The last few weeks we’ve read about Todd Carney performing ‘the bubbler’, shoulder charges being penalised during Origin, David Williams being suspended for betting, the Shayne Hayne decision (or lack thereof), and Darius Boyd’s amazing interview.
The list could go on. Everyone has an opinion and more often than not, the opinion is negative.
Recently I read an article by Paul Kent addressing his concerns for the game and player behaviour both on and off the field.
I reckon most footy players are some of the nicest, most gracious people I’ve ever met. I would like to highlight one example.
I got engaged late last year. Of course the Missus immediately began planning our engagement party (or my wake as some mates referred to it) and one my closest and most enterprising friends had the bright idea of asking one of the Bulldogs first grade players if they’d stop in to say hello.
(I’m an ardent Bulldogs supporters, unfortunately the Missus is a Roosters supporter, and I have buckley’s of convincing her otherwise.)
None of my mates know any players directly. We’ve met them at fan days, had pictures taken with them but just like any other fan of any other sporting team there is a great divide between us and them.
Still, my mate from sent Frank Pritchard a message on Twitter asking him if he’d stop by. On the night, quite out of the blue, Frank the Tank was kind enough to stop in with his beautiful wife and they were absolutely lovely.
When they first arrived they said they could stay for around 30 minutes, but ended up staying for close to an hour and a half. We had quite a few kids in our family who play rugby league and they couldn’t believe their luck. Frank was gracious enough to take photos with each and every one of them.
He was even more patient with the bigger kids – every ‘adult’ male at the party – as we asked questions and pestered him.
This might sound like a gushing fan letter, well it is. Rugby league players get a bad wrap and the game itself is battered from pillar to post. It’s all the small things though that you just don’t hear about, like the co-captain of your favourite team, someone you idolise and cheer on, who turns up to your house to congratulate you on starting the next chapter of your life.
He didn’t have to do it, no one forced him, he didn’t make a big deal about it and unfortunately there isn’t a lot of money to be made by highlighting it, so someone like Paul Kent or Buzz Rothfield would never bother.
It’s been asked where the gentlemen of rugby league have gone, well they’re right under our noses, captaining our teams, leading from the front, and just generally being good guys.
Surely I’m not the only one to have a great experience. If you have, write about it, talk about it, get it out there. I talk to fans all the time who have similar stories to mine – they’re the norm.
Unfortunately, listening to the powers that be, you’d never know it.
Patrick Effeney
Editor
You're not on moderation, so I wouldn't worry about that. If you see comments playing the man and not the ball, please report them. It helps us a lot.
Ret
Guest
Good story.The image of big Frank patiently dealing with a room full of slightly pissed partygoers made me smile. Best of luck with your marriage- my fellow bunny supporting mate is shacked up with a Manly fan-so anything is possible..
TONY
Guest
Maybe it's time you moved.
Papa G
Guest
Well written Andre. It's a shame that negatively will always sell more than positivity, but this will not change in regards to the media. It's up to the common man to rise above only what the media tells us and to make our own judgements and be more aware. I applaud your encouragement to the masses to share the good! It would be great to hear more from you on this website, keep it up!
AGO74
Guest
Agree. Brett Finch is my new number 1 hate. He insists on calling everyone mate. I have never heard him refer to a player by name. The fox sports crew are generally much better - save for the juvenile fletch and Hindy stoushes. They just aren't funny.
Hoy
Roar Guru
I have a friend who met some bulldogs players a few years ago, and said Frank held court over them. The younger players were in awe of him. He certainly is a good player, and seems like he has been around for a long time. I am glad he is a good bloke. It is nice to hear these thigns. And congrats on your engagment.
Andre Georges
Roar Rookie
Thanks Tony, and mate I've tried. It's hopeless. She's as entrenched as she's ever going to get. Worst part? My brother is a Roosters supporter, my neighbour across the hall is a Roosters supporter and we live in the St George area down the road from Kogarah oval. I'm fighting the good fight though mate!
Andre Georges
Roar Rookie
Haha Ahh Mushi, that's probably the nicest thing anyone has ever said about me... And although being a Hybrid of Fred Hollows and Don Draper would be epic, alas, I am not, she still gives me a hard time about being a Doggies supporter. (Even after Frank Pritchard was nice enough to come to her Engagement party and wish her all the best! The gaul of some people! Haha)
mushi
Roar Guru
Great story Andre. If you're wife's taste in men is a good as it is in football teams you must be a hybrid of Fred Hollows and Don Draper to overcome the doggies supporter tag!
mushi
Roar Guru
Maybe JG is wedding crasher in training and is doing the engagement party circuit?
Andre Georges
Roar Rookie
Hey Don, Mate definitely agree with all that. I can't say I've ever met Petero but from everything I've heard he is the Ultimate Gentleman. Would love to sit down and pick his brain about some War Stories over a beer, and something tells me he'd gladly be up for it. I don't know what the solution is but I do know that somehow we need to be talking more and more about these guys. All the best mate.
Andre Georges
Roar Rookie
Thanks Kingcowboy, and I totally agree, it's a major disappointment my fiance is a Roosters supporter! Haha
Kingcowboy
Guest
You didn't read the article jg? How would you define normal? Frank want to an engagement party of a person who he didn't know and stayed for an hour and a half. By the sound of it, it made Andre's day. All I can assume is that people like you jg have no life and want everyone to be sad and miserable.
jg
Guest
This is good to hear, but is to be expected. Im not going to give a footballer a mega wrap for being normal.
bilbo
Guest
Good story Andre,Seems a few of the people who like to comment on NRL stories have gone missing on this one
Emcie
Roar Guru
Why would you curse anyone with that??
Don
Roar Rookie
Your article reminded me again of how the broadcast media really set the tone for how NRL players are viewed generally. We have guys like Fittler, Finch and Johns who were definitely great players but speak very poorly, forward their own personal and club aligned agendas and use lame humour and sexual innuendo as their "fallback" schtick. Poor old Locky needs to be taught proper grammar and get that operation to fix his voice (although I was told that he was advised not to get his voice fixed for fear he would then be unrecognisable to most fans). We could be seeing and hearing smart articulate and genuine guys like Petero Civoniceva, Tim Sheens, Daniel Anderson, Ben Hornby, Hazim El Mazri etc. They may not have all had the careers of a Fittler or Johns but are less polarising and, once people heard them, they would present a better image for Rugby League. Great story about Frank at the wedding, it made me feel good. Made me think of big Petero getting swamped at Dolphin Oval every game he played for Redcliffe the year after he retired from the NRL. He stood and signed autographs and stood for photos for ages every game. He is a gentleman and these are the guys the broadcasters should be using to sell their shows.
River Lad
Guest
People I know can't speak highly enough of him. The kids love him and so do the parents. He is a genuinely decent person.
TONY
Guest
Hi Andre, great article. As a fellow doggies fan, you will need to work on your other half's mis-guided loyalties. Good luck to both of you for the future.
Kingcowboy
Guest
A fantastic read Andre, great to read a story about the good guys for once. Only disappointing part of the article is that you support the dogs and your mrs supports the chooks but hey everything can't be perfect, ha ha. Well done to the Roar for posting a positive story about league as well, there may be hope for you guys yet.