiene was upmost important and any bacteria was the beginning of the end, yet, i also had perfect manners because my old man would kick my arse if i got outta line. Hence, state or public makes not a matter of difference to ones well being. Role models seems to be the best way forward. My mrs has a doctrine in sycoligy yet she attended a public school. I think i spelt that wrong but i was never good at english. All i am saying is school is not the problem. Bashing either system gets you nowhere.
sunshinecoaster
Guest
Jacko I played Rugby League,i watch Rugby League,i enjoy Rugby League so ill deal in the facts when i talk about Rugby League.Why is it when you make criticisms about the game and produce facts your anti the sport.Trouble with guys like you and your cheerleading mates you will wait for the ship to sink and then wonder why.
Midfielder
Guest
Colin Agree
Midfielder
Guest
Toby One of the great ethical values / virtues an individual can have is to gracefully accept and acknowledge when someone does them a good deed even if by accident not by design. Failure to acknowledge others deeds that in affect have made you stronger and protected you from your own foolishness is tasteless and smells of fear and loathing. In one of the earlier posts I said all sports have this problem .... perhaps it's a bit more in RL than RU... but it's measured by degrees, OH the Western Force they where ex leagues I am sure. In truth it is a problem with our youth today that a larger percentage of them have substance abuse problems ... maybe it's coke in the ES not booze. Your dislike of RL shines through but without RL there would be no RU in Australia as RL has saved RU from the AFL. Scream rant or whatever BUT RL by stopping the other professional game of AFL in NSW & QLD meant RU had a place .... look at the other states see RU strong there. RL is a long way from my favorite code but without their FTA coverage of a rugby code and thereby coaching how to tackle and run etc has assisted RU ...RL player numbers have ensured that around NSW & QLD there are many fields and ovals with rugby posts. If you doubt me look at the southern states in Australia / US / Canada etc to see how RU has grown against local home grown football games. IMO a troll of a thread intended to stir rather than provide active debate of a society problem and you fail in having total disregard for all the good RL has done for RU even if by accident, but they saved rugby in general including RU from the AFL. Embrace the quality's and standards you are demanding of others if you want to be taken seriously.
Colin N
Guest
Am I the only one of these pages who went to a state school but much prefers Union? If that is so, then is that really how divided sport is in Australia?
Jacko
Guest
Love you sunshinecoaster , household names in rugby union ???? Maybe turquiri, tahu if you are a newcastle household. You union guys crack me up.
TonyClubCollaroy
Guest
Very interesting Westy ..not your choice you have 2 boys at a private school ??? ;-) you had no say in that ??? no of course not....... you just write the cheques for the schools fees, once again Westy the language you use shows your true colours, and yes you should be the "poster child for state schools" reading that you have your own kids at private schools made me laugh the most and you dare use the word hypocrite about others ?, guessing no mirrors in your house ....your defence of Fairfield High brought tears to my eyes in between read your constant swearing.....you clearly have issues on how to express yourself when writing .... was a nice change to see you talked about the codes for once and not the schools, but let us be honest here Westy , I know a little bit about you ..and you and I know who really runs rugby union in Australia ;-) ........
Norm
Guest
TonyClubCollaroy you said David Gallop had held a press confrence defending rapists and when I challenged you to tell me when and who you failed. Embarrassed by your shortcomings and lacking the character to admit to fabrication you then sought to misrepresent me by insisting, more than once, that I defended inappropriate behaviour. Point to one sentence where I did this. You can't because I didn't. You crown your distortion of reality by claiming I introduced the private school topic when in fact it was you who did so. You are no roll model but that won't surprise the people who know you.
westy
Guest
I do not hate private schools .all parents ahould have a choice. I have four sons two are at private schools and two at state schools. That is their choice. i will defend state schools against unwarranted slurs. Some pricks on here think they can put shit on the school system that educates most Australians on a all come all welcome policy of enrolment. i defy anyone to read this prick's first post and not interpret it as a slur on state schools. I have not attempted to defend the mindless stupidity of some of these league players except I do not go for the throat until criminal hearing.s. alesson learned in my profession. i am personally disgusted by their behaviour and believe they do their game real damage. but i will not tolerate smug implication as to the asserted deficiency of urban state schools who do a good job with much less resource. I have the same expectation of behaviour from state school boys in our rugby teams as the private school boys and I will not tolerate any difference or exception.. How on earth urban state schools get blamed for Stewart's behaviour is in the prejudiced mind of the bigot from Collaroy.
TonyClubCollaroy
Guest
Oh Westy you are a very angry little westie I see !!! ;-) Clearly you cannot read ..relax I will blame Fairfield High for that. My point was about the DIFFERENCE between union and league players and yes the schools tell the real story ..I will not go on ..................your MASSIVE chip on your shoulder blinds any rational thinking you could dare have. Thanks for the last part of your message what a glowing reference you are for the state school system, clearly it is difficult for you to express yourself with words, only suggestion ..a English course at TAFE ;-)
westy
Guest
TonyClub Collaroy you are the greatest of hypocrites. it was you who introduced schools into this with your "home truths " and how private schools and country boys learn manners. I learned a good set of values at Fairfield high. Fuck off.
Ian Noble
Guest
RL game abandoned because of crowd violence. I can't recall this ever happening before. www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/rugby-league/fan-violence-leaves-rugby-league-reeling-1641052.html
TonyClubCollaroy
Guest
Oh Norm ..ouchhh ;-) ... I am guessing you are a silly old fool ...who has still not made a point about sport ..on a sporting website, Norm you are also like many here an apologists for young men in rugby league and David Gallop who let’s be honest only banned Stewart today because of a public outcry. so Norm you like to defend men who are : *Charged with sexual assault (Brett Stewart) *Charged with assault and "Glassing his girlfriend" (Greg Bird) *Under investigation Balmain feeder club players accused of Pack rape of mentally handicapped girl (Classy) This is all in recent time, like me to continue Norm ?........... you are a class act Norm, on your comments on education mine was fine as I said earlier I went to a school and from a household where you respect women, do not assault them, and do not defend men that do, I pity what you must of not learned from your school and your parents for that matter, I am sure they are proud what kind of men you defend today ;-) .. No more Norm you bore me, and you have no interest debating the issue of this massive problem in league.