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The State of Origin debacle that is NSW has disgusted me. It’s not because of Andrew Johns’ remarks, it is the way this has embarrassed him and the team.
How in God’s name did Andrew Johns’ remarks about Queensland superstar Greg Inglis make it to the media?
While Timana Tahu’s omission from the squad was not going to go unnoticed, the circumstances surrounding his departure from the squad did not need to become public.
While Johns’ remarks were stupid and racist, the comments were made in a heat of the moment in an attempt to inspire the team to victory. Whatever happened to the idea of what goes on in team meetings stays in team meetings?
I’m pretty confident players would be filthy if their comments in meetings and on the field became known to the media.
So the question that is begging here is who let the cat out of the bag? Which snide piece of work allowed the media to humiliate Andrew Johns for an accidental slip of the tongue?
Most people out in supporter land would immediately point to Tahu as the “rat”.
However, if you have read the papers in the last couple of weeks it could have been anyone. Johns was criticised by faceless players for overtaking Kurt Gidley on the field in State of Origin one. They were upset about him reducing the role of the NSW captain by controlling the shots.
So while many people will say Tahu talked to the Daily Telegraph, I wouldn’t say it with any confidence as there seems to be more rats in the squad.
So who is the real victim here?
Well for starters it is not Timana Tahu, he is the debatably the villain of the piece. While the comments of Johns were wrong, they were not directed at Tahu and his petulance is really disappointing for a high calibre player.
Andrew Johns is also not a victim; his Bogan outdated comments do not have a place in today’s society.
He should have known his audience would not be tolerated by the camp. The real victim I can conclude is the NSW team itself. All confidence from this debacle has been sapped from the squad. Already under the pump, this unfortunate event cannot help team morale which is now divided between the supporters of Johns and his detractors.
One can only wonder whether this spells the end of many NSW State of Origin careers. Only time will tell, but NSW continues to hurt in what is their darkest period in origin history.
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