Professional sport has seen some massive changes over the years. Footy players no longer look like your local Garbo with a bit more facial hair.
Sports nutrition means more than just choosing the Filet-o-Fish at Maccas, and streakers have gone from being viewed as beloved downtime distractions to dangerous anti-social anarchists.
One thing that hasn’t changed though is players taking out their frustrations on the poor, skinny blokes running alongside them with the whistle trying to remember the rules.
For as long as there’s been sport there have been match officials, with the skinny caveman likely to have been bullied into keeping the two rockball teams onside sometime back in 200BC.
Some people actually like being the ref, for with officialdom comes power – and maybe even a flag!
Problem is that with power comes responsibility, and with the responsibility the likelihood of being badgered mercilessly by the people you are in fact responsible for (hello to any parents or schoolteachers reading this).
Round eight of the NRL saw two obvious examples of refs bearing the brunt of player frustrations.
The one everyone is talking about is ‘Scary’ Steve Matai’s bump on Brett Suttor.
Not really for the fact that Matai did it – c’mon, the bloke’s water bottles are filled with the tears of endangered animals – but for the fact that he didn’t injure his neck in the process.
This one should be pretty cut and dried. Steve Matai isn’t supposed to be playing Origin next week so chances are he’ll get done for it.
The one that appears to have been swept under the carpet like Blocker Roach’s baby photos is Jamie Soward’s spray of Matt Cecchin in the ANZAC game.
Soward verbally unloaded point blank like Cecchin was a parking inspector he had caught stealing his hubcaps, with the ref summarily penalising him in a decision that should have decided the game, save for the Roosters great chicken choke.
With the Dragons’ last minute victory the moment has become a funny footnote on the game’s epic ending, but, umm, is everybody cool with that?
Swearing is a strange topic in that it is one of the few grey areas that still exist in professional sport (the other being Corey Parker’s temples).
Unlike its ugly big brother vilification, swearing is, depending on how and where you grow up, either the greatest non-issue since Shane Hayne’s hair highlights or a blight on the game of Hunter Mariner proportions.
Every now and then big-time rugby league and swearing will cross paths. Mal Meninga’s pre-Origin address in 94. Wests Tigers grand final victory lap in ’05. Whenever the camera shows Craig Bellamy in the coach’s box.
There is generally some outrage from the usual suspects and muttering about ‘setting an example’ and ‘role models’ etc, but if it’s acceptable for the former prime minister to launch into a F-bomb tirade whenever someone stuffs up his cup of tea then surely footy players on the brink of physical exhaustion should be cut some slack.
Swearing directly at refs though should remain a distinct no-no, especially for highly paid professional players. Not because the refs can’t take it – let’s face it, those masochists have been bagged for years.
But more for the fact that a certain level of decorum should remain between player and referee, and it would be a sad state of affairs if the referee had to sprint 40m after each decision like the Bondi Vet fleeing a gaggle of lonely housewives at Westfield Warrawong as they currently do in soccer.
After all, if you can’t respect a bloke wearing a tight pink shirt, short shorts and long socks, then who can you respect eh?
[CENSORED] if I know.
Follow Chris on Twitter: @Vic_Arious
The Barry
Roar Guru
I really thought Matai went past the ref giving him a spray, Suttor heard him and turned into Matai. I think the 10 metres was for the spray not the contact.
Emric
Guest
I think each to their own applies fairly well Jeff :). League has almost removed all the contest from the game and left basic ball skills.. the majority of Rugby supporters want to see basic ball skills but also watch a true contest which league by its rule set can never supply. This is the reason I prefer Rugby over League :)
Jeff McGinn
Guest
In the days of yore, it was said "Rugby League is a Gentleman's game played by thugs" whilst "Rugby Union is a thugs game played by gentlemen" If appreciating League over that other game of boredom Rugby makes me a simpleton, then I am glad that I am not very smart person
Jeff McGinn
Guest
Meesta Cool Watch JT in every game, If he doesn't get his way or things go wrong, he dummy spits, sulks and abuses everyone around him, 100% correct he is NOT captain material. and your other comment on him being a brilliant player cannot be questioned. on the subject of players querying the refs, it is a growing trend for all players to ask questions, this should definitely be stopped. the captain is the only person who should communicate with the officials. In the sixties there was a ref , I think his name was Eric Clay or something similar (Commentators nicknamed him 'The Sergeant Major'). If anyone had sworn at him, they would have had a walk to the dressing rooms and in his words "Go for an early shower", the refs today have lost that forcefulness.
