In my final full season of rugby league, my team’s recreational pursuits included fathering illegitimate children, getting thrown out of nightclubs, and stealing (and occasionally crashing) cars.
We were the Newtown Under 16s of 1993, and we took out the premiership against crosstown rivals Valleys in the Toowoomba Junior Rugby League decider that year.
How many of us went on to NRL glory? None even got close, with only a handful graduating to seniors as the realities of work, study, and jail terms got in the way.
(As a side note, that grand final winning Under 16s team also put on a brawl on our way to that famous comeback victory. The players involved were sin-binned, and all that was talked about afterwards was the conversion kick from the sideline that won us the game.)
Were Blake Ferguson and Josh Dugan up to similar antics in their junior years? There’s plenty of idle speculation doing the rounds of Internet forums as fans attempt to dissect their latest headline-grabbing antics, but what is relevant is what they’re up to now.
I’m as big a fan of celebratory drinks as the next person, but the idiocy of their pre-Origin bonding session when their respective clubs, the NRL, the media and opportunistic members of the public have a big target hovering over them beggars belief.
Even my Under 16s team had members spend time on the sidelines when their social lives got out of control, and were able to pull their heads in enough to return come finals time. If any of us ever had an Origin jersey around the corner – even one of those filthy blue-coloured ones – I’m pretty sure we could keep a lid on things long enough to enjoy one of the greatest moments of our lives.
All incredulity at their stupidity aside, I think the deification of sports stars of any persuasion as ‘role models’ is a complete crock. Role models should be people who stand for something, like an inspirational mum and/or dad or wise-cracking English teacher or Optimus Prime, not someone who can kick/hit/run/pass a ball better than anyone else.
(Unless they’re Wally Lewis, in which case they were essentially God to Queensland kids of the 1980s.)
Let’s hypothetically place some other young Australians in the position of Messrs Ferguson and Dugan – for argument’s sake, the guys from Tame Impala. They had a big Song Of The Year win at the APRA Awards on Monday night, so decided to get on the drink.
Two of them kicked on deluxe, headed back to one of their apartments, and blew off the next afternoon’s band practice to shoot selfies while drinking questionable pre-mix drinks on a rooftop.
How would this be reported? As two young men setting a bad example for our children, or two young men doing what young men do? Should sports stars and rock stars really be playing by two different sets of rules?
Don’t get me wrong, as an avid follower of rugby league who is a little sick of putting the ‘long-suffering’ in ‘long-suffering Raiders fan’, I’m filthy at the pair of them. And if Ferguson’s indecent assault charge moves from alleged to guilty, he deserves every bit of punishment the law throws at him.
But rugby league players are just a microcosm of twenty- (and thirty-)something Australian men. Some of them will be excellent to each other. Some of them will be depressed. Some of them will be gay. Some of them will be contemptible douchebags. Very few of them will be as reprehensible as the worst paying punters at Australian music festivals.
Putting them on a pedestal as outstanding examples of humanity when they barely know who they are yet is setting yourself up for disappointment.
Even Jesus didn’t hit his straps until his 30s.
Kris Swales
Expert
Would be interested to see if there's a comparable list of federal politicians who've gotten up to no good since Dale Shearer's time, if only so we can confirm that it's all Canberra's fault.
peeeko
Roar Guru
VERY GOOD POINTS SIR
Milz
Guest
Why is Craig Field there twice?
oh diana
Guest
I promise you that the list provided by Greg above could be replicated in other sports and in other parts of the world. Soccer in Britain could provide a list of misdemeanours, on and off the field, that would make your hair curl. The more popular, successful and money-driven sport it is, the more likelihood there is of players and fans straying out of line. Hell, even rugby union - which might well be Greg's favourite sport - could provide as lengthy a list in which heinous crimes such as murder and rape feature. No sport has the monopoly on good behaviour and only those who like to kick other sports when they're down would think otherwise. Some things are even more important than code points scoring.
The Womp
Guest
Nikau was questioned by police because his wife committed suicide. Do you really think it is fair or in good taste to put him on some sort of "offenders" list?
The Womp
Guest
Tawera Nikau was interviewed by police because his wife committed suicide. Do you really think it is in good taste to put him on some sort of "offenders" list?
scott
Guest
He stole a slice of pizza from that delivery boy in the NRMA ad.
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
No mention of those with parking fines & overdue library books?
