Racism victim Sam Thaiday says he feels sorry for the junior rugby league player believed to have aimed a bigoted slur against his Broncos teammate Ben Barba on social media.
An 18-year-old Canterbury fan sparked an Instagram row with Barba last Friday – the night the fullback made his Brisbane NRL debut against the Bulldogs – when he racially abused the ex-Dally M Medallist.
The NRL said on Tuesday it had been in touch with the teenager, who was registered with a Country Rugby League club.
Thaiday – a victim of racial abuse on Twitter in 2012 – baulked at what penalties should be imposed on the teenager, saying the uproar he had caused should have sufficiently embarrassed him.
“I think everyone talking about the issue is punishment enough,” he said.
“He is probably sitting there knowing he has made a bad mistake.
“I feel for him a little bit.”
The NRL stepped in after Barba’s father Ken called on the governing body to crack down on racism, saying his son was spat on during games for the Bulldogs last year and was sick and tired of abuse.
Thaiday revealed Barba was initially “pretty gutted” by the Instagram slur but believed his teammate would have his head right by Friday night’s NRL derby with North Queensland.
“It is pretty rough to read those things about you,” said Thaiday.
“But Ben is a pretty positive guy and he got through training pretty well. Hopefully he is bubbling to go on Friday night.
“The NRL will deal with it but I think Ben has handled it really well and is keen now to move on and play good footy.
“There is no place for racism in league or society in general. Hopefully we can move on and get the focus back on footy and the great game Ben had last Friday.”
NRL chief operating officer Jim Doyle considered the abuse “a serious matter”.
“Racism will not be tolerated in any form,” he said.
“Rugby League is an inclusive game and there is no excuse for behaviour that vilifies any member of the game or the community.
“We are in the process of speaking with the individual involved and his family.”
Thaiday believed the anti-racism message was sinking in.
“These incidents are becoming more and more rare. Hopefully we get to the point where we don’t see it any more,” he said.
“It is hard. In social media, there are a lot of people who have their opinions.
“Ben had said feel free to come at him about his football but racism is not something that is needed.”
Thaiday did not think the latest incident would put players off scaling back their presence on social media.
Ret
Guest
Barba was called "a filthy abo". Yet people on here tell him to "toughen up" and "it's just words" or "I was bullied for 12 years". Do you people really think this compares with what Barba (and many other Aboriginal Australians) cop on a daily basis? Racism shames all of us, regardless of colour.
TGGOA
Guest
To be fair to Ben, hes not making a fuss at all, the NRL have followed it up, I mean there are laws against this. I laugh at people telling Ben to 'toughen up', the bloke runs at and tackles 100kg+ machines for a living, of course none of you would say it to his face.
Silver_Sovereign
Guest
Time to toughen up Mr Barba. They are just words. They only hurt you if you let them hurt you. I was bulllied all through school for 12 years straight, got called every name under the sun, considered not going on with life. But in the end, it hardened me. These days I dont give a stuff what people say, its water off a ducks back. There will always be those in this world who say dumb things. Dont let them win!!
Silver_Sovereign
Guest
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Mr Sportsbet
Roar Rookie
I do agree with Walter P in saying that there are D&&kheads everywhere and the only thing I would suggest for today's Sports Professionals is to remove themselves entirely from Social Media as they leave themselves open and vulnerable to strangers opinions that for the very sensitive young sports stars would have damaging psychological effect on them that could affect their performance in a game (except that Ben Barba truly surpassed my expectations last Friday night). Instead of being on Social Media, these sports stars should be spending quality healthy time with their family and friends that make much more positive impact and I firmly believe that these nasty comments are unwarranted but the fact is that there will always be people that say negative things to spark a reaction. If I was a coach I would not have my team on Social Media and tell my players - your real friends have your phone number...
Walter Penninger
Roar Guru
When I grew up being called a "wog" was part of life and nothing to get too excited about. You knew who you were and you knew they were who they were so that was that and you had your own opinions about that. Why such a fuss? There are dickheads everywhere, you just need to get used to it.
Naught
Barba taunts people all day long on social media. Of course he is going to get bites and of course some of those are going to be stupid enough to use race.