Emric
Guest
I thought i would keep it simple so the average league supporter would comprehend.
Yeah Sure
Guest
Well it must be for you if thats all you can come with.
yewonk
Guest
union a complicated game played by vvankers
Emric
Guest
League a simple game for a simple people
Bob
Guest
Rugby union is rubbish
Lorry
Guest
Thank god we don't have that rubbish in rugby union...
apaway
Roar Guru
Great article, Chris, had me in stitches with the bit about Matai not hurting his neck. A few years ago in the EPL a couple of Newcastle players started belting each other. The ref sent them both off!
turbodewd
Guest
I agree 100%. Professionalism requires that the ref should simply call the player number 12 and the ref should be called 'sir'.
BennO
Guest
Only just saw this and it seems disgraceful to me. Maybe I'm overreacting but the referee should be literally untouchable. I realise it was a small hit, it was a nothing hit if it was another player but it's the ref for crying out loud. I can't believe they aren't going to charge him. Good luck with finding consistency the next time a ref gets "accidentally" elbowed by a player running past.
Pot Stirrer
Guest
I agree, The whole thought process needs to change towards the referees. Its no wonder they cop abuse at junior games when so called experts and leaders of the game criticise the refs after 10 replays and mostly obscure angles that dont show the correct veiw. The ref is on the field in the best possible position to make the correct call. Everybody has bagged the ref without knowing what soward said. As a supporter i get fustrated with some calls but its better to move on becuase a decision cant be reversed than to ruin the hole game by continually bagging the refs. If we dont have refs then we dont have a game and who would want to be a ref to cop abuse from people with anger issues at junior games or self serving media hungry experts with agendas in NRL.
Matt
Guest
I was at the Sharks vs Eels match a few weeks ago when my 11 year old son was astounded to hear Nathan Hindmarsh use language which my son couldn't believe. The F bomb was repeated several times but of course nobody said a word in the media despite it being clearly audible on the game replay as well. Guess if your a NRL darling like Hindmarsh your allowed to swear at Referee's. Had a hard time explaining to my son about this one - could anyone explain why it was tolerated??
joe blackswan
Guest
"I’d also make it compulsory for refs to call the players by their number and the players to call the ref sir, like the old days." Totally agree. It is embarrassing to watch professional players (adult men) constantly swear and mouth off at a ref....nowhere else do you see that in life, it is disgraceful. This is one quality that rugby has over NRL and AFL....refs should be able to bin players for this conduct (particularly in the AFL). Found it a bit disappointing the author chose to label refs as skinny, power hungry masochists. Anyone who plays amateur sports (aussie rules, league, soccer, basketball, netball etc) knows your club/team has to help provide refs for other games in your competition and we are encouraged/roped into performing this duty voluntarily...the last thing we would want is to endure a barrage of foul mouthed ignorance, which is what is promoted in the professional code.
Pot Stirrer
Guest
i agree with you but that was a crucial moment and i wished the roosters took a quick tap but they shouldnt have been allowed to becuase of that type of penaly. Just an opinion but like i said i agree with you, we dont need more stoppages in the game.
eagleJack
Guest
Happy to hear that from a Manly perspective but a little surprised. Very little in it but it was a deliberate act. We'll be close to full strength against the Raiders on Sun.
Chris Chard
Expert
Hi MC Ahhh the old blow up between team mates, is there anything funnier in professional sport? There's been some beauties over the years, anyone remember Craig Fitzgibbon giving it to Brett Finch, or Brett Mullins giving one of the 'Super macs' a clip over the ear?
Meesta Cool
Guest
Certain captains query every decision made against them, It slows the game and lets their team get ready for the penalty .. It annoys me to watch Thurston Lyon and a few more, wasting the refs time. the general consensus is that the red will not change his decision, so why argue. Changing the subject: did anyone see Thurston openly berate his team mates during the first half of Saturdays game,, It's a wonder that they have any team spirit at all. Maybe this brilliant player should be stood down from captain and let someone with 'people skills' take on the roll.