Pablo
Guest
And thats a list that will grow and grow as long as NRL continues to close ranks and give the "boys will be boys" excuse. The money from my ticket goes to pay these fools wages, so forgive me if i expect them to treat their job with the same respect i have to treat mine (or i'll be fired). Time to stop giving my hard earned money to spoilt idiots - maybe if revenue falls the NRL might get its act together. As strayan said - there are hundreds of hungry kids that would take these fools places.
db swannie
Guest
can you tell me why webcke is on that list.
Chris Chard
Expert
It's not their go
Eleanor Kite
Roar Rookie
Oh, a list. No further questions then your honour.
Greg
Guest
Anthony Watts Kevin Locke Shane Tronc Andrew Frew John Elias Jorge Taufua Julian Troy Craig Field Robert Lui James Tamou Daine Laurie Ryan Tandy Gary Mara Ben Teo Greg Ingliss Greg Bird Dale Shearer Andrew Johns Danny Wicks John Hopoate Josh Dugan Wes Patten Brent Seymoue Albert Kelly Frank Pritchard Daniel Conn Todd Carney Jake Friend Stanley Waqa Chris Houston Sandor Earl Setaimata Sa Anthony Cherrington Brett Stewart John Sutton Arana Taumata Tawera Nikau Willie Mason Richard Williams Reni Maitua Alan Langer Sam Thiday Darious Boyd Karmichael Hunt Anthony Watmough Steve Matai Paul Gallen Shane Webke Craig Field Matt Johns Kevin McGuisness Matthew John Brett Firman Julian O'neill Anthony Minichello Mark Gasnier Chris Walker Dane Tilse Brad Morrin Corey Hughes Michael Crocker Sonny Bill Williams Craig Gower Neville Costigan Brett Seymour Gordon Tallis Matt Hilder Tevita Latu Craig Trindall Ben Roberts Nate Myles Shaun Timmins Wes Naiqama Anthony Laffrachi Bryce Gibbs Jason King Andrew Johns Ian Lacey John Te Reo Brent Todd Trevor Thrling Leon Price Stuart Reardon Jason Taylor David Fa'alogo Brad Fitler Blake Ferguson George Burgess Now the list above is often in relation to police interviewing the people above about alledged crimes. The range from murder and rape to just being drunk and smashing up the odd car or shop front I have left item like the alledged gang rape by the Broncos players in but would like to note that in this case it was consensual sex. Similar with Matt Johns and the Cronulla alledged gang rape, the Bulldogs gang rape was harder to find names but it was pretty well covered up. Obviously some are innocent some not so. But if you are bought in by police for questioning something isnt going well. I am certain that I have missed a few as well but its not a good look. Long and short the image of the great game isnt and should be tarnished by fools
strayan
Guest
of course these players have the right to be 20-something average blokes and enjoy themselves out on the town. That's perfectly fair enough. As long as they are also happy to be playing amateur local rugby. If you cannot be professional and protect your relatively short athletic/sporting career by looking after your body, behaving at the very least, respectably in public, then i'm sorry but there are another hundred young hungry players willing to do anything to take your place. You are more than welcome to enjoy your grog and the drunken idiot lifestyle but be prepared to drop down to amateur level
turbodewd
Guest
Stewart was falsely accused in 2009 and found 100% innocent at the hands of a fraudster. He was the father of the female Stewart spoke to. Ferguson is similarly completely innocent until a jury finds otherwise.
Wal
Roar Guru
As with any of us they have responsibilities to their employers. Role models or not they represent a brand and if they bring that brand into a bad light they should suffer the consequences. As a Sales Rep if I get done DUI or lose my licence through speeding infringements I lose my job. No if or buts. These guys need to realise they are the face of large corporation that relies on it image to attract patrons and as such their terms of employment require certain standards to be kept to keep their job
Jimbo
Guest
Spot on article IMO, as someone who was involved in a aussie rules team and club a bit further south, the team was as you described your RL team, it was a microcosm of society. We had the regulation pot smokers who would bong up before a game, and sometimes even at half time, the guys playing with a hangover, who sometimes turned up for a game with no sleep after a huge night chasing skirt, guys who were arrested on the way to a game driving with no license, or outstanding warrants leaving us short etc etc etc. And you know what !!, these guys generally have turned out all right, in many instances all these stupid things that young blokes do are a right of passage, would not advise it, but a right of passage none the less.
Kris Swales
Expert
Indeed. Maybe every NYC player should get some Eckhart Tolle slipped into their first kit bag so we get more like him.
Dane Eldridge
Expert
Eloquently put once again, Mr Swales. As a 1993 premiership player and Canberra fan, you deserve better.
Chris Hardiman
Roar Rookie
Not all Rugby League players are brain dead morons. Check out http://coopercronk.com/ for a good example. The bloke is a guru and a real role model for young fellas.