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Andrew Johns is also not a victim; his Bogan outdated comments do not have a place in today’s society.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.
clipper
Guest
Actually the saying goes along the lines of 'People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones". Are you saying just because other people do it, it makes it right? Look, a lot of people have said racist remarks, but I still think saying black c**t in front of an aboriginal is pretty disgusting and unacceptable not matter which way you look at it.
Mushi
Guest
Gidley tried to sort out? Was this when the racist comments were made or after the fall out? Just like Johns he only cared when it started to affect him. He doesn’t care about the actual incident he cares about the result –weak and cowardly. Dealing with the consequence and not the cause is the problem with closet racists. I also like how you point out the majority of players didn’t care that he was a racist and wanted him to stay anyway – looks like I’m “judging a state” (which is weird I never realised the blues were the only thing NSW had to offer) on more than one imbecile
mahony
Guest
We are all diminished by racism - so the victims here are not just those of colour in our society, but the rest of us who are guity by association. It will stop when we all insist that it does so.
mahony
Guest
Good stuff!
mahony
Guest
and gays!
John Hunt
Guest
Yeah right Les sure you havent. Your holyer than thou attitude stinks
Les
Guest
Oh poor Joey is "shattered" after what happened.... how insensitive of the rest of us (and Tahu) to make him feel like that!! Each one of us should write him a letter of apology and let him know how much we love and support him. I, for one, would absolutely LOVE it if my kids look to him for inspiration and have posters of him plastered all over their bedroom wall
Les
Guest
Maree, how would you define "malice"?? "you need to stop that black c**t !!!" - hmmm, seems malicious enough on paper, I can imagine how much more belligerent it would have been in person!! Get your blinkers off, will ya Maree!
Les
Guest
I've never said anything racist ever.... may I throw stones? So are you of belief that Andrew Johns is a racist, in that case? I certainly think so. It's incredibly dissapointing that not more NSW Origin players have walked out because of this! Shame on you Origin players!
John Hunt
Guest
None of you can speak as I bet all of you would have said something racist in your lifetime. "Don't throw stones at glass houses"
Maree
Guest
While I dont agree with the comment Andrew Johns made in reference to Greg Inglis...I don't think that it would be right to assume that he is a racist. I don't think that there was any malice in what was said, it was just a really ignorant and dumb thing to say in the heat of the moment. As for Kurt Gidley? What the hell has he done wrong? I dont understand why a couple of you guys are coming down on him...he isnt a babysitter is he? How is he responsible for what Joey says? He was the one who spoke to Timana first apparentley..isnt is just up to him to set a positive example himself and react to the situation appropriately? I think he has done that and everyone should just leave the guy alone.
anopinion
Guest
During this article the following lines caught my eye......."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?" Having played in many touring sides we always had the rule "goes on tour stays on tour". This was not so the team would bond with some shared secrets, rather it was so the guys with wives at home did not find out. Whilst a team meeting is slightly different, hiding racism, or ignoring it causes a greater chasm within the team than airing dirty laundry. I could not have felt "inspired" by words of racism, but I am somewhat inspired, as may many young aboriginal people by the stand that Tahu has taken.
Les
Guest
johnhunt92, after the numerous postings made here in this forum, most of which are inifinitely more intelligible than yours, you can now comfortably consider your bigot-apologist stance smashed out of the park
Fallen
Roar Rookie
Thanks for calling me a hero Springs - appreciate the support. Maybe you're the hero, as you sarcastically suggested "And what did you want Gidley to do? Counsel everyone not to make racist comments?” If not him then who? Sounds like you won’t take a stand.
Springs
Roar Guru
Uh, what??? I'm not saying cover it up, I'm saying don't blame Johns for not quitting soon enough when he wanted to, don't say NSW is racist because Johns said black c***, Don't blame Gidley for the mess as he tried to sort it out, like a captain should. I didn't say anything about covering it up! I would tell you to open your ears but your reading my words on a screen! How did you not get that!
oikee
Guest
Lets all sit on that fence Springs, turn a blind eye, gee that will get the job done. Look, i know what you are trying to acheive, like when my sister split my eye open with a 4 by 2, and i said dont tell mom. ? Mate, we cant cover up the big issues.
Springs
Roar Guru
Wendell Sailor is on Channel 9.
oikee
Guest
Channel 9, the peoples channel i was talking about, at fox we are called upper class fools. :) The old school club, channel 9. After watching Foxtel you realise how backward australia really is, not that this is the issue. Current affairs in australia are a absolute comedy show. Propaganda at its absolute best. People need to move on, get with the times, buy yourself a I-Pod, pad, just for the hell of it. The last time i watched aussie tele was 5 years ago. Just rugby league now, then back to fox.
Springs
Roar Guru
Um yeah, you have as little right to comment on Joey being racist than the original poster. You do not know anyting about it, of course they took it seriously, Bellamy and Gidley both talked to him for long periods about it, then they tried to contact him after he had left without a trace to get him to come back. Joey tried for ages to apologise. I think Johns' comments were highly offensive and completely indefensible and I respect Tahu's decision to leave. But I will not stand by and let idiots call people they do not know racist. Joeys comments were ignorant, but this is also ignorance. You know nothing Fallen, I would listen to those that know him best (who say he is not racist) before I listen to an anonymous hero like yourself.
Springs
Roar Guru
Johns offered to quit as soon as he heard, the players wanted him to stay, he quit anyway. And stop judging NSW based on one bloody comment by an imbecile, NSW has 6 million people, and like there has never been anything racist uttered in Queensland before. And what did you want Gidley to do? Counsel everyone not to make racist comments? Gidley actually talked to Tahu first, the only player to talk to him. That was the responsibility of the teams captain and he did it. Now I do not like Gidley as captain, but there is no need to drag the captaincy issue into a mess like this that has nothing to do with it.